Bobcaygeon - Hub of the Kawarthas

Today, we had a chore to do before departing the Beavermead town campsite in Peterborough. Our trailer has two 40 gal holding tanks, one for dish and shower water, called "grey water", and the other is for "black water" (connected to the toilet). The grey water tank lasts about 1 week before a sanitation station dump is required, and the black water tank can go two weeks. However, we usually dump when convenient, every 4 or 5 days.  But ... you get build up and a periodic super-flush is always nice, and today, as we had a water tap and a sani-dump handy, was the day for a little tank maintenance. (I know, TMI - Chris's addition to the blog :))

Next up and continuing on with our visits to some of the Towns of the Trent Severn Waterway was a stop at the town of Bobcaygeon, Lock 32 on the Trent Severn and about 45min drive NW of Peterborough. Bobcaygeon is a town mentioned in Tragically Hip's song with the same name. From Wikipedia, lead singer, the late Gord Downie explained, the song was not specifically written about the town itself, but rather any small town would have worked for the song theme and he settled on "Bobcaygeon" primarily because it was the only place name he could find that came close to rhyming with and with a similar cadence as "constellation."  

When I left your house this mornin'

It was a little after nine

It was in Bobcaygeon, I saw the constellations

Reveal themselves one star at a time

Nevertheless, the town embraced its recognition in the song and has since held many fundraisers for Brain Cancer Research - the disease that took Gord Downey in October of 2017. The town also gets a considerable amount of notoriety and tourist traffic following the Tragically Hip's connection to the town. 

Picture of a picture - Bobcaygeon circa 1905

We walk around the main street shops and talk with a friendly local who tells us his favorite restaurants and where there might be live music tonight.  

Bobcaygeon 2025

Bobcaygeon from an artists perspective :)

We hear and see something organized going on near one of the locks, so we walk over to see what's up. There was a fishing tournament weigh-in by the lock so we watch the sportsmen present their catches (large and smallmouth bass, still alive).  It was a very windy, hence rough day on the water, and some of the fellas look pretty tired. 

Our favorite team - yes they were Dutch :)

Boats mulling about before and after weigh-in

Interestingly, we learn that all the caught fish go into a special tank after weight-in, which has oxygen added and then they are all released back to the lake once they have had time to de-stress.  The mortality rate at a sport fishing derby is very very low. 

Lock 32 of 45 in total

Trent-Severn Waterway

Walking along the lock quaysides, which are buzzing with boating activity, we stop to talk for a spell with a couple who own a beautiful red 36-ft American tug. They cruise every year May to October predominantly in the Georgian Bay / North Channel. They are finishing for the season, and are taking the Trent Severn waterway back home. 

Picture of a picture capturing the sunsets around here

Found the restaurant called Graz and indeed they will have live music at 7:30pm so we head in early and score a nice window seat. We both order the prime rib panini for supper and enjoy some craft beers.

Bobcaygeon Dockside Red Ale

EZJay

We sit next to a couple of TO cottagers and enjoyed the guitarist EZJay. This guy sang and played for over 2.5 hours non stop. His fingers must have been bleeding in the end! Everything from the Eagles and Bon Jovi to Blue Rodeo. So good. 

The crowd was really into it. Very enjoyable and a quick walk back to our trailer. Night