Cobourg to Peterborough - known as the Kawarthas district of Ontario

 

New tires 

An 8 am appointment at the tire shop in Cobourg gets us new tires and ready to roll again. 

Lake Ontario

Before we leave Cobourg, we walk down to Lake Ontario for one final look. The wind is howling today so it is not the lovely glass calm we had a few days back on the beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park. It's quite nasty out there and there would be no swimming today. 

Soon we are on the road to Peterborough and before lunch we pull into Beavermead Park Campground. It's a great central location to explore the city being close to the Peterborough Lift Lock and all the great bike trails. 

Ashburnham Lock 20

After setting up we unload the bikes and head out. We were hoping to kayak the Otonabee River section of the Trent-Severn Waterway, but the winds are really blowing today.

Lock 20 is the lock immediately before the lift lock.

Lock 21 - The Peterborough Lift Lock

Lock 21 - The Peterborough Lift Lock, is the impressive hydraulic lift lock that is the main attraction in Peterborough. Unfortunately the wind is so strong today that the lift lock is shut down. We actually took our sailboat, Tioga, through the Strepy-Thieu Boat lift lock in Belgium so we know how they work. 

The Belgium lock lifted us 73.15 meters (240 ft)  while the Peterborough lock lifts boats 19.8 meters (65 ft) so a huge height difference. Both lift a boat a long way in a single lift so it's a huge help when travelling on a river. 

Views of the Peterborough Lift lock from the walkway inside

There is an alternating traffic- one way - vehicle passage through the lift lock with a super narrow walk way along side it. We walk our bikes through as the passage way is super narrow. One wrong move and you'd be tossed in front of a car. 

More views of lift from the inside lane

Upper level of the Peterborough Lift Lock

We come out the other side of the lift and head up to where boats are raised to on the upper level of the waterway. This lift lock is basically an elevator that transports boats between the lower and upper levels.

Peterborough, On

We continue around the bikes trail and streets to the core of Peterborough. As in all of these old historic towns, there are beautiful old buildings. 

One of Peterborough's Brew Pubs

The Ashburnham Ale House is calling so we head in for a craft beer. We choose the Bobcaygeon Dockside Red Ale before heading back to the RV for the night.