After a great night on the hook at Bobcaygeon it was time to make the 13 mile run to Fenelon Falls. We ran south west through Sturgeon Lake turning north to the entrance of Fenelon and the Fenelon Falls Lock. We called ahead to the lockmaster who informed us there was room on the upper wall. When we got into the lock the lockmaster told us he would raise the lock as fast as possible as there were only two spots left. We were in the lock with several small boats and Beachside. As we exited the lock there was a houseboat sliding into the spot that the lockmaster was holding for us so we heard his voice over the PA system telling the houseboat to move forward. This does not usually happen. We were always told it was first come first served but this guy had total control of the lock. He was very directing to all the boats and staff which made the busy lock move efficiently.
After shifting a couples boats on the wall we secured our spots with BEachside. We were located right in front of Murphy’s Lockside Pub and Patio. We had power and water hook up so we topped off our water tank and gave the boat a well deserved bath. We got the bikes off the boat and took a bike ride with Beachside south on the Victoria Rail Trail. while on the ride we passed a rocky wall that had dozens of small charabs placed in the rocky shelves.
Our first night in Fenelon we met up with several other loopers and had dinner at Murphy’s and celebrated Bruce’s birthday from “We Got This” who was traveling with his brother Gil.
On day two we were joined by “Coconuts” and “Brand New Day”. It was a long wait to get them tied up as several local boats took their sweet time departing. We had lunch at The Cow and the Sow restaurant with 10 of us. I stopped off and bought a pizza for the lockmaster as a show of appreciation for him and his team. We took a long bike ride north on the Victorian Rail Trail for about a 20 mile loop. The trail runs north and south and showed signs for the snowmobiles as to distances to fuel stops. We were passed several times by quads who use the trail between cabins and campgrounds.
It was docktails and storytelling with the rest of the loopers on the lock wall before heading to bed for tomorrow’s adventure.