Locking up to Hastings Ontario

We arrived at Lock 13 a little after 9a and so they had already taken a boat in and were filling the lock. We knew the first locking was at 9a and knew we would probably not make it..... we were only doing 6 locks today so not as rushed as yesterday. The Lock master came down to meet us as we pulled over to tie up on the blue line. He was almost apologizing telling us we would have to wait about 45 minutes until he got them through 13 and 14 (one flight as some were yesterday). We were perfectly fine with waiting. It gave us a wonderful chance for picture taking... we always want to but the business of locking rarely allows such time.

Even if the Lock master had not come down to catch our lines I could have easily stepped off the boat to tie us up... the blue line dock was about the same height of our boat deck. 

The lock master said he would start to empty the lock to get it ready for us now before he left.  In this photo you can see the water being let out under the lock doors. 

I went up to the top of this high lock to take pictures.  I walked across the closed gates and took many shots but liked this one best. 

In front of one of the lock offices was a cute boat shaped planter that we saw as we were rising in the lock. 

This was taken to show how the lock fills with water... each lock is a bit different.  You can see where it looks like the water is boiling which is water coming in from the bottom and then the spill way over/through the lock gates.  It can be turbulent so you hold or wrap your line tight. 

I had a line so tight that it got stuck UNDER part of the same rope... I could NOT move it.... this was near the top of a lock and the lock crew came over and tried to move it or loosen it but couldn't and then Walter tried and quickly ran for a knife... yeah, my line had to be cut... he told us all to stand back as he thought it might snap back like a rubber band.  There was a heavy load on the line... you could see that the boat was leaning toward the lock wall which was now below us.....he cut the first one and it snapped and then the second one also and the boat came up several inches on the lock wall side.....I am not sure what we would have done had there been a boat beside us.... no one hurt and a good lesson for me to always watch my line in the locks!

Then we headed into the highest lock we have done yet.  It was the Healey Falls double lock.  Here we are approaching it.  

Here we are IN the first part of the lock.  We will rise to the top of the where the solid gray line meets the blue.  Then those doors/gates beyond will open and raise us all the way up.

 We would rise about 27 ft and after the second lock a total rise of 54 feet.

Sorry, but I couldn't let this photo opt pass... yes, here is one nasty picture!   I wanted you to see what we have to look at close up!  

SLIME

We did see pretty scenery today as we began to pass lots of water front cottages both big and small ones.  There was a lady with her little boy at the last lock and she had also been at the Healey Falls locks watching us.  She said they live in Toronto but have a summer cottage here.. they were just down for one week of vacation but in summer they come every weekend. 

As we locked up for the last time today at Hastings we were greeted at the top by this pretty bed of flowers.

Tomorrow we may venture all the way to Peterborough where there is an incredible lift lock.... Canadian friends have suggested we watch others going up in it first.... should be another amazing day. We are so very blessed!