On reaching the world-famous lift locks we were told that we would have to wait until a tug came along with which we would be taken up. One was expected before long. While waiting for this we prepared and ate a sandwich breakfast. We hailed a passing milkman and had a refreshing drink right out of the bottles.
The tug was somewhat later than expected and in spite of the falling mist we had ample time to prowl all over this stupendous monarch of man's mind.
One of the lock keepers suggested that we ask the captain of the tug if we might put our canoes on the barge he was pulling. This, he suggested, would help us make better time through the locks farther up. The captain readily consented to allow us to do this, so as the lift locks raised us rapidly 65 feet, we piled our canoes and duffle on the old scow.
The Ajax took us along the canal as far as the pretty little village of Lakefield. After procuring supplies here, we prepared dinner in the tourist park. Speaking of dinner reminds me that so far I have not recorded anything about the camp cook.
Here let me pay tribute to the excellent chef who arranged and served up three hearty meals all hot and tasty every day; who never complained; who gave orders without seeming bossy; and who burned his fingers without hollering about it. His was no easy job and he seldom if ever got thanks, but if cleaning up every particle of food until the plates shone is a compliment for the head cook, then we paid him eleven compliments three times a day. Good old Ralph.
Lakefield marks the beginning of the Kawartha Lakes district and the scenery from here on is more rugged and primeval than in the Rice Lake section. After paddling along a winding section of the river and going through one more lock we emerged on the somewhat rolling waters of Clear Lake. We traversed this until we reached the site of the Rotary Camp, a camp for boys which is financed by the Rotary Club. They were all out for a hike so we did not stop. It took us quite a while to find a camping site as the shores were so rocky and well wooded.
Finally we found a site near the Rotary Camp which looked as though It had possibilities. Several great boulders had to be removed and a number of fill-ins made before we got a level surface inside the tent. Meanwhile a most elegant stone fire-place was being made by the cook. I found a sloping flat stone so did some of the family wash in soft, soapy water. Jack and Bobs were trying their skill in chopping birch logs in less than nine strokes and Bob, of course, was fishing. While this hive of industry was at its buzziest, Mr. Loomis (Rotary camp director and a friend of Ralph) and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Redfern (nee Evelyn MacLaurin) came over to pay their respects.
Clear Lake did not provide us with mosquitoes for which we were devoutly thankful and consequently we had a cool, refreshing, peaceful night’s sleep.
[♬ Listen to a recording of Alec Gordon's composition, 'Moonlight on the Lake' ♬]
