Merrickville to Smiths Falls

Left our spot at 8:30, others needed the space for locking down.

Out past some pleasant countryside, a few miles later, past a property I owned when in Canada, a piece of waterfront on the Rideau, now someone is building a sizable house by the look of the basement stucture.

Then about 8 miles to Kilmarnock Lock –  in a narrow cut off to the left of the river

Has it’s own hand cranked swing bridge which opens only when the lock gates open.

Five miles later Edmonds, very remote.

and two miles later Old Slys – a high railway bridge, two locks and another swing bridge, hidden down a long narrow cut from the river in a shady rural spot, but no mooring facilites

Half a mile round the next bend, Smiths Falls a tidy sized town with good facilities for the boater.

The three old locks have been replaced but are still used as kind of window box for flowing plants in barrels

The new lock combines a new road and footpath with a single thirty foot lift lock (not Carrilon, but as big as one would like to see wooden gates)

We are on the wall below the lock, it’s quiet down here all the noisy action is upstairs.

We will lock up first thing 9:00 am tomorrow.  But first beer buying, lunch and laundry (priorities, priorities).

Author: Low Wattage

Expat Welshman, educated (somewhat) in UK, left before it became fashionable to do so. Now a U.S. Citizen, and recent widower, playing with retirement and house remodeling, living in Delaware and rural Maryland (weekends). View all posts by Low Wattage