Another cool day comes to an end. 44◦58'.970N 75◦47'.154W

We left Ottawa around 10am, after having gone to 2 different shops looking for some new handlebars for my bike. You would think that a city like Ottawa with bikes everywhere would have handle bars to fit my bike. You would be wrong! We made our way to the first bike shop that has everything but handle bars for my bike. They sent us to another bike shop and still no luck. I ended up settling for a lower rise bar on the premise that if I do not like them, our bike shop in Hamilton definitely has them.

Anyway, once that task was out of the way, we set out down the Rideau only to come face to face with the Kawartha Queen. This thing is massive. So big that they have to bend it's nose up so it will fit in the locks. We were delayed for quite a while as they manoeuvred this big lady out of the locks. 

After the queen came out, we were delayed a bit longer as they let water rush through the lock in order to try to raise the water level in the remainder of the river. It's a good thing we were tied up, because the current was incredible. Once through all of this, we finally made our way to Burritt's rapid. The lock was closed, but fortunately, the lock master had stayed late and was there to catch our lines. 

The dock at the bottom of this lock has horrible cleats. Cleats should have ears, so that an approaching boat can toss a line over it and the ears will prevent it from sliding off. The Boater can then pull themselves in by pulling the line tight. 

This lock's dock has these horrible cleats, that have no ears and the hole is right through the piece of steel. This hole causes the line to be sawn right through by the sharp edges. 

To prevent this wear on the line, we placed a piece of plastic pipe over the line. We talked to the lock master about it and he says it's a cost saving measure as the cleats double as a place to use to take the docks out of the water at the end of the season. Guess it does not matter that a boater cannot actually tie to them when no one is around to catch the lines or that they cut through the lines? Well at least we had some form of solution for the problem, but I must say, I am not amused. We're here now safe and sound so I guess it does not matter. Tomorrow we only have a few miles to go as we plan on spending some time in Merrickville which is only 6 miles away. My friend Grace tells me this is the best place to get an ice cream cone and Grace is never wrong! I will find out for sure tomorrow. Good night all.