We're at the top! 44◦38'.745N 076◦19'.341

I got my bike ride this morning and what a treat it was. It was quiet in town and Merrickville is a lovely town to bike through. I got to see the glass blowers house, although it was so early, he was not open yet. Too bad, I always wanted to see that first hand. We left our cozy spot above the road and made our way through 7 more locks to arrive in Newboro.

Newboro is the summit of the Rideau Canal. Guess it's all downhill from here:) No seriously it's all downhill from here, regardless of which direction you take. What's interesting about this site is that it was never in the original plans that Colonel By had envisioned. Newboro sits between the Rideau River and Newboro lake. What Colonel By wanted to do, is simply cut a very deep trench through this little swatch of land and let the water level itself out between Chaffey lock and Poonamalie. However the digging was so difficult in this area that he went through 2 contractors before deciding that he needed to change his plans and make this more shallow and add a lock. 

This was also a strategic area for damaging the locks so he built a block house (one of 4 on this waterway) which was placed just right to defend the lock should any Americans try to come destroy it. He wanted a block house at every lock station but apparently they had budget issues back then too! The little slit you see in the wall was actually a gun slot. Kind of looks like a nose on a funny face to me. 

Today was absolutely beautiful again. You could not ask for better OR like the lock master in Merrickville said, "You could ask for better, but then you'd be a jerk!" The Rideau lake was like glass, nary a whisper of wind and a temperature in the high 20's made for the perfect cruising day. Where was that weather when we were in Ottawa? 

We crossed the 26' lock in Smithville. This used to be 3 locks but they merged them all into one now. It's impressive, but you feel like you are in a cave when they close those big lock doors.

We went for a lovely walk after dinner, there is a marina practically attached to the lock grounds and some cabins close by as well. I'm very pleased we got to stop here tonight and enjoy the beautiful weather with a cold drink on the lido deck.  Tomorrow we are headed for who know where! Wherever the mood strikes us to stop. So you'll have to wait with baited breath until tomorrow night.

Good night all