Walk With Me #5: Back To Dry Lock 7

In my last "walk with me" post, I explained that @knarly327 and I have a short (1 kilometer) walk to collect our mail. It's held for us in a special community mailbox because our road is too dangerous for the postal carriers to deliver to each house.

The mailbox is on the opposite bank of the Trent-Severn Waterway (which is a really long river system) from where we live.

We have to cross over top of Lock #7 via something that is called a swing bridge to access the mailbox.

This type of bridge accommodates both automotive and marine traffic. When boats need to use the lock, the bridge swings out of the way to let the boats cruise further up stream and continue on their voyage.

Interesting enough (this winter) there is a crew of skilled tradesmen who are completely over-hauling Lock #7 to strengthen its integrity and fortify it structurally. (The Lock system is over 100 years old and it's well used. As a result, it occasionally needs some repairs and general maintenance.)

This Year, It Was Lock #7's Turn

The project started in November and has been going strong, 7 days a week.

Provided nothing unforeseen happens, it is scheduled to be completed by the end of April, 2018.

3 Weeks Ago, The Lock Looked Like This:

                      

The swing bridge is made out of steel girders. You can see it on the other side of the lock. (This is the lock that we must cross using a small temporary (but quite safe) foot bridge, in order to collect our mail.) In the photo (below) you can see that quite a bit of soil is being excavated out of the dry lock and removed.

                      

Now It Looks Like This:

                         

Notice that the swing bridge has been moved. A large crane was used.

                       

Then, it was re-positioned so that it could be worked on. You'll notice the blue paint of the steel girders of the bridge in the background. The photo (below) is looking right down the middle of the bridge, itself.

                     

On the other side of this construction site, is the water and ice that is being held back. This is being done so that the majority of Lock #7 can be kept dry as the tradesmen work.

                      

I took this photo from the platform of the foot bridge and you can see how high the water level is. The water is being held back by the barrier you can see underneath the black pipe with the water freely draining out of it.

Beyond this, is frozen river.

                      

The structure with the orange roof (that you can see in the background) is an ice fishing hut.

People have been ice fishing for the last 6 weeks. The ice achieved 8 inches of thickness this year.

                       

This is a close-up of the fishing hut. This particular one is homemade. There are also commercially fabricated ones that are called "pop-ups". They are portable shelters that are similar to small camping tents. People tend to leave the homemade huts on the ice for weeks at a time but the portable ones are taken down after the fishing is finished for the day. People use these shelters to protect themselves from the elements. Most are outfitted with small propane heaters. It's generally accepted knowledge that more drinking than fishing happens in these little huts.

Pickerel is the fish being caught

Allegedly a fish, plucked from the depth of an icy river tastes better than one caught in the middle of the summer. I cannot speak to whether that is true or not, because I don't eat fish.

I have been told (on more than one occasion) that fish caught in the winter are incredibly delicious and worth braving the elements for. (I know that sounds crazy. I mean who would risk their life for a cold fish?)

I welcome your comments and I invite you to follow me on my journey...secretly, I've always wanted to hot-box one of these little fishing huts, but so far I haven't had the opportunity or an invitation to a hut party yet. When this happens, I'll be sure to tell you all about it.)

~ Rebecca Ryan