Midnight Rambler on the Loop

The adventures of MR5 as she cruises America's Great Loop

About

This is a log of the journey of Midnight Rambler, a forty-eight foot Chris Craft Catalina, as it circumnavigates America’s Great Loop. Although the boat has made this journey in the past with a prior owner, this is the first time that Captain Chris and his wife, Diane, will embark on this yearlong adventurous cruise. America’s Great Loop is approximately 6,000 miles of waterways through eastern United States and parts of Canada, including Canadian canals, the Great Lakes, inland rivers, and the Atlantic/Gulf and Intracoastal Waterways. For more information go to https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/great-loop.html or https://www.greatloop.org/.

Where we are now…

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  • Peterborough to Young’s Point

    Monday, July 20, 2026

    After our brief trip home to recharge, we were back on board, ready for the next chapter of the journey.

    By this point in our Trent-Severn adventure, we had checked off 19 of the waterway’s 45 locks—but the best was still ahead. The next stretch included some of the most spectacular and memorable locks on the entire route.

    First up was the Peterborough Lift Lock, the highest hydraulic lift lock in the world. Instead of the usual lock experience, this engineering marvel simply picks up your boat and lifts it about 65 feet into the air. It’s one of the first two hydraulic lift locks ever built in North America—and, in a fun bit of trivia, both are on the Trent-Severn Waterway.

    If you’re curious about the engineering behind it, you can read all about it online. But the short version is this: it’s an amazingly smooth and fast ride—faster than some elevators I’ve ridden in— and watching an entire boat quietly rise 65 feet is equal parts impressive, surreal, and just plain fun.

    Here are a few of the highlights of the first day back.

    The waterway is becoming narrower as we move along.
    There’s the Peterborough Lock! We’re finally here.
    The left chamber is up so we’re going into the chamber on the right.
    Each chamber is approximately 140 feet long by 32 feet wide and holds 7 feet of water.
    It’s a majestic sight…
    …from every angle.
    Essentially, it’s like a giant swimming pool that is being lifted 65 feet into the air…
    …and we’re in our boat in the pool.
    This is Chris’ view from the stern of the boat looking back,
    and this is his view looking down at the other chamber which was lowered as we were being raised.
    We are fully raised and moving on.
    This is one happy crew member that all went smoothly. (The lock was closed for repairs one week earlier.)
    Trent University was on our way. No, Diane is not interested in a position.
    The waterway is lined with fields upon fields of blooming lily pads.
    These lanes are pretty tight. There isn’t much room for oncoming traffic.
    We had the great fortune of encountering this beautiful blue heron at Young’s Point just pondering life’s journey.
    Have we mentioned how much everyone likes to fish along these waterways? This is one way to do it.
    The grill master is in his glory at the end of a long day’s work. (It’s a good thing because the crew is hungry.)
  • Peterborough and home

    July 10-19, 2026

    We needed to make a quick trip home to Connecticut and decided that Peterborough would be the ideal location. It is only 90 miles from the airport in Toronto, has a secure marina where we could safely leave the boat for several days, and even has an Enterprise rental car location nearby (yes, they really do pick you up!).

    Before settling into the marina, we spent a few days tied up at two different lock walls—Scotts Mills and Ashburnham—which gave us a chance to experience a couple of different corners of the city. By the time we finally moved to the marina, we were beginning to feel like locals.

    As it turned out, what began as a practical stop became an enjoyable surprise. Peterborough had plenty to see and do, and we ended up making the most of our extended stay.

    On our way to Peterborough, Chris spotted a loon!!
    Then, he spotted another with a baby loon!
    Of course, the trip wouldn’t be complete with spotting some red chairs.
    While at Scotts Mills, we had the pleasure of watching an osprey hunt for dinner…
    …and plenty of fisherman fishing…but not for dinner. It’s a good thing, because we never witnessed any catching.
    Enjoying a sunset after a rain shower
    Although it’s difficult to make out its features, this is a black squirrel. They are as common in Ontario as the grey squirrel is in Connecticut. I’ll keep trying for a better shot…photo, that is.
    Another beautiful church on our travels
    We took a ride to the extraordinary Peterborough lift lock, which we will travel through after our return.
    There are two large pans filled with water.
    As the heavier pan lowers, the lighter pan raises. Here, the one on the right is being lowered…
    …and lowered…
    …and the one on the left is raised.
    Boats of all sizes–including kayaks–travel through this lock.
    This is a photo of the annual kayak event where hundreds of kayakers will squeeze into this lock.
    A display of the Trent-Severn Waterway in the visitor’s center at the Peterborough lock
    As happens, the Peterborough lift lock was out of service due to a flood in the basin.
    The issue with the lock prevented boats from passing for several days, thus causing a pile up around us.
    Birds on a branch
    By Chris Nebel
    A magnificent wooden bench outside of the Canadian Canoe Museum
    The entrance to the museum does not prepare you for what lies within.
    There is a workshop and courses for building and repairing canoes.
    There is a room with a Class “A” Museum Environmental Control standards to protect over 600 historically significant watercraft, birch-bark canoes, and kayaks.
    Even though we could only peer into the room through a large window, we were both in awe of the treasures there.
    Then, we made our way through this amazing museum.
    A map of Canada’s waterways
    Peterborough fountain by day
    Peterborough fountain by night
    We paid a visit to the Peterborough Art Museum. It’s focus was on local artists.
    The primary exhibit was The Pinks by Lyn Carter. These pink carved pieces are then set to animation.
    We were entertained and enthralled by The Pinks animation.
    Once the Peterborough lock was fixed, the first boat to travel was the Karwathas Voyager, a small cruise ship that travels to Kingston, Ontario and back.
    The cruise ship was built to fit in the locks on the Trent-Severn.
    The bow folds up to shorten the length.
    It’s time to go home. Yes, we are flying on a very small plane.
    Chris is attending his 50th year high school reunion at Staples High School.
    I’ll bet they all look the same as they did 50 years ago, right?
  • Campbellford and Hastings

    July 7-9, 2026

    Here are scenes from our visit to the river towns of Campbellford and Hastings.

    It may not be a big town, but it’s big enough to have traffic jams.
    How can you beat being docked right in the heart of town? Well, it’s OK if you don’t mind listening to the bell tower that rings every 15 minutes. Chris did not enjoy being reminded of the passage of time. Tick-tock, tick-tock.
    The white tent is in preparation for the annual IncrEdible Edible Festival. We were just a few days too early.
    This is the opposite side of the river, another beautiful park with music concerts on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
    It’s the giant toonie! The toonie is the Canadian 2 dollar coin.
    The toonie features the polar bear by artist Brent Townsend on one side…
    …and Queen Elizabeth II on the reverse side.
    Of course, the actual toonies being produced since 2023 now have King Charles III.
    We finally paid a visit to Canadian Tire! For my fellow Rhode Islanders, it’s a lot like the old Benny’s—one of those stores that seems to have a little bit of everything. From automotive supplies and household essentials to toys, games, and more, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular.
    Where would we be without our phones??
    Ah, technology, even as we travel we remain connected.
    Campbellford seems to be a great place to retire.
    This could be Diane’s next car. Just plug it in, charge it up, then go.
    Artistic shot I
    By photographer Chris Nebel
    Artistic shot II
    By photographer Chris Nebel
    Artistic shot III
    By photographer Chris Nebel
    Another artistic shot? Or just a photo of Barkley and Slippers anxiously awaiting the return of Gail and Tim.
    In case we haven’t shown you enough geese…here’s several families worth. They’re everywhere!
    Den, look!! It’s a Fuji plant located on the same site as a chocolate company. Who knew?
    A beautiful limestone church.
    Sadly, this church closed…permanently.
    We’re moving on to Hastings. Gail and Tim are innovatively trying to stay cool with their mini fans. It might catch on…or maybe not.
    A private bridge to a private island…with two Adirondack chairs, of course.
    All along the river, we encountered a lively boating community, with every type of small watercraft imaginable—from kayaks and pontoon boats to jet skis and runabouts.
    We were treated to a beautiful sunset in Hastings after dining with Gail and Tim one last time before parting journeys. They will continue forward while we take some time to go home to Connecticut.
    A typical residential community on the river
    An architectural beauty with a boathouse
    Captain Gail at the helm. Goodbye for now, Tug Along! Until we meet again!
  • The Trent-Severn Waterway, Locks 1-12

    July 2-6, 2026

    And so the locking begins… again!

    Our adventure has officially kicked into high gear as we started our trek along the infamous (at least in the boating world!) Trent-Severn Waterway. For Loopers, just hearing the name brings a mix of excitement, anticipation… and maybe a few butterflies.

    The Trent-Severn is a 240-mile canal stretching from Trenton, Ontario, to Georgian Bay on the eastern side of Lake Huron. Along the way, we’ll make our way through 44 locks. Yes, forty-four! By the end, we should feel a great sense of accomplishment and elation—or possibly a little exhausted.

    Some of these locks are among the most unique in the world, including the incredible Peterborough Lift Lock and the one-of-a-kind Big Chute Marine Railway. We’ll save those stories for when we experience them firsthand—they definitely deserve their own spotlight.

    For now, here are some of the highlights from our first twelve locks….

    Ta – da-a-a-a! And awa-a-a-a-y we go!
    Lock 1: the first of forty-four. The first one always seems to be the easiest.
    The locktender is handing me a sort of welcome packet containing informational magazines and a map of the Trent-Severn. Many of the locktenders are students on summer break. We found all of them to be very friendly and welcoming.
    These are some of major stops along the waterway. We plan to stop in each one.
    I am all suited up and ready for locking. The gear includes the headset (a.k.a. “marriage savers”) for communicating with the captain, a Mustang life jacket which will automatically inflate if I fall in the water, a whistle to hopefully get the captain’s attention if I’ve fallen in the water, and gloves because the walls and cables are covered with a healthy growth of freshwater green algae.
    We are in a lock that is about to be raised. At the wall ahead, there are the two doors at the top and a cement wall at the bottom. The chamber must fill with enough water so that the bottom of our boat will clear the cement wall.
    Mostof the locks are still manually operated. These two locktenders are turning the cranks that will open the doors to the lock. There are locktenders on each side for each door. This needs to be done after all boats have entered to close the doors and before leaving to open the doors.
    At the end of our first day, we only made it as far as lock 4. Lock 7 up ahead had lost power and caused a back up of boats along the waterway. Thus, the lockmaster at lock 4 advised us to stay in place for the night. It was isolated and serene.
    The locks are left at their highest water level overnight.
    So, what does one do in an isolated location on a very hot night? We decided to cool down in this very inviting “pool” (or full lock).
    Certainly, Chris needs to work on his diving form.
    It was absolutely refreshing!!
    Some of our fellow boating neighbors agreed to join us.
    The next morning, our lockmaster treated all boaters to coffee from Tim Horton’s, the Dunkin Donuts of Canada.

    Locking with friends

    At lock 7, Frankford, some loopers friends informed us of a pop-up truck serving burgers and fresh cut French fries…
    so, of course, we had to give it a try while out on an exploratory bike ride. One can work up quite an appetite while exploring and riding.
    Dinner with friends at Dimitris in Frankford, Ontario: Tom and Ellen (Sea and Air); Gail and Tim (Tug Along); and Betty Ann and Jairaj (Yatra).
    There are numerous camp sites and summer homes along the Trent-Severn thus making it a delightfully scenic ride. And most have Adirondack chairs…and most chairs are Canadian red. Here’s two outliers.
    The locks on the Trent-Severn are slightly smaller than those on the Erie and Oswego. The latter can hold approximately six large boats of approximately 45-50 feet tying to each wall, whereas the former can only accommodate two large boats each with one small boat rafted to their side.
    This is one time that Gail is more than happy to be on a smaller boat.
    After all the swan sightings, we finally see one nesting.
    At lock 10, we think we’ve hit the jackpot when we are granted access to a picnic gazebo and a full-size grill. Expectations are really low when looping.
    Interestingly, this picnic site comes with a sleeping pod.
    Is that an alien in the pod?? No, it’s just Betty Ann.
    Lock 11/12 is a double lock and is doubly high. The total rise is approximately 48 feet. You can’t be afraid of heights for this lock.
    Tom and Ellen (Sea and Air) arrived at Campbellford a day earlier and just happened to be at the top when we were coming through.
    A good deal of the walls of the Trent Severn are covered with primarily invasive Quagga mussels and Zebra mussels. Although small, approximately 1-2 inches in length, they can be razor sharp.
    This bouncy ball that we were using as an inexpensive tender was the victim of too many razor sharp mussels.
    A camping scene along the Trent. Can you spot a red Adirondack chair?
    In addition to the red Adirondack chairs, there were numerous Canadian flags.
    This scene has neither the red chairs or the flag, but it has a nice barn.
    And this scene has red chairs aplenty as well as a nice flag atop a nice pole.
    The Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge in Campbellford is a highly recommended point of interest. (Chris is still disputing the claim that it’s a suspension bridge.)
  • Picton and Trenton, Ontario

    June 28, 2026

    For those of you who think Canada is a cool escape in the summer… we have news for you—it isn’t!

    Our ride to Picton, Ontario was absolutely delightful, with a refreshing breeze drifting across Lake Ontario. We foolishly assumed that would be the theme of the trip. Then we arrived in Picton’s beautifully sheltered harbour, where the breeze disappeared, the sun turned up the thermostat, and we found ourselves in what felt like a giant outdoor sauna. Since then, the heat has faithfully accompanied us from stop to stop. Apparently, it didn’t want to miss the adventure either!

    Thankfully, the scenery, the charming towns, and the wonderful experiences have more than made up for the sweat. We’re thoroughly enjoying every stop along the way.

    Here are a few photos from our visits to Picton and Trenton, Ontario. We hope you enjoy them—and if you’re looking to cool off this summer, you may want to keep looking!

    It was a cool, smooth boat ride with light breezes from Lake Ontario.
    A sculpture and some Canada geese welcome us into the harbor.
    Chris is obsessed with knotting the lines to make them look “yachty”.
    An beautiful, elegant sailboat in the harbor.
    This is a glimpse of downtown Picton. Apparently, Ontario celebrates Pride Month annually in June with celebrations extending into the summer months through a broader initiative known as “Pride Season.” Of course, we managed to find the ice cream shop.
    The Picton Municipal dock was perfectly new…but perfectly hot!
    I tried making a call but didn’t have the correct change.

    Trenton

    Smooth as glass. I wish all our rides could look like this.
    We passed many beautiful landscapes and rolling hills. Red rooftops seemed to be a popular style.
    Trent Port Marina (TPM), where we stayed for three nights, is a very well kept and fairly new facility.
    The harbor surrounding the TPM is home to dozens — perhaps hundreds — of swans.
    And, of course, more Canada Geese. Don’t worry, this goose has another leg. They tuck their legs up to keep them warm. I’m not sure how they could feel cold in this heat.
    Trent-Severn Waterway hosts a variety of aquatic plants, both beneficial native species and highly aggressive invasive weeds. Native species—such as Watermilfoil, Curly Pondweed, and Cattails—are vital for fish habitats and water quality. However, invasive weeds can become problematic for boaters.
    An aquatic weed harvester is used to clean some of the weeds out of the water…which is a daunting task…but fun to watch.
    The strawberry moon was spectacular from our boat.
    Zipping around town on our e-bikes. They are great for increasing the exploration radius.
    July 1 is Canada Day!
    We rode our bikes over to City Park, the location of a Canada Day celebration. There were pop-up stands with an international array of foods.
    Live music was provided by a band of young musicians who were very entertaining.
    A petting zoo was provided by a local farm.
    This black rabbit was larger than our cats…and, boy, it had quite the apetite.
    The baby goats were my favorite. I especially enjoyed watching the kids interact with the kids. Baaa-haaa-d joke!
    It was so hot, both humans and animals were taking a break.
    A quick and wild storm with extremely strong wind gusts whipped through the marina.
    The storm lasted only 10 minutes and left behind a beautiful sky.
    The Rambler’s night lights. We were hoping to see fireworks, but they were postponed due to inclement weather.
    Prior to leaving TPM, Chris gathers up weeds to avoid having them get sucked into our engines.
    Like any good captain, he had to make sure that it was completely removed, and we left TPM slightly cleaner.