Seaway Lock Hike – April 20, 2007

Friday, April 20, 2007
11:00 – 14:15
Start: 11:08
Roads: Dry / Clear
Visibility: 24km
Temp: +18C
Area: Seaway Locks – 3rd Canal
Vehicle: Suburban
Weather: Bright and Sunny
Trail Conditions: Some Mud
Hikers: Tori, Chris, Wolf, Dogs
Plan: Hike around the locks and shoe Chris their beauty and history

—> Red Nose Hike <— We arrived behind GM plant 2, geared everyone up and headed towards the train bridge. A small valley reveals an old run-off control section of the previous canal. We crossed the train bridge and headed south to one of the old locks. The lock had an orange lifering in it which appears to be anchored in place. Chris contemplated a way to retrieve it. The west wall of the lock has started to succumb to the ravages of time. Sadly it is starting to crumble and fall. We headed Nothbound and under the old train bridge. Earlier a single red and black CN train passed over. Chris waived at the train and the conductor blew the air horn. The underside of the bridge shoes beautiful giant sprockets and bearings like an old clock. It is truly a shame that the seaway has let the area go so badly.. We continued southbound on the east side of the locks to the other lock which still has three cars in it. Two of which are inverted. A blue Asian car and white minivan and an old k-car upright. We stopped to relax and enjoy the smells of this warm weather and the phenomenal scenery. Wolf took the opportunity to work on the hike log. We left the lock and headed t the third lock which has always been a favorite of Wolfs as it has places to sit in the form of large flat rocks. Off in the distance we found a large orange lifering. We made our way down the steep, rocky and thorny pathway to a small jetty which had the lifering on it. Wolf let Lupis off his leash so he could make his own path. Arriving at the canal water level, Lupis got a drink when Wolf got Lupis and noticed an old small car. At one point intact, now destroyed by time. The small 4 cylinder engine badly damaged and the little radiator still in place. Chris carried the lifering over her head, then decided to carry it under her arms. It promptly fell into the water. Trying to pick up the life ring, her lipstick fell out and into the water and floated away until Tori caught it with her hiking poles. As Chris fumbled for the lipstick she fell into very deep water and got soaked. We laughed and laughed. We decided to climb up the hill and head up. En-Route back to the trail, Chris slipped backwards and into a hawthorn bush, spikes piercing her buttocks. It looked very painful. We headed southbound to yet another old, decaying lock and breaked to ill out the logbook then headed out southbound on the east side. We hiked along the Glendale Avenue overpass and made the long trek back towards the truck on the west bank of the old canal. By the train bridge went down to the waters edge and let the dogs drink then had to wait for a long train. We returned to the truck with some very exhausted dogs and Tori. Chris wore a pair of boots, purple jogging pants and a lavender top with large orange lifering. Tori wore her Teva sandals, black pants and white/grey Navajo patterned shirt with hiking jacket and her new Schratt 1803 hiking poles which she said helped her ankle quite a bit. Wolf wore his Faded Glory boots with gaiters, black EMS 9-pocket pants, a denim shirt and hiking jacket. Both Wolf and Tori wore their adventure hats. It was a great hike as Friday is a week-day and we saw nobody on the trails.