14 June - Return to Port Dalhousie.

To make a long story short, yesterday I made a trip to Port Dalhousie early in the morning.  Walked around a bit and found most of the shops closed.  I could not find any Information Centre, so down to the beach and found a good park for picnicking.  Thinking this was all of Port Dalhousie, and wasn't setup for a picnic, I headed back to town. 

Knowing the first three of the four Welland canals went through Dalhousie I did a Google search on ‘Dalhousie canal’.  The results of which sent me back there today.

Firstly, I went across the beachfront park to where the first canal started and found an information board telling about its history.  Nothing remains, above ground at least, but I took a photo of where the canal was.  

  On my way across got an interesting shot of a squirrel, on the lakes edge, inspecting a coke can.

Then I walked back towards town and found the first lock of the second canal.  I had walked passed it twice yesterday.  Why I didn’t see it, I don’t know.  It was in plain sight if you were not distracted by the yachts in the marina.  The first photo shows the end of the marina and the entrance to the old lock.

The second photo shows the town side of the lock with the indentation to take the lock gate when opened.  The stonework seems to be in good condition and some of ironwork for the gate hinges are visible.  Above the lock and across the road is the pub where I had lunch.  If only it was open yesterday because sitting there, I would have had a direct view into the lock.

From here, I walked around to the remains of the first lock on the third canal.  Here again the stonework is complete with a lot of the ironwork.  However, this lock had the partial remains of one of the lock gates.

From this lock I headed across the road and joint the walk way and headed up river.  Crossing a long pedestrian bridge, I had my first glimpse of the entrance to the second lock of the third canal. 

 I continued on and although the side of the lock is fenced off with trees and wire net I managed to see the entrance stone work.

On my side of the trees, on beautifully mown lawn, was a series of bollards along the length of the lock.

Following the path and crossing the lawn I reached the other end of the lock. 

Moving in closer I could obtain photograph through the trees looking down the lock to the entrance stone work. 

Now turning around I could see where the canal  once continued —now a fine stretch of parkland and part of the walkway.

At this point, hot and tired, I retraced my steps back to Murphy’s Pup, beside the first lock of the second canal, for lunch.