Peterborough Canoe Museum

 

On our last morning at the cottage we woke to a pretty misty morning

and we watched the sun burn it off as we had coffee, breakfast, did some laundry, emptied the frig and generally did what we needed to do to leave everything as clean and tidy as when we had arrived.

On our way to the Canoe Museum, in Peterborough, we passed the lift lock. I have always wanted to see this, so we stopped and chatted a little with the Parks Staff doing some maintenance. As the lock system closes after Thanksgiving we didn't get to see it in operation but it is massive and impressive even when hibernating.

The road goes through a tunnel under the structure.

Next stop.

For more than 25 years, The Canadian Canoe Museum has stewarded the world’s largest and most significant collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft. More than 600 in number, the watercraft and their stories have a pivotal role to play in understanding our past and our collective future. As part of our responsibility for this one-of-a-kind collection, we have built it a new home along the water’s edge at 2077 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough, ON.  From their website.

You can see into the storage area that holds the, over 600, watercraft but

 

it is not open to the public daily, you have to sign up for guided tours. We could see birch bark, dug out and all sorts of colouful canoes and kayaks through the glass.

There was a room where a group of people are building a canoe. From the website it seems that different aboriginal bands can come and make examples of their own particular style of canoes.

The public display area is large,

informative,

colourful and

there are lots of "hands on" activities.

There were many canoes with stories - when they were built, for who, how they were used and handed down through generations...some from native bands, some from cottagers, some from explorers, some from traders.

I found the history of the Hudson Bay Company felt

more important now that the stores no longer exist.

There were examples of beaver pelts, they were surprisingly soft.

There were canoes from every part of Canada,

from coast to coast

as well as some from other parts of the world.

Brains full but stomachs empty, we

got a surprisingly good lunch at the cafe in the lobby. This was cheddar and pear pannini with a lovely salad.

Wanting to walk of lunch

before getting back in the car

we strolled along the river and canal

 

The rest of the journey home was an uneventful drive on the 407 and a greeting from a very lonely cat.