Chaffey’s Lock

Running southwest to northeast from The Perth Road to #15, there is a scenic, winding road known as Chaffey’s Lock Road. Two lanes, with gravel patches every now and then, this is not the route to take if you’re looking for a straightaway and high speeds. The turns are tight and there are enough hills that on-coming traffic is hard to see.

The Opinicon Resort seems to be the only public space along the road. The resort lies near the lock and the old mill, built in 1872, by John Chaffey. The mill is a private building and the lock is part of the Rideau Canal system, running from Kingston to Ottawa.  Visitors can picnic at the lock itself. The narrow bridge is a single lane and will move if there is boat traffic. If I haven’t yet made it clear. Don’t be in a hurry when you are traveling this road.

En route you’ll pass meadows, planted fields and marshes. The shoulders are narrow. In some places, trees grow right up to the road allowance. The people who live along the road value privacy. The farms, cottages and homesteads are often situated far back from the road at the end of a long lane.

The distance from the locks to #15 is shorter and more traveled than the distance from The Perth Road to the locks. So if you must shorten the adventure, start at the #15 end. Pack a picnic, make sure there is a battery in your camera, be prepared to linger.