Morrisburg Lock 23 question

[Air_Miser]

Howdy,

Hoping for some "mapping" info on Lock 23 here. I've done the drift in Morrisburg from the bridge as well as the Augusta street pump-house, and I love this dive (laziness rules, shallow drifting...a tank lasts forever!).

However, I'm still not sure how to find Lock 23 from that starting point, and I'm wondering if there are any landmarks along the road/canal that mark where the lock is. We hit it once by pure luck, heading back to shore based on time/pressure, and there it was, but don't remember anything significant about the South side of the lock that would be an indicator of where we were.

Is there any way of nailing down the location of the actual lock during the drift?

Thanks!
Matt.

 

[JimC]

Many ways to hit it.

From the boat launch, you can see on your left a yellow buoy. This marks the end of the lock, channel side. To hit the lock form htere, start into the water at the boat launch and head straight south untill you hit the old cannal wall. Drift along this untill you hit the lock. If your lucky, you might even get to explore the old power house. When you hit where the first lock doors were (easily identifiable bu the wooden sill) swim north to find the old slushgates, bottles, walking bridges and other interesting things.

Or you can drift down the lockand explore the old piers and shoreline.


The other way to get to the lock, and how I dive it is to go in at the new water works. Head straight south and you should find the old water works fountation. There are some old pipes and pumps in the foundation to look at. When your done there, drift down the canal wall to the old power house. Again, the foundation is full of stuff.. turbines and what not. THen continue the drift down to the lock and explore that.

My way takes more time, you'll be in the water for 60-80 minutes to drift from the water works to the lock and get back to shore.


During the summer there is a LOT of boat traffic, especialy during the poker run (right Art? so watch out for that.. in places you can easily find yourself in 10 feet of water.

 

[Air_Miser]

Thanks Jim!

Many ways to hit it.

From the boat launch, you can see on your left a yellow buoy. This marks the end of the lock, channel side. To hit the lock form htere, start into the water at the boat launch and head straight south untill you hit the old cannal wall. Drift along this untill you hit the lock. If your lucky, you might even get to explore the old power house. When you hit where the first lock doors were (easily identifiable bu the wooden sill) swim north to find the old slushgates, bottles, walking bridges and other interesting things.

Or you can drift down the lockand explore the old piers and shoreline.


The other way to get to the lock, and how I dive it is to go in at the new water works. Head straight south and you should find the old water works fountation. There are some old pipes and pumps in the foundation to look at. When your done there, drift down the canal wall to the old power house. Again, the foundation is full of stuff.. turbines and what not. THen continue the drift down to the lock and explore that.

My way takes more time, you'll be in the water for 60-80 minutes to drift from the water works to the lock and get back to shore.


During the summer there is a LOT of boat traffic, especialy during the poker run (right Art? so watch out for that.. in places you can easily find yourself in 10 feet of water.