Locks Twenty-One Through Twenty-Five
Located in Thorold, Ontario
After leaving the Pondage area, we need to get to the other side of it to continue on our tour. The easiest way is get on the Highway 406 to Highway 58 and follow it under the Thorold Tunnel. At the lights, make a left hand turn, and follow that road until you come to a stop sign. At the stop sign, make a left hand turn and follow the Seaway Haulage Road all the way until you come to a yellow barrier, just across an old bridge. This is where you are going to park. Follow the trail behind the barrier for quite awhile until just before you see the pondage again, you will see a section of land heading off to the left of you. Almost looking like a land bridge, this is where you need to head in to the bush. Of course, a word of caution, after going through the bush, you will come out on a lock wall. Please be careful as one wrong step and you could fall in. Extreme caution needs to be used in this area!
Lock Twenty-One
This lock is in beautiful condition, mostly thanks to being 80% under the water most of the year, only showing most of itself during the winter canal draining months. I will include pictures of both it being full and drained.
Here are some pictures of Lock Twenty-One full.
and here are some pictures of Lock Twenty-One empty. You will notice that most of the bricks that were under water look brand new as well as there is a greatly preserved wooden lock gate as well at one end of the lock.
Lock Twenty-Two
Heading out of the bush, once you recah the trail again, turn right and keep walking untl you side a big wide path veering off to the right, take this path and this is our next stop. This lock has also been turned in to a weir / pumphouse for the Fourth Welland Canal. This lock shares a lot of smiliarities of Twenty-One as it has a certain section that is underwater and the difference can be seen in the winter months. Once again I will post both full and drained pictures for your enjoyment.
Here are some pictures of Lock Twenty-Two full.
and once again, here is Lock Twenty-Two in the winter drained months.
Lock Twenty-Three
Heading out of Lock Twenty-Two near the pumphouse, you will talk down the path,until you see a trail taking you towards the Fourth Welland Canal. Adjacent to Lock Seven, is the remains of Lock Twenty-Three of the Third Welland Canal. You can actually see them almost side by side on the other side of the canal.
Here are some pictures of Lock Twenty-Three
(No Pictures At This Time)
Lock Twenty-Four
I am sorry to report that this lock is lost to us forever. It is currently underwater of the Fourth Welland Canal!
Lock Twenty-Five
This lock involves more driving to get to. Head back out to the Thorold Tunnel and take the Pine Street exit. At Pine Street, take a left and follow it to the end and make a left at the corner and follow it around. This is Ormond Street. At the end there is a little parking like cove with yet another barrier. Park here and start walking. You will see a path leading towards the Fourth Welland Canal, take this path and just across the bridge you will see a path heading in to the bush, take this path. Just a little upways of that path, you will see a clearing. It is in this clearing that a wall from Lock Twenty-Five is visable.
Here are some pictures of Lock Twenty-Five
