Bonjour Canada

6-10-14

Into Canada

We were up and ready but the rain was putting a damper on the morning. Only sprinkling so we decided to walk to the Dollar General a couple blocks away to see if we could get a couple things and wait till the weather cleared a little, the radar said it would. Got back and filled the boat with fuel and it was clearing up so we pushed off and headed into Canada. Right before we crossed there was a Border Patrol boat circling. I thought for sure we would get boarded. A Florida boat with a bazillion hp on the back in these parts apparently is not normal. Turned on the cloaking device and snuck by. Pulled into Canadian Customs and in a couple minutes we were on our way. They were very friendly and even volunteered to take our picture.

We got to the first lock in the Chambly system at Saint Jean, tied to the dock and after a few minutes called the lock master for instructions. He politely informed us that we would be first in line for the 12:30 lockage, tomorrow. Well apparently until June 20th, they are on a 2 lockage  per day schedule. Oh well. Walked into town,  checked out the sights and found a restaurant to eat at. We parked in front of another couple doing the loop in stages so we chatted with them for a while. 

Ken and Candice on the Seventh Sun doing the loop in stages behind us.

There was a little park area and walkway/bike trail next to the canal system and it was a nice dockage spot except, about every teenager old enough to drink brought a 12 pack to the park and hung out. That was ok but most of them were using the river for a garbage can. Cans, bottles, and boxes were just tossed into the river. Lazy little dicks were to sorry to walk 50' to the garbage can. The police showed up a few later and escorted one group out. I hate dirt bags. Sorry, rant over. Luckily it got quiet for the night and all was well.

6-11-14
Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu to ?

We started the day not knowing how long it would take to get through the locks so we got ready about 07:30 just in case. About 09:00 the "Bridge Master" lady, we had to clear a bridge before we entered the Canal, got on the radio and informed us that we could go through when she opened. We were the 3rd one to call the day before so we were told to go third in line. We went all of 4 tenth's of a mile and came to a halt at the first lock. Then we had to wait for the 12:30 lockage. There was not enough room in the lock for another boat. Oh well, we hung out and walked around and got our pass for the entire lock system and for the lock walls so we could camp out at the locks instead of staying in marinas. Apparently more of the locks have power. We planned on doing less marinas and more "camping" on the lock walls to walk into the towns and see the sights. About 12:30 we were into the lock and on our way. We thought.

When we got into the lock with the sailboat Nyx, they figured out they could fit another boat in so they told the other 3 boats that were left before the bridge to come up. After a while another sailboat, the next in line, got into the lock and off we were. Something told me this wasn't going good to go well. Out of the lock and off we go, at 10 kph for the entire canal system. We were told by the Bridge Master, who ended up travelling ahead of the pack to open every bridge, that the sailboats could only go 5 knots so stay with them. Actually was a nice ride through the canals.

 After a couple locks we, us and the Nyx, exited but the other sailboat didn't come out of the lock. We got to the next lock and were told he broke down. Awesome. They were going to wait for him.

Somebody got bored and was flirting.

 After a few minutes he showed up. The whole time through the locks I was watching the weather and saw the big band of rain on the way. A couple of Locks later he broke again and they just left him in the lock and sent us down. It was pretty interesting to see them open and close the locks and valves by hand. The same lock crew went ahead of us after each lock and opened the next one. At the end of the Chambly was the flight locks. Out of one and right into to the next for 3 locks for a drop of 24 meters. 

Right as we got out the wind picked up and the rain was upon us. Only light rain, but windy. Right about them we were buzzed by a couple of sea planes. A couple took off in front of us but we were headed down wind so guess which way they were headed. Yep. Figured they had more to loose so I just kept going.

It was lightly raining so we were just putting cause we knew we would not make the Saint-Ours lock in time for an opening. Wendy got out the skillet, cooked chicken and rice while we were putting. The inverter sure comes in handy.

Apparently this is a new mountain, as far as mountains go.

 Ate dinner on the cruise and made it to Saint-Ours before dark. Tied up, walked the park next to the dam and Lock before we called it a day.

6-12-14 to 6-14-14

Saint-Ours to Montreal

A couple hours after we reached the lock, the sailboat Nyx pulled in last night. They to were going good to Montreal.  We locked through and got underway. The weather was good and the scenery was good so we just putted along until we reached to St. Lawrence. There was more rain coming but it looked like we might be able to beat it to Montreal.  We set the cruise at about 30mph and almost made it there before the weather. Several miles out the wind and sprinkles hit. Got into the Montreal Yacht Club before the heavy stuff hit. For some reason they decided to put us in the smallest slip they had. Had barely enough room to squeeze in but the dock hand did say what a great "pilot" I was. Didn't even know I could fly. Had to tighten up the ropes on the next boat cause it was flying all around and almost hitting our boat. Had dinner on the boat and called it a day.

Somebody's in trouble.

The next day, it was still raining on and off but one of us decided, not me, that we should go walk around a bit. We were trying to dodge rain showers and see the sights. Got back to the boat soaked and started to dry things out but the rain kept coming. Decided to stay another day so we could see more tomorrow when it was supposed to be nice.

Nice weather and a weekend equal crowds.

Finally, got up and the weather was nice. The Harbor Master lady felt sorry for us and gave us 2 free passes for the I - Max theater so we walked over there first thing for a show on Madagascar, in 3D. Left that and was determined to find the Underground city of Montreal. Somehow we stumbled down some stairs and found it. Looks like a big mall underground to me. You see the same things in an above ground mall, store after store. It was cool how they connected all the areas with tunnels which in the winter are full, I'm sure. After about 2 minutes I was done but Wendy managed to get some shopping in. After the long walk there, we decided to find the IGA grocery store but it was on the other side of the marina in town. We were about to give up but looked up and we were standing in front of it. Got some supplies and headed to the boat to get it ready for the journey tomorrow. It seemed like a 100 kilometer walk. 

Bonjour 911, I need a ride to boat.

6-15-14

Montreal to Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Lock

Once again the weather was great for a trip through the rivers and locks. We knew we had to go through the St. Lawrence locks so we checked the private vessel lockage schedule and it said 10:30 and 14:00. Showed up early and there was already boats waiting. We waited several hours and finally got into the lock. We knew were not going good to be locked right through at the next one so we just putted down and still got there early.

Wendy making more friends. 

 We waited for a couple hours and one of the other boats from Canada was getting Impatient. He got on the direct line to the lock master and the lock master said they had another ship coming, we would have to wait. When he was walking back down the dock I could not understand a word he was saying but knew what it meant. He was not happy. Finally after the next ship they sent us through.

Wendy all dressed in her finest lockage outfit.

 When we hit the river past the lock we put the cruise on and ran to Saint Anne Bellevue Lock. Man oh man was it a busy stretch of rivers. We made our way to the lock and it was absolutely jammed packed. The little town was apparently THE place to hang out in your boat. 

To make matters worse the water level was up so almost the entire right side was unusable. The water was even with the concrete dock so bumpers would not work. Luckily as we pulled in another boat was leaving one of the stairs that lead down so we tied to the staircase with bumpers. Right then the Montreal Police rode past slowly and they were eyeing our bazillion horse power. They had that, yea baby nod going. After we got back from walking the town and getting dinner, the other side thinned out so we moved over to a better spot. We hung out in the great weather and saw another nice sunset.

Enough fun for one day.

6-16-14 till 6-18-14

Sainte-Anne-De-Bellevue to Le Chateau Montebello

(Sounds expensive)

After a good night's rest, we got moving as soon as we could get locked through the Sainte -Anne lock. The weather was once again perfect. We mostly putted along and enjoyed the sights at least till we got to the Carillon Lock. We arrived at it and it was already open with another boat that just pulled in. It was the biggest one yet with a 65' lift. It had a floating dock to tie to so no hanging on to ropes.

Didn't take long to get to the top so hardly any delay in getting up river even though we were not sure again were we would stop. Read about the Le Chateau Montebello and decided to try it although just the name sounds expensive. We have not been off the boat since the Solomans so when we arrived we ask if the slip was free if we got a room. To my surprise, it was but we knew the rooms would not be cheap. Right we were. Oh well, can't take it with you when you die so we bit the bullet and got a room for 2 nights. The place was really nice and it was quiet, I like quiet. I think we read something about it being the biggest log cabin in the world, I would not doubt it. The little town was a short walk away if we decided to go. We arrived late in the day so we packed mulled our stuff in to the room, on the 4th story of course, came back down to cook pork chops on the boat. The marinas guys were really nice, they even let us use one of there grills. Crashed out in style. The next day we decided to stroll into town, like we haven't done enough walking. 

Come to find out our little quiet joint was not going to be quiet very long. Yep, a Rock fest was coming to town. There was already a ton of workers setting up for it. We went into this place to eat, the only one we could find open, to get some breakfast. I ordered French Toast but I didn't know it was regular toast served in French. Boy was I dissapointed. Most expensive 2 pieces of bread ever. Did have butter on it. Walked across the street to the grocery store for a couple things and hoofed it back to the Montebello.

 Walked around the place and they got a lot of stuff to do. The place had a huge open center lobby with 4 long wings off of that with rooms. It was impressive.

Look, a real bathroom.

We figured we spent enough on the room so we cooked out on the boat again. The cheap came back out in me. 

6-18-14

Montebello to Ottawa.

After 2 days of high society, we had to get back on the boat and get on with it. Left The Montebello and wanted to make the top of the Flight of Locks in Ottawa. 

It's red on right, not right at the red.

Got there mid day and we were the only ones headed up so we were the attraction for the moment. It was quite the sight to go from the bottom to the top. There were a ton of kids running around I guess from school being out and of coarse about every other one would have to yell out LeHooker. Once again, all the way up the topic was how fast could we go and those big motors. Talked to several people, everybody was curios about the boat and the 2 crazy Americans doing the loop in that thing. Everybody was real nice and it was a pleasant time just chatting with everyone. After a cool ride to the top, we found a spot on the wall just past the top and stopped for the day. 

Our parking spot right downtown

We were right in downtown Ottawa so not to far to see the sights and to walk for some supplies, beer. And ice.  We walked through town and found the rib fest that was happening just a couple blocks away. Perfect. Parked downtown in the boat, got beer, and now a BBQ rib fest. BBQ everywhere. They had several blocks closed down for the rib fest. Only one problem with our spot. This lady kept staring at us for the whole time we were there. 

I think she wanted our BBQ. Kind of spooky so we went to bed.

EDIT: WE OFFICIALLY PASSED THE 2000 MILESTONE MARK IN OTTAWA. 2017 MILESTONE SO FAR.