Category: Transport

Contrecour to St. Lambert (Montreal) – July 11, 2013

Made an early start to try to get locked through at least one of the big locks on the ship canal.  Painfully slow progress south towards Montreal, revolutions for 8 knots but only making 4 over the ground (that’s why people do not do this trip in this direction) the river currents are against us all the way from here to Ottawa.

 Another of the biggies, they look pretty inconspicuous at first…

Not much s

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St. Antoine to Sorel to Contrecour – July 10-11

Catching up here more to follow.

Through the last lock on the Richleau (St. Ours) early on Tuesday 9th.  Out past this little guy coming up river against the flow, the river is still in flood and the outgoing current carries us along at about 10 knots (well above our normal cruising speed)

Tug s

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St. Jean to Ile Jeanotte to St. Antoine July 7-9 2013

Several days out of touch electronically, so this one is kind of dated, will try to catch up if communications allow.

Started at Lock 9 on the Chambly Canal  (they are numbered from North to  South) at 9:15 am. Saturday  We had talked to the lockmaster and bought our passes the day before and he gave us the first opening, two trawlers 44 and 40 both 16 feet wide in a lock 85 by 20 feet, tight but workable.  I chose the starboard wall (wind was blowing that way) leaving Archie in the other trawler the task of keeping to windward.  He was single handed and was obliged to hire a line handler before they would clear him through to Chambly.

Here’s Archie following us in a wide bit between hazards.

Arch s

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St. Jean sur Richleau – July 6, 2013

(Been out of touch from all but smoke signals for the last two days, Just found a public wharf with a half decent cell phone signal, catching up from here)

 Short trip today, stopped before Lock 9 to get locking pass and mooring pass for the Chambly, Ottawa and Rideau systems in preparation for continuation of our downward steps to the St. Lawrence and Montreal.

Docked on a free wall in St. Jean sur Richleau, very pleasant little town with a French flavor.  Quite a few good restaurants (a review tomorrow perhaps).

A pleasant enough waterfront..

front s

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Back in Plattsburg, NY July 3, 2013

Got back last night around five.  About a five hundred mile drive each way, good country for the first half then into metro NYC and Philly.   About eight hours driving each way.  Rented a little Kia Forte from Enterprise, duly impressed, large trunk (boot) and good mileage, comfortable seats and plenty of pep for the hills.  Seven days for $250.  

 Plan now is to take off tomorrow (July 4) and head for Rouses Point (Canadian Crossing) then into the Chambly Canal/Richleau River system. Next major destination, Montreal about five days by boat.

 Still raining here on and off,  and our first choice route (Erie Canal) has still not reopened.  We are trusting it will by the time we arrive at the Western end (about August 10).

 Cleaned ship all day today, mostly mold of various kinds due to all the damp.

 Fueling and watering in the morning, next stop Canada.