JULY 28-29: MONTEBELLO TO OTTAWA

July 28:  We were fortunate to meet up with fellow Loopers that we met while doing the Great Loop.  Wayne and Francine live on the Ottawa River and they invited us to visit them on our way up the river.  Even though the Lock at St. Anne only opened at 10:00 a.m., we left the dock and got in line to lock through as we expected a big crowd wanting to lock through today.  We were called on to go into the lock first and locked through with several other boats.

A busy ferry crossing point.   Many of these ferries operate on a cable system so boaters need to give them a wide berth to ensure that the cables have dropped deep enough into the water.

Approaching Carillon Lock.  This lock will raise us 65 feet and operates with a gate that is lowered once the boats are inside.

View entering this large lock.

This is one of several locks that has a floating platform inside the lock.  This makes it locking through easier for pleasure craft as once the boat is tied to the platform your job is done as the entire platform floats up or down as the lock is flooded or emptied.  It started to rain while we were in the lock but did not last too long.

We docked in front of Wayne and Francine's house and they treated us to a fabulous gourmet dinner.  They were very gracious hosts and we enjoyed our stay with them and their friendly dog Skipper.

July 29:  The next day we made a short run to Montebello and tied up at the town dock.  Thanks to Wayne, we were able to reserve a spot there as the phone recording stated that they were not open for business.  When we arrived, the dock master said that he did not have space for us but relented when we produced the name of the town manager with whom Wayne spoke to earlier.  

The town dock recently sustained significant damage from a tornado and changed management which is what initially lead to the confusion about available space.  The dock was rather exposed to wakes from passing boats but we figured we could survive there for one night.

We took a short walk into town to visit the famous Montebello Chateau.

The Chateau was built in 1930 and boasts that it is the largest log cabin structure in the world.  It operates as a pricey high end resort that has hosted many famous dignitaries including Presidents Reagan, Clinton and both Bushes.

The Chateau offers many sporting activities including horse riding.  This handsome fellow was taking a break for a spot of hay.

Any town would be remiss without the customary church in the center of town.

July 30:  We left as soon as it was light as our destination today is Hull which is a 42 mile trip.  Hull is in the Gatineau region and is directly across the Ottawa River from Ottawa.  We plan to spend two nights there before crossing over to Canada's Capital City.

JULY 25-27: MONTREAL TO ST. ANNE DE BELLEVUE

July 25:  Montreal to St. Anne: We left Montreal a few pounds heavier.  Oh well, it will have to be lettuce leaves not croissants for a few days to get back to normal.  The passage out of the Old Port was fast and furious but this time the current was with us and we hit 12 knots.  Once out of the area where the current is the strongest, we turned and headed up the St. Lawrence Seaway to Saint Lambert Lock which is the first of two commercial locks that we have to transit today.

Heading up the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Commercial vessels have preference in these locks.  So pleasure craft have to dock and wait for clearance to enter the lock.

This big guy jumped the queue ahead of us.  

Seen here entering the lock.

The lift in the St. Lambert Lock is 18 feet.  This gives a good idea of how long the lock is.  It is definitely made for the large commercial vessels that ply the St. Lawrence Seaway.  The second lock, the St. Catherine Lock has a lift of 32 feet.

The pleasure craft are packed in and rafted together three across.

Here is another big guy headed our way!  

We finally made it to St. Anne-de Bellevue at 6:00 p.m.  The entire journey was only 35 miles but it took us 10 hours due to long waits that we encountered at the two large commercial locks.   Fortunately, we found space at the lock wall despite the late arrival.

July 26-27:  St. Anne-de-Bellevue is a very popular spot with local boaters.  Both sides of the canal were jam packed with boats by early morning as the weather promises to be good for the weekend.

Not Notre Dame but a lovely church with much simpler ornamentation. 

We enjoyed the town with its numerous restaurants, boutiques and quaint architecture.

Several ice cream stores!

JULY 21-24: MONTREAL

July 21:  Fortunately, the weather improved for our departure today.  We will be traveling up the St. Lawrence Seaway against the current to Montreal.  The current will be against us at 1-2 knots.  The St. Lawrence is wide and deep and is a major commercial shipping artery between North America and the rest of the world.

Small boats like ours must give these large vessels plenty of room.

 As we approach Montreal, the churches become larger and more ornate.

The biggest challenge of the day is entering the channel to the old port of Montreal.  Here we had to fight a current that was against us at 6 knots.  It was a white knuckle ride for the Captain.  This is the clock tower that marks the boundary where the current diminishes at the entrance to the protected harbor.

The Duddon Pilot (back row) safely berthed in the Old Port of Montreal.

Moonrise at le Vieux Port de Montreal.

July 22:  The weather today is gorgeous.  After some very hot days, we are enjoying moderate temperatures in the mid 70s.  So we laced up the walking shoes and headed off for a walk about into Old Montreal.  

The promenade along the Old Port.

Vieux Montreal-Montreal can trace its history back to 1642 when a fortress was established here.
It has many historic buildings, scores of restaurants, cobble stone streets, boutiques and tourists. It is the second largest French speaking city after Paris.

Place de la Commune

The admiral left her hat behind and had to improvise on the head protection gear.

Ladies immortalized in their favorite pastime. 

One of our goals was to visit the large open market which is not in the tourist area.  We were given directions-sort of-and after a few detours and about 3 miles, we finally made it to the market. And boy was it worth it!   

 The outdoor section of the market has every kind of fresh vegetable and fruit.  All displayed perfectly.

 Then there is the indoor section which houses every imaginable type of meat...

 Cheese....

 Pates galore...

 Sausages by the dozen...

 And of course breads....

 Did I mention the pastries....alors!

 We felt like we had died and gone to heaven.  Captain Pierre has been practicing his French and is feeling quite at home.  We felt no guilt in indulging after walking all those miles.

These were the cutest kids.  They were all tied together in a crocodile to keep them together.  They were admiring the ice cream selection.

July 23:  We wised up today and purchased a multi day pass for the metro which also covers all the bus routes.  The metro is easy to use so we took the metro and then a bus to the highest point in Montreal-Mont Real.  It was given its name by the French explorer Jacques Cartier in 1535.

 View of Montreal from Mont Real.  Unfortunately, it was an overcast day so the photographs are rather hazy.

 Le Captain.

 Chateau Montreal

Le Croix de Montreal

July 24:  Another day to play tourist and enjoy the cuisine of Montreal.  

 The Metro is frequent and fast.  Definitely worth purchasing a three day pass.  We felt like locals-only looked like tourists.

 Artistic spin for the mail boxes.

Samuel de Champlain, "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat ...

Notre Dame Cathedral.  Every bit as ornate as its namesake in Paris.  We attended a light and sound show that evening which explained the history and building of the Cathedral.

Inside the Cathedral during the sound & light show.

A 1920s wooden commuter boat berthed in the Old Port Marina.  We were given a tour of the boat by the Captain who explained that it was used to ply the Hudson River between Albany and New York.