Montreal to St. Anne

The sun came out when we got to St. Anne but we left Montreal with overcast skies and lots of haze.  Later the haze was so thick it appeared to be fog over the water... this was our view:

We left our marina and passed safely by several eddies that swirled all around our boat before we came to the bridge to exit the harbor. Then the Captain made a sharp turn to starboard putting Miss gg in the St. Lawrence Seaway once again & the Canal de la Rive Sud.  It was not long before we came to the first of two ship size locks in the canal.  At the end of the canal we entered Lac Saint-Louis (Lake!).  

Before we entered the first lock we had to tie up to a floating dock to the left of the lock and buy our lock tickets from a machine.  I had to use the landing loop cause the French Canadians ahead of us were just standing there on the dock talking as if we were not coming in behind them.    The rope slipped out of the Looper the first time but I was able to catch the cleat the second time I tried...whew!  Walter went to buy the tickets while I read the moving sign board with all lock instructions on it...at the end it said report by phone that you are at the lock.  Walter was on his way back to boat when I told him we have to call the lock.... But where was the phone number?!  The captain knew then that he probably should pick up the phone near the ticket despenser.  As he was doing this a loud voice said, "ENTER THE LOCK NOW!"  Apparently this lock master had little patience with pleasure craft and preferred the big ships.  More than once he shouted down to us, "What are you doing?!" when we had the lines all wrong!  I did get him to smile though cause I said having to tell us what to do gave him his job.  Ha!  

Boats raft together with largest boats against wall, smaller boats tied to them and then the sailboats.  This is the first lock.  These 4 boats were just in front of us.   We are rafted to a boat next to wall... 6 boats in the lock.  This was so fun as we go to talk to the other Loopers we had seen from afar but now tied to them.

Here we are entering first into the second of the two huge ship locks.  

Lock open and train bridge going up.....first boat on outside leaves first.

In the second lock we were on the wall and the “Frenchies” rafted to us... they knew we were Americans but thought we spoke French....the woman on the boat was trying to tell me, I think, NOT too close as I pulled them close to our boat..... I couldn't figure out why she was so upset! They had plenty of fenders down. When she thought it was time to release the lines, she kept after me to do it quickly but it was not time and my back was killing me and I wasn't moving fast enough for her.  Finally, I asked her, "Do you speak English?".... again the standard answer.. “oh yes”... HA!  I was glad to let them go.....

Soon after we were out on the lake a large ship passed us... the St. Lawrence Seaway runs through the Lake in a deep Channel.

 

We reached our destination, the sea wall before the lock at St. Anne.   A lovely spot with many outdoor eateries along the walkway.  Many boats are tied up here.....just a few when we stopped so now we know to seek a wall spot early where the locks are concerned.  There are 20 boats here tonight.

 

We had dinner here... delicious shrimp! 

Then the Captain checked out the lock for tomorrow at Sainte Anne-de-Bellevue Canal.   Just after 10a. the first boats will be allowed in the Lock.  Again, like the Chambly Canal, this lock was built long ago to make it possible to travel without going through the rapids on the river.... we will soon be entering the Ottawa River.

This is a 310 year old church just across from the St. Anne Lock.

Pretty Flowers on the waterfront. 

It's hard to believe but everywhere we go lately there's a concert!! Tonight on the waterfront there is a girl playing her guitar and singing and the second act playing now is a trio of two guys and a girl... all have sweet voices and sing wonderful ballads. We are so blessed! Good night all!