Quest on the Loop: Sainte Anne Bellevue, QC

Leaving Old Port Montreal

We left Port d’Escale at 7:30 to go 3 miles downstream to another marina to get fuel and a pump out before starting back upstream for 39 miles to Sainte Anne. We were joined by Murial June as we passed the cut to Port d’Escale and continued about 3 miles to the Sainte Lambert Lock on the St. Lawrence River. Allen (Murial June) had checked the internet site for the locks and it indicated we would be able to lock through after 10 a.m. We got there at 10 and after purchasing our transit tickets for the two locks we would got through today at $25 each, waited until 2 p.m. before we got our turn. We waited while three ships went through the lock then the lockmaster informed us the breaker on the lock doors had malfunctioned and we would have to wait for it to reset.

When we finally got into the lock with three other boats, they had us raft up 3 deep which didn’t make sense in such a big lock. They threw lines to the boats on the wall which we were one of those, and then we had to work our butts off to hold everyone in place. Next lock we were lucky and got to raft against Marc’s Ark and watched them work after waiting another hour for a ship to pass through downstream. Marc's Ark & Quest turned onto the lake toward the Ottawa River and Muriel June continued south on the St. Lawrence.

We got to St. Anne at 6:50, tied to the lock wall and walked a very short distance in the rain to a neat restaurant where we were the only customers. Tomorrow we will pass through this lock then have a long run to Ottawa. Unfortunately we will only spend the night there and will get started up the Rideau Canal Thursday so we can get to NY the first part of next week to meet Christine and Dianne for a few days in the 1000 Islands.

N 45 24.217 W 073 57.194