Since I had to rush my last entry, I will finish yesterday.. We left the Chateau Montebello and headed north to our anchorage in Baie de Atocas. Bill took lots more pictures with the drone of the Chateau.
Passing the town of Montebello, Quebec just north of the chateau and yet another ferry. Rising connecting, Fassett, Quebec with Lefairve, Ontario.
We tucked into the Baie de Tomas and chores with one sailboat, and four cruisers, rafted in pairs.
More drone shots of our anchorage.
Day 118. August 12. On to Lock Carillon. 18.5nm Total 1276
A cold front blew through late afternoon yesterday and we woke to 50 degrees and clear skies as we travel northeast on the Ottawa River.
We passed the small towns of L’Orignal, Ontario, Grenville and Calumet, Quebec and the much bigger town of Hawkesbury, Ontario, all with their requisite church spires.
The first bridge we encounter going north spanning the Ottawa River is at Hawkesbury. The river widens as a result of the dam and lock Carillon further upstream. This section of the river is called Lac des Ormeaux or Abalone Lake.
Our destination today is Carillon Lock which drops us 65 feet. Luckily they have floating docks inside the lock so tending the lines is a bit easier for this big drop. The lock was built in 1960 and the lower gate is lifted over the boats as we leave. It is quite intimidating lock!!
The lock is 300 feet long and 40 feet wide. The gate weighs 200 tons and the counterweight is 180 tons allowing a 40 hp motor to operate the lock gate. The lock displaces 17 million liters of water with each lock.
At about 10:30 we tied to the blue line which quickly filled up after us with four motor cruisers, then four pontoon boats and then another trawler. Busy place! We waited for five boats to lock up for about 45 minutes. When it was our turn the lock master put two boats which rafted in front of us. Next we entered and tied to the floating dock and a cruiser and and pontoon boat rafted to us. Behind us was a trawler with two pontoon boats rafted to them. A jolly group of nine boats! While waiting we talked to the boats around us and shared information about the locks and marinas further up our route. We kept track of our progress down by the wet wall beside us increasing.
We all exited the lock at 1:20, was a lot of waiting, but was an awesome experience being in a big lock and watching the gate and counterweight operate. We took lots of pictures.
Exiting the lock, we tied up to the lock wall for the night. After settling in, we walked to see the old lock at this location built in 1832 and the toll masters house.
Then we walked into the small town of Carillon.
After a long day we both slept well!