Woke to a bright sunny day. Get a few chores done while we waited for our turn to lock through. We have two very large boats, so big they fill the entire lock just with the one boat, ahead of us in the locking sequence. So we will be in the third locking.
The locks in the Chambly Canal are much smaller than in the Rideau. They are 110 feet in length and 23 feet in width. There are also 12 bridges which have to open for us as they are only 3 to 4 feet off the water. Many of the bridges are tied to the locks, it five we must hail to request an opening. Two of the bridges have restricted openings. The channel itself is also very narrow. There are places where two boats cannot pass by one another. The staff at the locks and bridges must coordinate boats moving in the channel as well.
We started locking through the series of locks 4-8 at 10:00. Locks 4-8 are within four miles of each other with basins just after the locks to allow boats to pass one another. So lock staff will hold a boat in a lock to until approaching boats can get to the basin to allow them to pass one another. On our trip we had to give ways twice to boats heading north. By 12:00, we made our way through our of lock 8. We enjoyed watching the bikers, runners and walkers on the path which followed the canal.
Then we had to negotiate bridges 4-10. After a short stop at bridge 10 we were cleared to go through the 4 mile channel to lock 9. There at lock 9 we finished our 80 foot rise to the level of Lake Champlain.
Yes, we finally made through the 6 locks and 12 bridges of the Chambly Canal and settled into a dock by 2:00. The speed limit is 5 knots in the canal so we were going slowly. Along the way the scenery was mostly rural at first, then gradually becoming more and developed with homes and towns as we headed south.
At Lock 9 we entered the larger town of St Jean sur Richelieu. Where we tied up for the night. Our docking required a shuffling of boats at the dock so we could fit in. In the process we met several people who shared their enthusiasm for boating and traveling. So many friendly Canadians!
After coming to a meeting of the minds about where we will stop in Lake Champlain for the next few days, we changed and headed out to get dinner and find WiFi. Had a delicious meal at a Colombian restaurant and typed this blog. Just as I was finishing hot balloons passed down the river. Was fun to watch them float by.
