We left the marina at 8:30 after learning that we would get through the lock before the scheduled 4pm pleasure craft lift, if we hurried over. So all three boats cast off in a rush.
Well the procedure is that you get to this huge lock and tie off at a floating dock. climb up the ramp and use a kiosk to pay $25.00 to use the lock, then pick up the phone and tell them you are here. We were told it would be maybe 3-4 hours. Well we did get in early 3:30. The lock is only a 30 minute cruise from the Marina in Montreal so we had a 5.5 hour wait. If you have been following our progress you know I am weeks behind on updates, I used this time to catch up on the blog. Barbara from “Blue Heron” and I have been pushing each other to catch up. At last check she was still ahead.
About 2:30 we are visited by so of the lock workers and are told it will be soon and we are to raft up in the lock. As we enter the lock someone starts yelling at us in French. It sounded like he was mad and wanted us to hurry, we don’t know French so we just go all the way into the lock (several 100 yards) where the workers we meet earlier through us down lines (about 25 feet above us )to hold on to as the lock fills up with water. We learned later from another boater in the lock that they had changed their mind about us using the lock and wanted us to get out of the lock to make room for another commercial boat. First time not understanding French has worked out for us so well.
The next lock had the same procedure but only a 30 min wait. From there we cruised to xxx. Arriving about 8 pm. Almost 12 hours for about 36 miles. We have been told by “20 Buck$” that that was the worst of their 60 locks so far. We were already to just chill out and have a drink. The weather is beautiful and the wall here is part of the Canadian Park Pass.
