baltimore inner harbor: Chambly Lock, Chambly, QC

25 Haziran 2012 Pazartesi

Chambly Lock, Chambly, QC - 6/21/12

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6/21/12
We left Gaines marina at 8:10 a.m. and headed for theCanadian Border and clearing custom. Quest followed Marc’s Ark past the US Customs facility and into Canada. The customs stationis not very far inside Canada and the channel to it is marked by a signindicating the need to stop. Marc’s Arkcleared first and then Quest, one boat at a time at their dock. It was very simple just answering questionsabout the boat … name, size, who was on board and how long we planned on beingin the country. Of course I had toproduce boat documentation and our passports. Nothing about any liquor, guns oranything else. We needed to fly ourquarantine flag until clearing and then replace it with the Canadian courtesyflag. During the customs clearing onlythe captain of the boat is permitted off. All this only took 8 minutes.At the first lock of the day we purchased our seasonallocking and mooring pass ($744) which covers all the Canadian locks exceptthose on the St. Lawrence River and gives us permission to dock at any lock orNational Park without further costs. Thebreak even point of pay as you go or purchase the passes are 11 days which weshould exceed easily. This lock only opens twice a day at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30p.m. Since we got here at 11:15 we tiedto the floating dock and went ashore to a cafe and had lunch while wewaited. The speed limit on the canal is 6 mph and we got passed byfolks on bicycles on the 9 mile path beside the canal.After 7 locks, 36 miles over 8 hours we are in Chambly, QC avery neat little town docked at the flight of 3 locks that we will go throughin the morning at 8:30 when they open. Each lock or swing bridge we encountered all day was either open for usor opened as we approached. Thelockmasters had to leap frog the locks and we saw the same ones all day long. We are 100 miles from Montreal by boat butonly 20 minutes by car. We still haven’tfigured out why more loopers don’t do this route because it is justgorgeous. We walked into town after apot roast dinner on Quest that cooked all day in the crock pot and enjoyed icecream and checked out our locks for tomorrow.Another sunset and off to bed about 9:30N 45 26.792 W 073 16.992