DAY 14 - SAINTE-ANNE-DE-BELLEVUE QUEBEC

Today's route from Montreal to Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue

Glorious morning! Good day to set sail – or engine. It was a really cold 55 but warmed up as the day went on to a balmy 68 . Ted spotted a cruise ship passing the marina, evidently going to dock nearby.

Cruise ship

Bittersweet feelings leaving Montreal. Love the city but ready to move on. As we left there were miles (seriously) of roller-coasters on our starboard side. It appears they have many amusement parks as we saw from the water. 

Good-bye Montreal

The stuff that nightmares are made of

We found Montreal to be so beautifully old, yet up-to-date, impeccably kept and, at the same time, contemporary. And the people could not have been friendlier. Before we left, we saw a gentleman go into the marina  office which was next to our boat. He had mail and was not a postman. So there must be at least one male working in the marina.

As I said, we had to return to 2 commercial locks to get to Ottawa. 9-knot-Ted went over 13 knots with the current  after we got out of the Basin. 

We arrived at the waiting dock for the St. Lambert commercial Lock at 8:30 as Ted wanted to be there when the lock opened. Dennis was there to catch our lines. He was our boat-docking buddy who was attached to us in the locks going up to Montreal. He speaks English well but we don’t think his wife does at all. Or maybe she just doesn’t like Ted. Of course she would like me – I’m a buttercup!  And then we were told the lock will be open to us around 10:30. Hurry up and wait is the name of the game.

Waiting at the waiting dock - Ste. Lambert's

Our 'hitch-hiker' in the 2 locks

The Cote Ste. Catherine Lock was a 1 hour wait at the waiting dock. So I fixed lunch which meant that Ted had a turkey sandwich – and his chips (hard for him to break that one). I discovered peanut butter a few years back and had peanut butter and Kathy W’s (Miles Aweigh) homemade blueberry jam. A very special treat – thank you, Kathy!

Ted and I were talking and out of the blue, he said “C’est la vie”!  I think I have a French husband … OUI-OUI !!!!

As we were out of the commercial locks (YAY!) and in a canal on our way to Lake Louise, Ted went below. I took the wheel on the Bridge and shortly thereafter saw a pirate ship headed toward us. I yelled for Ted – yes, I really yelled. Turns out there were 3 and I’m pretty sure they were the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria – looks like the Pinta got a paint job. Not long after, another followed. I dubbed that “Pinata” – kind of combination of all 3.

Santa Maria

Nina

Pinta

Pinata ???

We arrived in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Quebec around 4:30. Just missed a lock so we have to stay on the wall. No power or water so we will use the generator. Turns out this wall is on one of the most charming little towns I’ve seen. All cafes next to us and they have a grocery store only a 5 minute walk away. Ted saw “Galucco” go by but we didn’t have a chance to call out to him. We see Galucco out on the Bonnie Castle gas dock part of the summer.

Bellevue Resto-Grill is right off our bow

On return from grocery shopping

Main Street in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue

While on this wall/walkway, a darling little old Irishman started talking to Ted about his father who sailed the “Bounty”. Don’t know if anything he said was true – as I said, he was Irish and spun a great tale. He asked our names and when we asked his, he said “Hocus Pocus – and now I’m gone”. Wish I had taken his picture with his little beret and very smart outfit. What a character!

Ate at a Greek restaurant just off our bow. Bellevue Resto-Grille. Very good!

Received word from daughter-in-law Jenn that they may return home to Boca since Dorian appears to be weakening. They are living in a hotel in another city.

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