July 6, 2025 A long angst filled day, but we make it to Montreal

Sunday July 6, 2025.   Anchorage by St. Francois to Montreal   57 miles in 13 hours with 4 locks

We knew it would be a long day - and it was.  We knew there could be some weather challenges - and there were.  We knew there could be some locking challenges - and there were.  But at the end of a LONG travel day, we made it safe and secure to our destination of Montreal and are finished with the Seaway Locks.

First order of business is getting ourselves shipshape.  Bugs have been a problem topside since we hit Cornwall.  Terrible coverage while at anchor - especially overnight. Not sure if it's breeding season, the temperature, the wind direction or what else has instigated it.   Just glad we have a battery-powered leaf blower on board for Martha to blow off all the dead ones and shoo away any still able to fly.   Other item was getting the anchor up and the weeds cleaned off the line.  Thankfully not too bad as winds stayed in the same direction all night, so we weren't scouring vegetation off a large area of the bottom.   Still, both chores needed to be completed, and we were on a fixed schedule needing to make a bridge opening at 9AM about an hour away.  The Seaway has a once daily schedule for downbound passage of pleasure craft through their system.  Bridge 1 at 9AM, bridge 2 at 9:45AM, lock 1 at 11AM, lock 2 at noon, lock 3 at 4pm and lock 4 at 6pm.  Weather forecast calls for a hot 90-degree day and a rainy cold front arriving around 4PM.

The front of the dingy cover covered with bugs

Yes, every dot is a bug - most already dead.  Blowing them off is best way to clean up. 
 Brushing or wiping just makes a nasty mess of bug guts.

Martha's bug cleaning duties complete - now my turn
at cleaning the weeds off the anchor chain.

Made it to the Valleyfield lift bridge at 8:40. The sailboat Galactica was already there and waiting.  They would be the other boat traveling with us through the locks today on the fixed schedule. We tried hailing the bridge as all the guides mandate to announce your arrival and intentions.  No response.  At 8:50 I simply radioed we were here and reporting in for 9AM opening. Still no response so we just waited.  Got a little nervous as 9:00 passed but at 9:10 the bridge finally began lifting.  No announcement, just up it went. The timing of this bridge is important since it starts the timeline for the Seaways schedule for pleasure boaters. Need to be at the next lift bridge at 9:45.  If you miss either of these bridges you'll be waiting until the following day for lockage.  Only five miles to the next bridge so we followed Galactica as the timing for travel is based on speed of sailboat under power.  This meant we would be at idle speed all day. 

Both the Valleyfield and the St. Louis de Gonzague bridges are this same lift type. 

First ship of the day goes past us between the bridges

We make it to the Upper Beauharnois lock a few minutes early, but the doors are open with the green light on inviting us to enter.  Unique tie up in the 4 locks today.  The lockmaster has line tied off at the top.  Once you are in position, they toss down a long length of polypropylene line to each crew member - bow and stern positions.  You attach the line loosely to your outboard cleat (to help keep you pulled up against the wall) and feed it out manually as the water level drops.  Easy lockage going down as water is smoothly released compared to being lifted where in rushing water creates lots of turbulence and you're pulling in the line to keep you in position. After the 40' drop the doors open to let us out.  We are instructed that there is a ship coming out of the next lock and we need to exit and pull off to the port side and let him pass. With the gates open we see the ship looming large ahead.  As we hold position on the side of the channel he moves very slowly past us. We then proceed into the Lower Beauharnois lock.  Drop another 40' and we're out of the lock and still pretty much on schedule. 

Approaching the first of 4 locks today - The Upper Beauharnois.  Galactica leading the way.

Lines secured we're ready to be lowered.

Down 30' and out we go.   Waiting ship in the distance

Once we were out of the way he slowly moved through the connecting channel.
Then we were able to enter the Lower Beauharnois lock.

As we are starting our 17 mile crossing of Lake St. Louis, and despite it still being an overall pretty nice day, the Coast Guard starts announcing there are squall warnings in effect - conditions favorable for development of winds to 50 knots, rain, and hail.  Radar shows the front approaching with arrival expected around 4PM - right when we should be locking! Even at sailboat speed we arrive early at Sainte Catherine lock and are tied up to the pleasure craft dock at 2:30. I'm hopeful they might actually let us lock early.  No ship traffic showing nearby on AIS.  But the lights continue showing red and the information sign continues to show next lockage at 4PM.  So, we wait and are joined by another sailboat - Capaccino Deux.  At 3:45 a down bound ship appears on the horizon creeping towards us. Not good!!  We know he will take precedent as commercial traffic.  The light turns green but not for us.  He moves toward the lock as winds and rain begin. We're catching the outer edge of the storm as radar shows the worst of it staying just north of us.   Glad to be tied to the dock instead of sitting in the lock.  Just not liking our delay.  The ship is lowered but doesn't exit. We wait and thankfully the brunt of the squall passes. Two ambulances arrive on the far side of the lock.  Can't see anything that's happening, but three crew members come out of the bridge and are looking over the side. Have to assume some sort of accident causing a further delay.   The ship eventually moves out and the lockmaster quickly refills the chamber and announces over a loudspeaker "Pleasure craft - prepare for lockage in 15 minutes".  Winds are settling but we're still getting occasional bouts of rain.  No matter - it's time to go and we all head in, get tied up and start down 30' just as another band of rain passes insuring everyone gets wet.  We're finally out of the lock. It's well after 5 and we're supposed to be to the St. Lamberts lock at 6PM which is 7 miles way.  

Crossing Lake Saint Louis we pass another upbound ship.

Squall line approaching from the west as the ship comes in to take our 4PM locking time

I'm watching the tanker Stella on AIS that is in St. Lamberts lock. He should be out in time for us to get right through despite our slightly late arrival.  All seems good as we pass each other in the channel but then I notice another upbound ship passing Montreal and heading into the lock channel.  We will be delayed yet again.    Once more we tie up to the small boat dock to wait our turn.  Thankfully there's just 3 of us as that's all that can fit on these docks.  We wait as Solina finally arrives, gets loaded and rises. Seems like it takes forever for the ship to exit the lock - more likely just my impatience and perhaps a bit longer ship.  At least the winds and rain have abated while we're waiting.  As the ship exits, the call comes out for the pleasure craft to enter.  We gladly oblige.  With just a 15' drop we're through relatively quickly but we're running late. It's now past 8PM.

View from the pilothouse as we pass the tanker Stella

Waiting patiently as Solina ever so slowly comes out of St. Lambert Lock

Just a few miles to Port d'escale Marina but we've got to turn upriver to get there.  We've been in the protection of the Seaway lock channel as it winds around the main body of the St. Lawrence River and the Lachine Rapids.  Now we're headed into the full force of the water flowing at upwards of 5 to 6 knots.   We know what to expect from our visit last year and turn up the rpm's.   With the overcast conditions it's getting dark as we enter the protection of the harbor and out of the current.  Finally docked and secured, we're glad this long 13-hour day is done.   Got to remind ourselves - we're on an adventure - not a vacation!!  Pretty sure we'll have a few more challenging times ahead. After recouping for a few days here in Montreal it will be on toward Quebec. No more locks -YEAH!!!

How is this buoy even able to stay in position given the constant current tugging at it? 

Journey for July 6, 2025