Our first experience in the Chambly Canal was a bridge that we needed opened. After unsuccessful attempts to contact the bridge by radio we docked the boat on the blue line and walked to the bridge. The bridge attendant was extremely friendly and helpful, explaining how the canal system worked, how we would purchase our passes and opened the bridge for us. At the first lock they sold us the lock pass and the mooring pass. We opted for the season passes rather that a one way or shorter duration pass. It has proved to be the better value.
The blue line is an area approaching the lock or bridge that is painted blue and you tie your boat there when you are ready to lock through or pass under a bridge. By presenting yourself on the blue line you are informing them of your intentions to proceed and you must proceed when they are ready for you.
We traveled the Chambly canal to the town of Chambly where we stayed on the wall without charge because of our mooring pass. It was a hot day and Jane from Average Looper offered to cut my hair. Although she trained for that she hadn't ever worked in that field. She did an excellent job while I drank a beer. We enjoyed the evening and Chambly.
Chambly is definitely a French speaking town and that adds to the foreign country feeling. Almost everyone we encountered was bilingual and we had no problems communicating. Ordering pizza in the local restaurant wasn't quite so easy. There were four choices and variations of them wasn't an option. Whatever we ordered was good and we enjoyed it.
The next morning Mark and Jane from Average Looper and Jan and I left on our bicycles and rode the path that paralleled the Chambly Canal. It was a very enjoyable ride of just over thirty miles round trip. We enjoyed seeing other boats lock through these original locks built in the 1800's. The pictures below show their wooden gates. We are also amazed at the accessibility to the locks. There aren't fences to keep people away like there would certainly be in the U S.
After returning from our bike ride along the Chambly Canal we had a short rest and cool down before we left again. This time around Chambly and the Fort.
Jane noticed, and we all agreed that the Quebec French speaking people are more interactive with each other. Almost no one was on their cell phone checking whatever most of us American do on our phones all the time. There were also several groups of people playing cards or board games on the tables in the parks along the canal. We had several people walk past our boats and eagerly talked to us about our trip. The locks are the central part of the small towns and draw many visitors.
Everyone was friendly and welcoming.
Haircut time on the canal wall. Thanks a lot Jane!
Dawn at the lower end of the three step locks in Chambly.
One of the wooden lock gates, originally built in the 1800's.
One of the three step locks on the Chambly Canal.
A step lock is a series of locks that empty one into to next until you are at the final level
rather that into a canal and individual locks.
A picture of an open wooden lock gate.
The path we rode back to St. Jeanne along the Chambly Canal.
Our boats are docked in the background.
St. Joseph Church on the shores of Lake Chambly
Statue of St. Joseph in front of the church.
This statue was across the road from the church.
Definitely French.
Fort Chambly.
The twenty first century pedicab.
Interesting and in English.
On Saturday morning there were hundreds of bicyclists riding through Chambly.
This boat is exiting the lock we will go through to continue toward Montreal.
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