Through the St Lawrence Locks

Page Down Page Up Back to Thumbnails Page 2 of 6
uglystick.jpg (39442 bytes) First leg was overnight down Lake Ontario to Kingston. We had some of the worst conditions of the whole trip that night and the worst incident. One boat ran aground near False Duck Island and the occupants had to be rescued by the Coast Guard. Who said the Great Lakes aren't challenging!

In Kingston we had our first taste of the great hospitality we were to experience all along the route. The local pubs even served Newfie food

Here the mayor of Kingston is playing a Newfoundland "ugly stick" while Bob O'Brian, chairman of the flotilla, accompanies him on the spoons.
Getting 75 boats through the locks along the St Lawrence was quite an experience.

We filled three locks every time so it was  a slow process.

Going upstream would have been even more difficult because the water swirls around when the locks are filling.

 locks-1.jpg (39354 bytes)
locks-2.jpg (39537 bytes) Waiting for the gates to open.

I didn't hear of any boats being damaged in the locks. The worst lock was the last one with 35 knots on the stern. By that time we were good at setting up the rafts inside the locks
Montreal with the Olympic stadium in the background - home of the Expos.

This marina wasn't really open for the season but at least we had the luxury of more slips than boats. Once we reached Newfoundland there wasn't a marina to be seen.

 montreal.jpg (39819 bytes)
Page Down Page Up Back to Thumbnails Page 2 of 6