Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue to Ile Sainte-Helene, Quebec, Canada

 This morning we ate breakfast at Au Bout de L'Isle Restaurant along the promenade. We also walked down the promenade and found a convenience store that sold beer so that was a plus. We decided to take off and head towards Sainte-Catherine Lock on the St. Lawrence Seaway. There are only two lockages a day for pleasure boats so we got to the waiting dock with two other boats there until the lock opens around 4 pm. We then headed to the the next lock at Saint-Lambert that is five miles further and we then stopped at Marina La Ronde on the Ile Sainte-Helene Island for the night. The marina was located next to Six Flags Amusement Park with a roller coaster right behind the docks. We had expected fireworks but they were the next night and we decided to skip the hassle of getting into Montreal to sight see and continue on the next day.

Along St, Lawrence Seaway

Huge laker freighters

Industrial shoreline

Waiting for the green light to enter the lock

We waited for huge freighter to lock through before we entered

Larger boats tied to the wall and the smaller boats rafted

We were tied to another boat so did not have to handle ropes

The race to the next lock

Beautiful suspension bridge

Waiting for second lock to open

Our marina next to the amusement park

A pretty spot after a long day of waiting on the locks

Hawkesbury, Ontario to Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada

 We walked to our best breakfast in Hawkesbury at Carole's Restaurant before heading back to the marina and leaving the dock to get fuel and a pump out before heading down Ottawa River to Carillon Lock. This was our first lock where the lock tender was on the VHF radio shouting directions in French to the boats on the blue line. He would switch to English but next time would again speak French first. We were brought in the lock as the second boat to tie up to the floating dock on the lock wall to drop 65 feet down. We gently dropped 65 feet down before escaping the lock but it was the smoothest ride. We continue down the Ottawa River under the Trans-Canada Highway bridge to Sainte-Anne-De-Bellevue Lock. We were brought into the lock behind two pontoon boats which rafted together and were tied to the floating dock against the lock wall. The lock tenders handled the lines and then moved a huge motor yacht behind us and a small skiff rafted to the two pontoon boats.  This time we only dropped three feet and came out of the lock to the town promenade low wall on the left and the high park side wall on the right where we tied up for the night. We enjoyed the cool breeze, the shade and the entertainment of watching the boas and ended up eating dinner on board high atop the flybridge.

Approaching Carrilion Lock

We dropped 65 feet in the lock tied to floating dock

Looking back as we came out

Historic lock buildings

Along the Ottawa River heading to next lock

Shoal marker

House with dock pool

Navigating through river traffic

Glorious church spires

Construction on Trans-Canada Highway bridge

Approaching Saine-Anne-de-Bellevue Lock

Boats rafted in front of us

On Tuesday morning we walked the promenade and ended up walking up the pedestrian bridge and over the old canals to the next town of L'LLe Parrot and the L'Oeufrier Restaurant for breakfast. It was the best avocado toast and fruit breakfast along with huge omelet for Glenn. We walked back by the boat and then continued on our hike picking up the bike path out to Morgan Arboretum. It was a spectacular ten mile walk round trip although we met some dog walkers who gave us bug spray and recommended staying on the road instead of the buggy, muddy path through the woods. We came back and enjoyed a chocolate ice cream cone on the promenade and watched as the dock walls filled up with boats including a River Cruise Boat coming by the St. Lawrence Seaway from Kingston. Tomorrow we have reservations for the two federal locks on the St. Lawrence Seaway past Montreal.

Parks Canada mooring against lock wall and town promenade

Condos along old canal

Park map and trails

Community garden

Pine forest at Morgan Arboretum

A flock of goldfinches

Cute shops on the promenada

The St Lawrence River Cruise ship

Petrie Island Bay to Hawkesbury, Ontario

 We left Petrie Island Bay headed up the Ontario River. This was our longest stretch without any locks and it was a beautiful ride up the deep river. There was not much boat traffic for the 40 miles to Hawkesbury and Golden Anchor Marina. We had tried multiple times to make a slip reservation so we just showed up and got a place on the inside face dock without power and the water faucet a long stretch away but we made it work. We enjoyed a wonderful relaxing afternoon on the flybridge and made turkey burritos for dinner.

Passing the ferry crossing

Gorgeous church spires along the river

Another ferry

Lighthouse shoal marker

View from the flybridge at Golden Anchor Marina

The seagulls loved to roost on restaurant dock behind us

On Saturday morning we walked towards town to Resto Chez Jos Diner located in a mall. It was the locals breakfast spot and we enjoyed a delicious breakfast listening to al the French speaking customers. This side of the Ottawa River is Ontario where they speak English and the other side of the river is Quebec Province where they speak French but we have almost all French being spoken in the marina. From breakfast we walked through the neighborhoods across town to the Walmart Super Center and the Independent Grocery next door. The afternoon was spent relaxing in the breeze on the flybridge and watching the boat traffic. That evening we grilled out turkey burgers at the marina pavilion and enjoyed listening to the French being spoken around us.

Close up of a church tower we had seen in every village

On Sunday morning we walked towards town to Goodies Restaurant for breakfast and then walked the bridge to Confederation Park. We checked out the free city docks which would have been a nice place to stay as well,. We toured the Cultural Center and then continued on the next bridge to Quebec. There was not an easy trail along the water so we headed back to the boat. We scrubbed the decks, took a long shower in the marina showers and then walked across the street to do laundry. The laundromat had a nice breeze blowing across the lawn chairs out front so it was a pleasant time getting that chore done. We grabbed a bottle of wine and the walked down the street to Moonshine BBQ Smokehouse where we dined on the patio enjoying pulled pork and pork ribs and a mountain of French fries, pork and beans and cornbread.

Heading towards the bridge

Town docks

Confederation Island

Cultural Center was old mill house

Looking back the way we came on the Ottawa River

Looking to enter Quebec Province

Crossed the bridge into Quebec Province

Looking from the bridge to the town dock park

Welcome to Hawkesbury from the bridge from Quebec

The park trails marked by planted trees

Bring your own wine caught our eye

And you could not miss pink pig on the roof and great barbeque