Saint Jean sur Richelieu, Quebec, Canada to Chambly, Quebec, Canada

 The lock tender paired us up with M\V Indigo to head out Tuesday  morning and then another power boat came through the lock in the morning that we had to wait for and he was second in line.  All three boats then went through the 5 locks together.  That part of the canal is narrow and it is one way traffic to the first drawbridge so it is coordinated by the  lock tender. We stopped in Chambly before the last three locks and the other two boats continued on. It was a hot day at 94 degrees and being in the sun most of the day tending lines at the locks. We hooked up to power at the dock in Chambly and this is our first day of air conditioning. The holiday celebration was set up right across the canal from us. We are tied up to a Ranger tug that we saw at Rouse's Point Marina that is flying their looper flag.

Waiting on wifi to upload pictures

Rouse's Point, New York to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada

 After breakfast at Best Friend's Diner, we left the Gaines Safe Harbour Marina and went under the bridge to Vermont and across the Canadian Border to dock at the Custom's office to get our passports stamped and to check into Canada. We then headed up the Richileau River to start through the series of locks and bridges along the Chambly Canal. We stopped around lunchtime and tied up to the Parks Canada dock before Lock 9 and walked to the lock to get our Parks Canada locking permit and park permit. We walked around town and ended up at Dorchester's pub for a beer and bacon poutine. Later that afternoon Park staff asked boats docked on each side of the river to move out of the fireworks zone in celebration of Quebec Day on Tuesday. We went through the drawbridge and the lock and pulled up to the floating dock on the other side behind two other boats. 

Old fort on edge of Canadian Border

Buoy marking border

Canadian customs

Mural at bridge 9, Chambly Canal

Along the waterfront

Sailboat with mast down locking through

Park near the lock

Toast to Quebec Day with bar topped with Canadian pennies

Shelburne Bay, Vermont to Rouse's Point, New York

 We got an early start on Saturday leaving three other Canadian boats in the anchorage as we headed past the yacht club, Shelburne Shipyard, Burlington and north to Rouse's Point in New York. The Safe Harbour Gaines Marina is near the border to Quebec, Canada and most of the boats are from Montreal. It was a busy morning at the fuel dock to get diesel and a pump out before moving to our slip. The free laundry was nice to finish up four loads of clothes while Glenn was working on repairing the wash down pump. We had happy hour on the fly bridge and then walked by Ristorante Casa Capitano that the dock master had recommended but it was booked with reservations even though half the tables were empty. We continued our walk to Angelo's and had the best pizza and the place we originally had planned to go. We decided to stay another day as it was forecast to be rainy and windy on Sunday.

New York ferry passing in front of us

Ferries going both directions

Beautiful day on the lake with wind farms on the hills

Our dock at Gaines Safe Harbour

It rained Saturday night and by Sunday morning it was cold enough to wear a rain jacket. It was odd since a heat wave was expected for the next several days. We walked to Best Friends Diner and had a real local's breakfast experience and great omelets. Back at the boat, I hunkered down and worked my way through the on-line New York State Boating Safety course now required in 2025 for all boaters traveling in New York. Glenn had worked his way through it before we left home spending over 8 hours on it. We enjoyed a dock walk after dinner with plans to walk to breakfast and then head to Canadian Customs dock that opened at 8 am.

Church bells could be heard in the marina

Down Lake Street

Charming village

The beginning of Empire State Trail

A lot of history

Sidewalk along the lake front heading to yacht club

We both met NY boater's required training

Shelburne Shipyard to Shelburne Bay, Shelburne, Vermont

 We splashed the boat on Tuesday. It was rocking and rolling at the service dock as we left to go back to the campground to move everything out of Cutie. We ate lunch at the Dutch Mill Diner. We got back to the dock and the dockhands helped us into our slip. We then offloaded all the clothes and other boat stuff . before we drove to Enterprise Car Rental to pick up the rental car. We dropped the Highlander back at the campground and then headed to the boat for our first night at the dock. 

The female lift operator driving by remote in the rain

The female crew launching us

Our first night aboard watching the strawberry moon rise

On Wednesday, we waited at the campground for a service guy to show up to look at the Cutie air conditioner that was making a racket when we turned it on. He did not have the equipment to get on the roof but said it was probably the fan motor or bearings so we plan to take it to Mount Pelier when we get back in the fall to Blue Compass RV. Then we headed back to CVS Pharmacy and Trader Joes to finish up our shopping.

On Thursday, we cleaned the inside of the Highlander and hitched up Cutie and ate our last breakfast at Dutch Mill Diner and then drove both cars up to Georgia, Vermont to Rocky Ridge Vehicle Storage for storage for the summer. Glenn spent the day installing a new kitchen faucet. We went over to Shelburne Hardware Store and then back to Lowe's and ended up getting another faucet that had connections that would work more easily. We tested the dinghy engines and the generator and both started right up.  We took the rental bar back to Enterprise making one last trip to Hannaford's Grocery and they gave us a ride back to the shipyard. We were all set to leave the dock on Friday.

On Friday morning, it was calm winds and sunny as we left the dock and headed down to Shelburne Bay to anchor outside the mooring field at Shelburne Bay Park. We spent the day storing stuff and getting shipshape.

Great birdwatching from the boat

Afternoon sailboat races from the yacht club

On Saturday we took the dinghy to the dinghy dock and took the trail into Shelburne historic district. We ate breakfast at the Rustic Roots Cafe on the porch overlooking the Farmer's Market. There was a great selection of arts and crafts and fresh vegetables. We bought collard greens and broccolini as well as locally distilled gin. We listened to the Dixieland jazz band and headed over to the library to use their WIFI before heading back to the boat. 

Rock cairnes on the trail from the dinghy dock at Shelburne Moorings

Great breakfast of carrot cake pancakes and cinnamon French toast

Dixie land jazz band at the Farmer's Market

Spill over from the No King protest on the corner

On Sunday Glenn cooked breakfast before we walked over to Shelburne Farms. We got there before it got crowded for lunch and bought a loaf of bread and cookies and then enjoyed cheeseburgers from the food truck. We took the trail down to the Inn and toured the gardens hoping the bar would be open but closed from noon until 5 pm. We took a water break before heading back by the Welcome Center and back to the boat.

The trails throughout Shelburne Farms

Overlooking the farm barn

Storybook trail on the Lone Pine Hill

View from the top

Gate to area roped off to preserve plants

View of the lake from near the Inn

Break in the shade at the Inn

The gardens at the Inn

On Monday we hiked on the trail back to Shelburne to pick up our last prescription at the Walgreens and stop to shop at the Hardware Store and Shelburne Market Grocery. We took a dinghy ride to Shelburne Shipyard to pick up a package.

On Tuesday we spent the day doing boat work.

On Wednesday, we hiked back into Shelburne for lunch at Barkeaters. Glenn had their smash burger and I had their fish and chips and it was pleasant sitting out on their patio.

On Thursday it was windy and rainy so we stayed put planning to leave on Friday for Rouse's Point, New York.

Trying to capture the beautiful full rainbow