Monday, June 15, 2009

June 14 - 16 ::: Montreal to Quebec City

Our Montreal Marina as we depart and proceed down river. It was interesting that there are very few boats there on a permanent basis . . . On Friday afternoon the marina begins to fill, and by sunset it is full. Sunday afternoon, everyone goes home and the next week the marina is near empty. What a show, so many wonderful people to talk with. Some could only speak French . . . we talked anyway. A terrific time.


Story has it that traveling down the river to Quebec before electronic navigation one would count the spires along the side of the river. There are many. The clear sky, calm winds, and boost behind us (11.7 kts) makes for a great trip and beautiful scenery.


BUTTERFLY, our new friends from South Carolina. They passed us going down river . . . they are on their way to Sorel and to Lake Champlain. We saw another boat, departing Sorel on its way to Montreal . . . a LOOPER . . . but we were unable to catch their name . . . something like "...Till...".



There are many ships on the river, big ships and little boats speeding around. Saw a "scary" today. Just as we came through Sorel-Tracy 2-5 feet off the port bow I saw something round, black. It was a 55 gallon drum in vertical position, floating awash, just below the surface of the water. I am glad we saw it, even more glad that we missed it. It would have done a job on the shafts and props.


During the passage from Montreal and Quebec we passed many ships. This one becamed named "Barbara's Ship" for Charlie was on the phone with his sister and . . . had to hang up . . . so he could "miss" the oncoming vessel.



As said before, count the spires . . . this is only a portion of the ones that we have seen from the river.


The bridge over the St. Lawrence just west of Quebec City.



Large of the Quebec landscape is the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. Construction was begun in 1893 and completed in 1924.


After entering the Bassin Louise we paused for the Lockmaster to ready the lock. Now exiting the lock into the marina basin, the Old Port Quebec, and off to our berth assignment.


A Google Earth picture of our location in Quebec City.

1 comment:

  1. Charlie....Butterfly here. We're now in Block Island...what a paradise.
    Until a few days ago the weather has been dreadful but it has not got in the way of what has been a beautiful voyage so far. Tarrytown is the place to stop for visiting NYC...fast and convenient travel into Manhattan.
    We're going to cruise these waters until Annie leaves for SC at the end of the month.
    Bruce and Annie/Butterfly

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