Chamblee, Quebec 6/19/08

Hello All;

We transversed the Chamblee Canal today. The canal is extemely narrow and shallow. No problem with water depth for us but many boats may have a problem. This canal is very interesting in that it is so narrow and the 9 locks are so close and so small that the staff not only must know every boat on the canal and what that boat's schedule is so that boats can be instructed where to pass each other. They also operate the locks by hand. We are traveling with "Double SS", a boat exactly like ours. We are each about 47 feet in length (including anchor and dinghy) and almost 19 feel in width. The locks are 100 feet long and as small as 20 feet in width. Interesting to try and fit both boats into the lock and not hit each other or either gate. And 8 of the locks are within a little more than 1 mile. So. . . no time to even sit down. Whew - I'm glad we're done with that. We do have power and water for the first time in a while - so we are taking the opportunity this PM to do laundry and cook a couple of meals.

We really liked St. John. It's a very pretty little town with good restaurants. Last night we ate in one that had the menu in 2 languages, French and Italian. We figured it out and had a wonderful meal. There are several other loopers with us in addition to Woody and Ellen on Double SS. That's always fun. Tomorrow we'll be on the St Lawrence heading towards Montreal.

See you out there somewhere. . . .

Rob & Ann