 |
A church with silver-like
steeple |
 |
| The Hotel & Restaruant |
|
 |
| The Marina Bistro & Bar |
It was very cool when we left Chambly Marina around 9:15am. The wind and current was in our favor. We cruised leisurely along at 8 to 8.5 knots. For the most part the river was wide with homes large and small on both banks. Most churches we saw had one to two steeples completely clad in silver-like metallic covering down to the church roof. Along about 11:00 or so Linda started looking for a marina with a certain restaurant she had read about that had good eats. We ended up docking at
Marina Auburge Handfield around 11:45am. Before Brian turned off the chart plotter, Brian looked for Greg and Reenie’s boat Thistle using AIS. They were 5-minutes behind us. Brian hailed them and asked if they were interested in having lunch, too. On the radio they sounded undecided, but they ended up docking
 |
| Floating dock at St. Ours lock |
and having lunch with us. Marina Auburge Handfield is small and delightful. By the water is a bistro and bar. Across the road is a 200 year old restaurant, banquet, and hotel facilities. We walked through the downstairs restaurant and lounges — wonderful rustic, but elegant look. We spent two hours before continuing our voyage. The further we went the narrower the Richelieu River got and there were fewer buildings, too. We finally got to the St. Ours lock. Thistle preceded us in very slowly. The lock master said there was room for us, but from our vantage point we didn’t think we’d fit. We hung outside the lock for what seemed like a long time until the lock hands waved us in. We came into the lock and tied up to a floating dock behind Thistle. This floating dock concept in a lock is fantastic! Make the lift/drop stress free for the boat owners. When Thistle exited the lock they turned to tie up to a free lock wall nearby. We proceeded on to
Marina de Saurel. There are two marina very close to each other with similar names run by the same company. One is named Parc Nautique Fédéral Marina de Sorel and the other is named Parc Nautique Marina de Sorel. Brian had called the second marina for reservations, but when we exited the Richelieu River proceeded to the first marina. Linda called on the radio asking for our slip. The voice came back saying K 29. We entered the marina and looked along the back wall of the marina for K. All we saw was Q thru W. A dock attendant ran out and said we are welcome to tie up, but there was no electricity or water. We asked about slip K 29 and he said it was at the other marina. Brian rotated Splash Down 180° in a narrow fairway and we proceeded to the second marina and slip K 29. We came in bow first to park in line between two other boats. As soon a Brian got Splash Down parallel with the dock, the wind on our Starboard beam pushed us into the dock hard. The wind made it difficult for Brian and the dock hand, Jimmy, to adjust Splash Down’s position in between the cleats. Once tide up, we relaxed, checked in, and discussed heading to Montreal tomorrow.
