We began our last set of 9 locks for Part 1 of the Little Loop this morning. There were 8 locks in the first mile and the last lock a few miles farther. They were a lot of work! Especially the first three. The locks filled through gates in the doors, which shot the water in faster than any lock we have been in.  

 

 We saw why the guidebooks said to let other boats go first so you can be at the back of the lock. We were the only boat in the lock so we tied up at the back. That made it a bit smoother but as you can see by the photo, the water was pretty wild. The process smoothed out after the first 3 locks and the last one, Lock 9, was such a small lift that we hardly realized we were being raised. It was a relief to get through the last of the 104 locks on "Part 1" of our cruise. Next year we will add to the total on the way home through the Champlain and Erie canals.

Our original intent was to stop in St.-Jean for a couple days and take care of some housekeeping and an oil change. After taking a walk around the neighborhood of the dock and talking to a local boater we decided to move on. A sample of the comments were:

• Make sure you lock the boat when you leave.
• You should be ok in the daytime
• If someone comes on you boat it's not so bad if they’re just drunk.
• It’s not so bad if they’re alone, but if they’re in a group…

Plus, the laundromat was questionable at best,the hardware was many blocks away, and there were no bathrooms.

We weren’t in Chambly anymore. So we decided that maybe we find another place to spend the night. We cruised upriver another hour and a half to Ile aux Noix (Walnut Island). There is a small public dock where we can spend a night or two for free. The only thing on the island that we know of is a renovated Fort Lennox, built in 1829. They give tours of the fort during the day, but after the fort closes everyone goes home….by boat. There are no bridges to the island so you must arrive by boat. There is a shuttle boat to get tourists here if they don’t have their own boat. So the island is deserted after dark which is much more to our liking than having to worry about drunks stumbling aboard after the bars close.

We’ll spend at least part of tomorrow exploring the island and maybe stay another night here. Our departure may depend on the weather (rain is in the forecast) or how long our laundry can hold out.