Reunion Voyage: Contrecouer Anchorage to Montreal

This morning we re-entered the giant Saint Lawrence Seaway, with a current against us all day of at least 1.5 - 3 miles per hour. So our natural high speed pace of 8 mph was reduced to about 6 mph. There was a blue sky, but it was cool and windy so we wore jackets – it is Canada after all. Along the way we saw only a few giant ships underway in the channel, but lots of ports and shipping docks.

We came past a huge amusement park and all the shrieking people on the roller coaster seemed appropriate since we had been told that approaching our marina was a terrifying experience. The current increased to about 5 mph, and our speed dropped to 1.5 mph. The current created eddies and strong drifts toward a 20 foot high concrete wall that lined the west side of the river.

So that was the real adventure, but Dennis did a great job driving close to the concrete wall with a strong current, and right into the Yacht Club of Montreal basin with a tight left turn just inside the breakwall. Whew! We have a great mooring and this place is terrific. Mazel Tug is still with us, just two boats down the pier.

Dennis and I took a walk through Old Town Montreal and found it a fascinating old city. It is only steps up from the boat to the main area of Old Montreal. Originally this part of the city was fortified. The walls have since been excavated and you can see the walls that now separate Montreal from Old Montreal. Notre Dame cathedral is on a major square and there is beautiful architecture and statuary throughout the area.

We would recommend this stop to Loopers even though it is $2.25 per foot per night because it is right at the Old City and has very nice amenities. City marinas will always be expensive, but sometimes it’s worth the expense to enjoy the experience.

Thanks to Doug Timmel for the information about churches with sliver roofs.