Reunion Voyage: Hawkesbury – Chateau Montebello- Ottawa

July 22, 2014

We left Hawkesbury this morning. With no locks on the schedule, we allowed time to see the Chateau Montebello. What a great place – advertised as the largest log cabin structure in the America’s. It is owned by Fairmont Hotels and is definitely first class. It reminded us of the great lodges of the National Parks, maybe not as large, but in wonderful condition thanks to the ownership of a premier hotel chain. The builder in charge of construction was from Finland and had a degree in building engineering with a specialty in log buildings. It is a definite stop for Loopers, even if you have only a couple of hours. We were able to get a pumpout ($25) and tie to the visitors dock. Slips are available but were $100 minimum per night and a hamburger was $18. This would be a great spot for a special celebration, anniversary, or luxury vacation.

Leaving Chateau Montebello around 1 p.m. we had plenty of time to get all the way to Ottawa. The River today was wide and smooth all the way. We came into the Ottawa Staircase of locks area at six p.m.. As the lock closes at six, we were able to tie up to the “blue line” and be at the front of the line for going up the locks in the morning. While the locks are open, you cannot tie up to the blue line area except to wait for the next lockage. At night, it is available for your overnight Canada mooring pass, but you must leave when the lock opens in the morning.

We are surrounded by some great French Canadians that we have seen in the locks the last few days. They have been friendly and helpful; wish we spoke some French so we could communicate a little better. As we sit here this evening a man is modeling yoga moves for a photographer on the high lock. Cyclists are trying to walk a tandem bike through a tiny gate. A little girl is feeding ducks behind the boat. The guys just squeezed a 30 foot boat into a 20 foot slot ahead of us and there are at least 50 tourists watching the spectacle.