Richelieu River & Chambly Canal

Sunday, August 13, we left Montreal and cruised about 45 miles down the St. Lawrence to Sorel and turned south into the Richelieu River to head to the Chambly Canal and Lake Champlain.  The weather was hot and humid and the river was filled with small boats; therefore, we waited about 40 minutes to go through the Saint-Ours Lock.  We continued south to Handfield’s Marina at an old country French inn and restaurant (Auberge Handfield) in St. Marc-sur-Richelieu.  (Funny story:  When we called the marina for dock space, everyone only spoke French.  Guess what?  We don’t!!  So, I called my sister in Florida who is fluent in French and asked her to make the reservation and call us back.  It was difficult for the marina to understand why someone in Florida wanted a reservation now; however, after much discussion, all was resolved.)  Our friends from Montreal, Bernard and Helene, who we met at Sailcraft in Oriental, NC, drove down from Montreal to visit with us.  The food in the dining room was incredible and a perfect, last dinner in Canada.