Montebello

 Montebello

Friday July 1st, Canada Day. We expected significant boat traffic and we needed to pass one more Canadian lock to get to our next destination for the day. We had 53 miles to cover so we slipped off the wall at St Anne De Bellevue at 7:30 am and were on our way. We had great weather up the Ottawa river and very little boat traffic.

The Ottawa River is a gently winding river with lush green banks of Ontario on our port and Quebec to our starboard. The Ontario side is very flat with lots of agriculture on the other side is the beginning of the foot hills of the local mountain range. We arrived at Carillon lock about 10:30 am with only two other boats tied on the que line. That was good news, or at least so we thought. We were informed by the lock that they were waiting for a commercial vessel to lock down at 11 so wouldn’t be too long. Wrong! Finally at 1:30 we were the last of 11 boats to enter the chamber and take the 65’ ride up. The Carillon lock is reportedly the second highest lift lock N. America. Have not fact checked\ that yet. Anyhow it was a party in the lock with a bunch of frogs, read French Canadians playing music, dancing on their boats and drinking like it’s 1999. We made friends with the boat that was shadowed buy our bow sprit which would come into play later.

The good news we were last out of the lock so all the other lubed up boaters sped ahead keeping us out of harms way. We had a pretty healthy wind on our nose along with a small head current. We finally arrived at Montebello Muni marina a few minutes before happy hour. We quickly got settled and headed off to town. This little town in Quebec again had a very European feel to it. We enjoyed a great meal at local Bistro. Their speciality was wood fired pizzas. We opted for the Bison dish which did not disappoint. 

 So as Mike mentioned we talked with two couples while we were in the lock with the other boats.  They were heading to Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello for the weekend to enjoy the pool, spa, some golf with their kids and friends.  I was imagining Jackie and Anna with us and how they would have gone bonkers at the idea of a weekend there.  

Ted and Lidia, Betty and Fernando mentioned they would be going to a BBQ the chateau was having and tickets were for sale….maybe we could get reservations.  Well after hearing what the menu would be and knowing we would very much enjoy their company, Mike called and reserved us two seats.  

Later in the day we rode bikes to see the location of Chateau Montebello and what the setting would be like for dinner.  The Chateau is a huge log structure with a grand foyer. Unfortunately we were pretty much turned away at the gate saying we had to be guests of the hotel or have a boat at the marina, none of which we had.  

Well when we made reservations we earlier we were asked if we were at “the marina” we said we were…well the marina just around the corner.  Well I had to at least see the place, so we came in the so called back door from the trails in the adjacent woods where we ditched the bikes and walked onto the grounds to see what all the hubbub was about. We also hoped to bump into the “Lock GroupZ” we had met the day before.  Well don’t you know they spotted us and invited us to have a drink on their boat.  They encouraged us to come to the BBQ and we could join them at their table.  

Back to Next Chapter to freshen up….rode back through the woods to sneak past the guard, ditched the bikes and joined the party.  Thanks to Lidia and Ted, Betty and Fernando for the lively conversation and delicious port after dinner.  It was great to hear about life in Quebec. In reality their struggles are not to different from ours. As we left the Chateau property to sneak back to our bikes, promises were made to meet up in Delray Beach where Lidia and Ted live.  Can’t wait to sip some port with them near the Atlantic Ocean…minus the Chateau Montebello!!