July 9, 2008: Chambly, Quebec (Canada)

We left Rouses Point this morning with a tiny sun just peeping through the gray sky. There was 56 feet of clearance under the bridge from NY to Vermont as we passed under it. As we passed by US Fort Montgomery, we were reading that the fort was built in 1816 to defend Lake Champlain but was never actually manned. Suddenly we heard a loud horn blaring and a speed boat with flashing blue lights approaching us on our starboard side. This was the US Border Control who had seen us nearing the Canadian border. They had 4 officers on board in long olive plants or black shorts and tan shirts with “Sheriff” embroidered over their hearts. They were official, but friendly, and asked to board our boat. They checked our passports and the boat registration and asked about firearms and alcohol... which we were not packin’. It seemed pretty standard, and we thought they might routinely check for stowaways trying to escape the law in the US.

We headed up the Richelieu River to the Chambly Canal. This canal was built along side of the shallow rapids in the River and gracefully drops 80 feet over 10 miles to Chambly Bay. There are 9 very narrow locks and as fine examples of 19^th century maritime technology, they are just wide enough for one boat our size and are operated by hand cranks. The bank of the canal is lined with trees and a paved bike path. If it had not been raining, it would have been very tempting to stop for a ride.

When we reached Chambly just before passing into Lock 9, we saw the band setting up for a concert in the park and we decided to spend the night there. We road our bikes out to see Fort Chambly and then along the canal returning to several of the locks we had just come through. It was beautiful along the water. We saw the rushing white rapids of the Richelieu and the elegant homes overlooking them. Then we cycled into the country along the canal and saw the farming fields, a huge barn full of hay and all the little lock houses with their Canadian flags stirring in the breeze. We were also amazed to see a real live red winged black bird and a beautiful little yellow warbler.

Tonight we had dinner on the boat overlooking the concert in the park. There was a big crowd of all generations who showed up to hear the music – several electric guitars and a tambourine. All the lyrics were in French to a happy rhythmic modern sound and it was fun to be a little part of this culture.