This would be the Chambly Canal from St Jean to Sorel. Practice up on your French, they are not partial to speaking English in this area. From Sorel to Montreal there are no locks. You must go through 2 commercial locks from Montreal to the Ottowa River. Those locks are 25 dollars each and buy on site when arriving. The Chambly is part of Parks Canada and is covered by the season pass as are the Ottowa locks. We traveled there last summer, awesome, beautiful, cruise. Here is a link and you can read and see pictures at our site. _www.CruisingTheGreatLoop.com_ (http://www.CruisingTheGreatLoop.com) _www.achatsparcs-parksstore.ca/en/ProductCatalog/Section/CanalPermits/_ (http://www.achatsparcs-parksstore.ca/en/ProductCatalog/Section/CanalPermits/) David Doyle In a message dated 3/5/2013 10:21:01 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, joseph.pica@gmail.com writes: Thank You Lauren for the most complete description of these canals I ever seen. Can you point me to the information for the canals negotiated from Lake Champlain to Sorel (should one want to do the mini loop or down east Loop)? I have seen nothing about their fee structure, hours etc., but assume they are the same? On occasion Quebec seems to operate independently hence my question. Again, thanks for the great summary of the Ontario Canal Systems. Joe M/V "Carolyn Ann" GH N-37 MTOA# 3813 AGLCA# 5485 (Platinum Looper) http://carolynann-n37.blogspot.com/ Joseph.pica@gmail.com _______________________________________________ http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com

> Practice up on your French, they are not partial to speaking English > in this area. True. Surprising as it may be many in these regions cannot understand or speak much English. The education and the media are in French and they are justly proud of their culture. Some are bilingual to varying extents, but not all by any means. Nonetheless, as in most places, people are considerate and helpful. If you are patient and polite and willing to work with them, you'll get what you need and have a pleasant experience.

We also went through the Richelieu-Chambly Canal to Sorell, then down the St Lawrence to Montreal last summer. We don't know one word of French, and I never will. But we made it OK. Found that most folks in those towns that are merchants speak enough English to make it work. The sales tax in French speaking Quebec was 15% (combined state and federal) so bring your big fat wallet ! One thing to note: You must let the lockmaster know when you want to leave in the morning because the lock openings are timed. Many of them are manned by the same crew from one station. They hop in a car and drive up river to let you through or open a bridge. We weren't told this last year and didn't know. We were staying on the upstream side of a lock and left very early next morning, only to get to the next bridge and had to wait for the bridge tender to arrive by car. Then she explained it all to us. The canal is very narrow in many parts and there are very few places to tie up to wait. R. > Practice up on your French, they are not partial to speaking English > in this area. True. Surprising as it may be many in these regions cannot understand or speak much English. The education and the media are in French and they are justly proud of their culture. Some are bilingual to varying extents, but not all by any means.