https://marinavalleyfield.com/marina-valleyfield/
All French website!
No room. So we get a free night on the hook!
We have a bridge and lock reservation to get moving for shortly !
The website instructions for locking through the Upper and Lower Beauharnois Locks are to make your pleasure craft reservations at least a day ahead of time and pay the CAN$25 per lock fee with a credit card. The daily TIME for pleasure craft to lock through is 11:00a.m. (Subject to change).
Then we must report to this Larocque Bridge by 9:00am.
I left our nearby anchorage with the intent of clearing this bridge at 8:00a.m. Figuring we could tie up at the wall above the lock and wait there for the 11:00a.m. lock appointment.
When approaching the bridge shortly before 8:00, I called the bridge tender on the designated VHF-14. The bridge tender told me that pleasure craft should call on VHF-68. So I called on 68.
Then she said the bridge won’t open for pleasure craft until 9:00a.m.
Next was the similar St Louis de Gonzague Lift Bridge we hit before arriving at the Upper Beauharnois Lock.
There is *some* limited room for pleasure craft to tie up while waiting for the 11:00 down-bound lock here.
The best strategy is not to rush from the St Louis Bridge… I suggest you time your arrival for 11:00 at the upper lock.
This illustrates the common “S-Hook” technique that Shelly uses around the “horns” of the midship cleat.
Two lines were given; I did a similar thing at the stern quarter cleat.
There are a LOT of variations from lock to lock, canal to canal, waterway to waterway. Not knowing what to expect when entering a new-to-you lock chamber can be stressful.
It is best to simply remain calm, put the puzzle pieces together. Then execute the best way possible. The fundamentals of locking are the same everywhere!
Some operators communicate a LOT; some not so much! Some may not even speak English.
Shelly and I have travelled a lot over the decades. When one travels, one learns: “Expect the unexpected.”
In our blog we try to help with our pics and stories!
We found this link to be helpful: