Today we transited down a combined +/- 75 feet elevation through two locks called the Upper & Lower Beauharnois Locks.
At the bottom we landed in the city of Beauharnois attracted to a free mooring field there. We’d get another budget-savings night and have a short and easy cruising day! We were secured by 1:00pm.
The WWG cruising guide gave a phone number to call to verify the mooring ball is available. We called. The number was correct!
The language barrier was a challenge but basically the owner of the mooring field said our 39 foot powerboat was too big.
When I asked if I could simply drop the hook east of his mooring field; we got a “go ahead”.
About an hour later a fellow in a 40 foot sailboat swung by our stern on their way to a nice family Sunday afternoon sail. He recommended we move into the small stone pier/basin. “Tie up anywhere except on the floating dock. We all use that for pumping out.”
The reason why he recommended a move is: “There are a large number of chains on the bottom here, I wouldn’t want you to snag one and have to cut your rode, loosing it AND your anchor.”
“The basin has cleats and plenty of water for your boat. You’ll be fine there for a night or two.” The fellow was confident and knowledgable, and he seemed to have a slight tone of ‘authority’ even. (Almost too strong an adjective for such a friendly guy!) Stay tuned! There are more newsworthy details coming about this!
Next day’s post: https://shellerina.com/2024/07/29/gerard-gariepy/
I occasionally use a “trip line” on our anchor wherever reviews say that we *might* get snagged. I did not use one today.
Fortunately, Shelly and I successfully weighed anchor, without incident, and then slowly made our way into this basin, and secured with an in-town side-tie, now enabling easy visits ashore! All of our “locking laundry” (aka fenders) were still out and hanging… prepared for double-duty tying up to a stone wall for the night!
Above: Looking east.
((My observation is: people are always picking up after their dogs. But they don’t pick up after their geese!))
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Walking around the village.,.
The second establishment was this sidewalk cookery.
Build international goodwill.
Going ashore, I learned that this basin, used by many, with no “staff” or “fees” is just part of this community’s commitment to parks & recreation.
Barharnois
I am told the correct pronunciation for this town is: BAR-hon-Wah