9/30/26: Locks
Oct 8
2 min read
The name of the game today was locks. We had four to pass through, all at scheduled times, and if we screwed anything up, we'd have to wait an extra two days for another chance. The first lock was the St. Lambert, and it was only 3 km from where we anchored. Still, we showed up to the waiting docks almost an hour and a half early just to be safe. We were the first ones there, but ended up being joined by three other boats. A voice announced over a very scratchy megaphone that it was our turn to enter the lock, so we cast off from the waiting docks and made our way in.
The locks were intimidatingly rough. The concrete was full of large aggregate and decorated with protruding rebar and enough paint scratches to coat two container ships over. Despite the apprehensions brought on by the state of the walls the rise was gentle, and with a bit of fending off and patience, we found ourselves nearly 45 feet higher than where we started. The upriver gates then opened, and we made our way into a very narrow, entirely artificial channel that paralleled the main river—yet, in a very disorienting reality, existed far above it.
From here on, our decisions were made for us. There was a speed limit in the canal of 6 knots, and as long as you followed the route and held 6 knots you'd be at the start of the next lock when you needed to be. We went through three more locks like this. Our only real wait was at a lift bridge, but we brought out some snacks and passed the time happily. When darkness fell, we again pulled just far enough off the channel to not be in anyone's way, dropped anchor, and enjoyed some boat downtime.
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