Tanker THALASSA DESGAGNES

Now I know what it means when they say, "you can't get there from here". When you look in the history books about the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, the photo you see often is that of the Queen's yacht BRITANNIA in St. Lambert Lock with hundreds of people lined up on either side of the lock wall looking on. You'd think it would be a National landmark and that it would be easy to find for any tourist or boat lubber so inclined to check it out. I guess I should have known when the tourism office in Rigaud QC couldn't tell how to get there nor where to view the lock from the road, that this wasn't going to be the usual Sunday afternoon drive. It wasn't like we were in any kind of hurry. The CSL bulk carrier BIRCHGLEN wasn't due at St. Lambert lock until 3:25. However, to make a long story very short, may I suggest that if you plan to visit the lock anytime soon, don't take Pont Jacques Cartier Bridge, or make your way to Ile Notre Dame via Ile St. Helene (both former EXPO 67 sites) for a peek unless your are on a bicycle, and don't expect easy access to the lock from Route 132. When we took that ramp, we ended up having to take Pont Victoria Bridge across the St.Lawrence back to Montreal. Then after turning around at the nearby Costco, we headed back across the river on Pont Victoria Bridge and then as anticipated, there was a roadway right to St. Lambert Lock. Only problem was that the BIRCHGLEN was nowhere to be seen. She was still above in transit and now not due in at St. Lambert for another hour. Hence 'Plan B' went into effect which included a much needed pitstop and another confusing adventure to get to some parkland on Chemin de la Rive (River Road) in Longueil in hopes to see the BIRCHGLEN leave the Seaway and make way down river. Good plan and while we were waiting for her with a cold brew in hand, along came the 441'upbound Canadian tanker THALASSA DESGAGNES, making good time past a Montreal AML river cruise ship, and the 'BIG O' (Olympic stadium) in the background of the above photo. Instead of entering the Seaway entrance, the built in 1976 THALASSA DESGAGNES continued pushing water toward Montreal's Old Port, and past the in-famous 'Cross' atop Mont Royal.

After many lessons learned, we finally got to see the BIRCHGLEN but you'll have to wait for those photos and story until the next Carlz Boats blogpost, or NOT c):-o