Ste. Catherine Locks Two Ways

     Louis-Louis and Tibbs met at the 10 o'clock bells of Atwater Market on a beautiful Sunday morning.   Anxious to get underway they left without coffee.   In short order they were across Verdun and Nuns' Island onto the new Champlain bridge.  There was hardly a breeze in the air.

Louis-Louis and handlebar parquet

Tibbs, Mont St Bruno, and Bottecchia

    The great surprise was the interlocking cycling path on the south shore.   It had a number of right angle turns but the long stretches in-between were most pleasant and varied.  It was well signposted being cycle route 3.  Often they traversed parklands or wetlands.   

South shore parkland

South shore wetland

    But probably the most pleasant surprise was a short side trip up to the village square in front of the church of La Prairie.  There was a fine ambiance.   It would be good to have lunch next time at the outdoor café there.

Cycling into La Prairie

The impressive steeple of La Prairie

Cycle bridge leading to riverside of highway

    After La Prairie we traversed the highway on a well designed cycling bridge with curving ramps.   Soon we were in Candiac which has a large shore park and finally Delson.   There we crossed over the St Lawrence Seaway at the locks.

Ste.Catherine locks

    We had a short lunch watching some of the seaway boats making their way up or down river.  The return was along the road on the strip of land separating the Seaway from the St Laurent and the ice bridge to Nuns' Island.   The whole loop was completed by mid-afternoon.

On the return route