Before the “Frenching” of Quebec province this town was called Three Rivers. Our guide who was “English” said she hadn’t spoke English of any consequence to anyone for the past two years. French is the preferred language, although all kids learn English in school. The guides at the two stops we visited today spoke English and only occasionally searched for a word, even to answer our questions.
After last nights very nice dinner Karla did not feel like making the trip. The wine, the rich dessert, added to the pizza for lunch were too much! I went solo for a trip to an observation tower, part of a civic relations complex by the Ontario Power Company. Think Budweiser Brewery Tour, minus the beer. They had a multi-sensory movie on the source and importance of energy. The stereo headsets, vibrating, rotating seating and graphic/motion picture displays in the round were very well done. We exited the theater to several rooms with touchscreen displays, an infrared camera, and models. After we rode a glass enclosed elevator to the top of a repurposed high-tension power line tower for a 360 viewing area.
Me in infrared
We left here for a drive through the town with streets named by the New Yorker who moved here in the 1800s. Once again, we were at the intersection of 5th Avenue and Broadway. Our destination was an abandoned power station used to generate electricity for aluminum smelters. Very impressive the inlet pipes and construction to direct water under very high pressure to the turbines turning the generators. High pressure because the water was directed from an inlet pipe 85 feet above.
The current hydroelectric plant from below seen in the video above at the left
The abandoned plant
The intake pipe, about 5 feet in diameter
The alternators
This was a short port stay with a 1300 departure. Not sure why as we cruised for only a little while and then stopped. I expect it had to do with timing for the seven locks we will transit starting early in the morning.
An abandoned paper mill.
We claimed our second Trivia victory. Fairly convincing.
The winners, Show-Me The Answers. The masked man in Scott. What is chorophobia? All Viking crew still wearing masks. I expect more for their protection than ours. We are no longer required to wear the contact tracers or masks except as local rules govern. In Canada masks on in enclosed spaces. Still testing daily. No reports of any positives.
