To Oswego

On Wednesday, September 18, we departed Grenadier Island, motoring to  Morrisburg.  This is my first time docking at the Morrisburg public dock

Thursday left Morrisburg, went through the Gallop Canal, did a straight through Iroquois lock, cleared customs using the ROAM App, and spent the night at Summerland Islands.  Fond memories from the last time I was there with Cygnus 

Friday, we motored to Alexandria Bay to get fuel. We ran aground in Alexandria Bay, but it was slow and easy to back out.  Got fuel at JP Marine and had a grand tour of his shop.  Quite a craftsman 

Saturday, Sept 21. In the morning, as I considered where to take down the mast in Oswego, I discovered the existence of an Oswego YC and Oswego Marina, and the yacht club had a reciprocal agreement.  I sent an email asking about a letter of introduction, and on Saturday morning, Dave Fleet and Rim prepared a letter for me. 

We departed Cape Vincent under sail, heading west, and found an anchorage at Stoney Island about 20 nm away.  After 40 minutes, we furled the sail and motored to the anchorage.  Nice swim, we did laundry.   Supper was Hungarian sausages, and it was a starry night. 

Sunday morning, Brian was up at 6, but I was exhausted again.  

We had gone to bed around 10. 

I had thoughts about how the shipwright missed some washers on the starboard traveler cleat.  

I had dreams of other people having problems with their boats in Montreal, and I had taken Bellum home to Westmount to winterize. I wanted to know how I was going to get her back to the club.  Weird dreams.  

No dew on deck.  Last night's laundry is almost dry. 

There was wind in the morning, but it died and became glassy again. 

We motored out of Cape Vincent.  Winds started to pick up.  At ten knots, we unfurled the genoa.  As we turned south, we closed haul we raised the main.  We've covered 200 miles of motoring, and now we are going to tackle 20 miles of sailing before we demast. 

Lake st Francis through the Thousand islands

We arrived around 5:45 AM this morning in the dark when a tanker pulled up at the ramp at Morrisburg.

And everything is going to require when that dang truck pulls up.

We departed for the Iroquois locks about 6 nm away.  We had a straight through 

We just passed the Gallop Canal.  It didn't seem to save us too much from the current.  We're getting 2 1/2 hours of rest, not in the Gallup Canal, and spent the night at Morrisburg.

We cleared customs with the Roam App, were approved as trusted travellers, and received our cruising license. 

That night we spent at Summerstown. Swam and washed.

Friday, day four: I got up and left at 7:30, then headed to JP Marine in Alexandra Bay to get fuel.  After that, I headed out to Vincent without having breakfast.

Departure Royal to Lake St Francis

Pierre, Jason, Mike, Norm came to our departure party

We ended up opening a bottle of bubbly. 

Left at noon down the zig-zag Chanel  and had to wait a couple hours at Beauharnois locks

Arrived at Lake St. Francis in the dark, trying to avoid the ice fences.

We decided to head for Grenadier Island since it would mean no backtracking or complicated entry into Valleyfield.