St Ours to Ile Verte

I got out at 8 ish and the two other boats had already departed.  I took out the garbage and departed at 8:12. 

Up the Richieu river was uneventful. Current was 1.5 to 2 knots in my favour.  The only boat I passed was near the St Lawrence and I asked him to slow down and he did.  We waved.  Unlike 2018 when there were hundreds of power boats passing close to us, making it very uncomfortable with the mast on deck.

The St Lawrence was cold, rolly and windy.  The current was 1 knots against me. The leg was 30 NM when I arrived at Ile Verte.

I had some indecision about anchoring at Ile Verte.  The current was strong and windy - but bother were coming from the west.  I puttered around look for a shallow spot.  I ended up anchoring on the windward side of Ile Verte in 18 feet of water at 4:30,.  

I was tired and cold and took a nap and then made a fast supper of Korean Ramen which was spicy and warmed me up.

Chambly to St Ours

I left the anchorage at 9:45 and sailed across the bay to the Richieu River towards St. Ours lock.

Upon arrival, they did not respond to my radio until I was about 1/2 mile when they told me the lock would open in 10 minutes and told me to put my fenders to port.  I repeated the instructions and she said yes - On the Left!

I was a little nervous that I was single handed but I was aware there was a floating dock in the lock so it should be easy. 

The lockage was easy.  Carol, a student of Norm’s VHF course.  She was expecting BELLUM.  

I comopleted the lock at 2PM and spent the afternoon at the park.  Made supper and went to bed a little early.

St Jean to Chambly -s the locks with Hal

When I arrived at St Jean on Monday at 1:15, just after the last lockage. They told me I would be first at 9AM.  But I needed a crew to do the locks. I told them that I had a crew coming tomorrow - weather permitting … The forecast was for lots of rain Tuesday.  

They passed a 67 foot power boat about 2PM. He was going to be the 9AM departure on Tuesday I was annoyed that they let him through before me.  They told me that I would be at 1PM on Tuesday since there would be no staff at 9AM.  

I met Palbert and his girlfriend at the lock.  I talked him to come help me through the locks tomorrow.  He agreed to.  I had lots of doubt and concern about him.  I talked a lot and I was not too sure how stable he was.

On Tuesday morning, it rained and stopped about 10:30 and Hal showed up and we chatted and prepared to depart.  The other boat wanted his fenders on the port side so I departed the dock a little earlier to switch my fenders to starboard.  

The lockage went well except at lock 7, a fender got caught against the wall and ripped off the handrail it was attached to hand rail.

At Lock 2, Matin showed up with a dock wheel that I wanted to buy on FB marketplace.

After lock 1, we docked.  We were going to go for a late lunch and met a dock operator and we asked if anyone was driving back to St. Jean and Yve was at 1700.  We had lunch —- a Montreal Pizza consisting a a funny dough with smoked meat and yellow mustard … at $33, it was quite pricy.

After Had departed, I had a beer with Catherine and her crew who was docked in front of BELLUM.

They gave me the shower code for the marina and I had a shower.  

I departed the dock for an anchorage nearby.

St. Paul to Ile aux Noix to St. Jean

Kaloni finally contacted me.  I had tried to get a hold of her to see if she can help me with the locks.  I had lost contact with her and I was aware she had some family issues.  She was in very bad shape and didn’t think she could or should help me.

Hal was planning help me with the locks anyways.

I departed my anchorage at Fort Lennox after the rain about 11.  I got the St Jean and docked at 1;15… use missing the last lockage.

I visited St. Jean but Monday everything was closed.

Smuggler Harbor to Fort Lennox St Paul Ile aux Noix

Got up at 8, put the dinghy back on the Dinghy Tow and departed the anchorage.  I noticed how clear the water in Lake Champlain was.

I called CBP at Rouses Point to see if I needed to check out of the USA.  I told him I had a cruising permit and cruising license.  He told me he "did not think so".

I headed north slowly at 2000 rpm arriving at Canada Customs at 2:30.  Canada Customs was a breeze and they were amused that I kissed the ground.  Customers was a breeze.

I headed for St. Jean, but Hal was unavailable on Monday to do the Chambly locks, so I stopped at Fort Lennox for the night.  

The anchorage east of the island was congested with over 100 boats at anchor.