Jul 10, 2014 | Flotsam
The weather forecast today came with yet another wind and thunderstorm advisory,
so we left our anchorage at Brandy Bay with caution.
…again with our foresail alone but this time we reefed the genoa…
…it was a cold and very sporty day but we took turns at the helm…
…each day we become more and more confident with our own ability
and more confident with R.E.D. herself…
…we reached the Eisenhower and Snell Locks in good time…
…a couple of BFB’s (Big Fluvial Boats) were also locking through…
…so we made lunch and waited at the pleasure craft dock…
…all in all it took us 3 hours (1.5 hours of wait time)
from here to the end of Snell.
This one was a new experience and a little unnerving.
I wish I could have taken pictures but wasn’t sure how safe the camera would be
while keeping us poled away from the concrete walls.
As the water level was lowered we found ourselves in this giant concrete tomb.
As I looked up I had the sensation not too unlike vertigo but in reverse.
Maybe I will be able to rig the camera nearby for the next two locks.
Because of the strong winds we found a safe anchorage on the American side,
near the shore of Dodens Island.
This was our favourite anchorage so far…
It was a tiny island inhabited solely by birds…
More varieties than I have ever seen in one place.
I tried to capture some of them on camera
but the resolution isn’t as good as I would have liked…
…if you look closely you can seen the herons feeding their young…
…and the Great White Egret returning to her nest…
…in this tree there were at least five egrets…
…I have no idea what this little bird is
but he sat and watched close by until nightfall…
…nightfall with a view of the Adirondacks in the distance…
…nightfall with another spectacular sunset
on another spectacular day.
Jul 8, 2014 | Flotsam
After spending two wonderful days in the town of Brockville,
docked on Block House Island
we said goodbye to the great staff
and promised to return again soon…
so had to take a shot of his memorial.
…light winds but as always the prevailing direction
made our way out so easy…
…this is my ‘just because’ pic of the day…
‘Dancing Dolphins’
… Do you remember two days ago when we reached 6.6 knots?…
…well…
…check this one out…
7.5 knots
at the same time we reached another milestone
300 nautical miles
(on genoa alone)
This next part of our journey will be another challenge…
a small challenge – but still a new one for me…
…on the next 5 locks of the Saint Lawrence Seaway
we will have to share the space with one of these behemoths …
(this one a mere a 222 metre cargo tanker)
(after 47 I can now say I am quite the expert)
just 4 more to go..
…after the lock we chose this private spot for our night anchorage…
Brandy Bay…
For the past 24 days we have checked in with the weather forecast on VHF radio…
Everyday the forecast has been the same..
Risk of thunder storm…
(we both really love storms)
We have waited (with safety in mind of course)
…and waited…
Tonight is THE night…
Rolling thunder all around…
…lightning too…
(anchorage has much higher trees than our mast)
…Sitting in the cockpit…
sipping a scotch…
FINALLY
this is our reward!
…night..night all…
Jul 7, 2014 | Flotsam
So far on this little journey of ours
we have yet to stay in one location for more than 24 hours.
Today will be the day to change that…
Due to a combination of weather issues:
1. wind advisory (up to 40 knots with 2 metre waves),
2. heavy rain (reduced visibility with fog rolling in later today),
3. between where we are now and our next secure stop,
there will are no safe anchorages,
narrow channel and the BFB’s – Big Fluvial Boats –
(I cleaned up Francois’ description for you)
A trusted friend’s words still come back to me (and probably always will)
after our heavy weather experience last year
(40 knot winds at our back,
2-3 metre west-bound waves,
combined with 5 knot east-bound currents and incoming tide:
‘In hind sight, should you have gone out that day?’
Today, the answer will be ‘no‘.
We will spend one more day on Block House Island.
Never ones to just sit around we used the time to clean
outside (the rain made that job easier for the Captain)
…all shiny…
and a much-needed inside cleaning for the Galley Kat
(Captain outside made that job easier for me).
Another walk around town took us to
fresh local seasonal ingredients,
a real treasure recommended by a friend..
…deeelicious sangria,
bruschetta with local artisan chèvre and
crab cakes
served up by the very charming chef and owner
Marc Hardy.
And for Major Pig (retired) it was time for a cleanup of his own…
(in case you are interested in this little guy’s background
you can read all about his adventures by following this
link)
…a soak in the tub…
…followed by a fresh rinse…
…air-dry only for this pig…
…hangin’ with the fruit and supervising dinner prep…
…and what better way to end the evening – watching R.E.D. – the movie.
…my ‘just because’ pic of the day…
(so sorry Major Pig)
