We crossed the US-Canadian water border yesterday and cleared the US Customs at Heart Island, the location of the 1900 Boldt Castle. The "heart" of the Thousand Islands region, US side. This is right across the little US boating town of Alexandria Bay.
We toured the castle and its magnificent grounds. We both had visited this castle multiple times in the past, the latest visit dating back to 2007. The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority who owns and operates this site, has done a remarkable job at restoring the castle, which had been left unfinished in 1904 and in ruins thereafter. They now have completed the entire first floor as well as the 2nd floor's bedrooms of the Boldt family that built it. It is so well appointed, with all the details reminiscent of a grand era and lifetsyle. A must see when in this area. I can't attach pictures now because this server is slow and not reliable.
We are leaving Alexandria Bay this morning and headed towards Cape Vincent, at the NE tip of Lake Ontario. We are planning to cross Lake Ontario towards Oswego tomorrow Saturday as the winds will be low and favorable.
Will try to keep everyone posted as Sirocco reaches her final winter destination. We have some mechanical maintenance work to do before leaving her (HIS), as well as major cleaning including polishing and waxing the fiberglass (HERS...).
Good day to all! The wine is gone.
Annick and Michael.
Sirocco
Friday, September 23, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Heading back to the US soon....
We have been around the Thousand Islands, Canadian side, for the past week. Hopping from one island to another in search of a suitable Parks Canada dock. We are finding out that although it is now low season, the docks are still sufficiently busy (first-come first-serve) that it is not easy to find a dock for Sirocco. We do need a loooooong and sturdy dock, and there are not that many. This boat is almost too big for this boating area. And anchoring here is hardly possible (too many rocks, rocky bottom, current and eddies), unlike on the Rideau.
We just spend 2 days at a municipal marina in Brockville, Ontario. Pretty little town on the Saint Lawrence river, at the North East End of the Thousand Islands, with a quaint harbor. And even the ducks are finding shelter from the colder temperatures and waters...
We went to the opening of an art show with friends Dale and Wendy, as one of the artist exhibiting her work is a boating acquaintance to all of us. The quality of her work, and that of the other painters, was quite remarkable. Very good and varied fine art. Alas Sirocco is too small to hang such pieces, and with humidity and lack of good temperature control, we would not want to not take proper care of such precious work! AH! AH! We are saving our pennies for the new generator instead.
We will now be inching our position for an upcoming Lake Ontario crossing. The winds can be pretty wicked in this early Fall season, and we need to be ready when that one good day comes about. We hope to have crossed by early October. Sooner if the opportunity is there. The boat is to be put up no later than October 10 near Syracuse, NY. It could be sooner than that.
We think we will be back in New Bern near October 10.
We hope you all have had as great a summer as we did. Despite a few hickups at the start of our journey, and a few more along the way (it's a boat!), we thoroughly have enjoyed our time on the beautiful Canadian waters, breathing only clean pure fresh air... and we plan to do so until our very last day here. Reconnecting with our Canadian friends was very special. Did you know that Canadians are such hospitable and welcoming people? Our experience says they are and they love Americans and the US.
To (a few) more chilled wines and fair winds,
Annick and Michael cruising aboard Sirocco
We will now be inching our position for an upcoming Lake Ontario crossing. The winds can be pretty wicked in this early Fall season, and we need to be ready when that one good day comes about. We hope to have crossed by early October. Sooner if the opportunity is there. The boat is to be put up no later than October 10 near Syracuse, NY. It could be sooner than that.
We think we will be back in New Bern near October 10.
We hope you all have had as great a summer as we did. Despite a few hickups at the start of our journey, and a few more along the way (it's a boat!), we thoroughly have enjoyed our time on the beautiful Canadian waters, breathing only clean pure fresh air... and we plan to do so until our very last day here. Reconnecting with our Canadian friends was very special. Did you know that Canadians are such hospitable and welcoming people? Our experience says they are and they love Americans and the US.
To (a few) more chilled wines and fair winds,
Annick and Michael cruising aboard Sirocco
Friday, September 9, 2011
Descending the Rideau back to Lake Ontario
Hello friends!
We have had a wonderful August on the Rideau Canal, mainly on Big Rideau Lake. Since I last updated this blog, my godmother Nicole from Paris and her husband Patrick visited us. Patrick is a world class sailor, having competed in 3 Olympics in the 80s & 90s, as well as the World Cup. Nevertheless, he enjoyed the comfort and space of the BAB (Big Ass Boat)! We very much enjoyed their visit, as I had not seen them in 6 years.
Next our Rochester friends Julie and Gary stayed over the Labor Day weekend. More food, more drinks, more fun...they are always great to have on the boat, as they are boaters themselves and need no entertainment: they are the entertainment. Unfortunately, the weather turned cold and stormy while they were with us, which simply resulted in more drinking since there was not much else to do.
On Sunday morning at around 7AM, while we were anchored in one of our favorite bays (Lower Stouts Bay), a very powerful thunderstorm cell passed over us, literally picking up Sirocco and dropping her back on the water a few times too many. Another "never before" experience which I do not wish to relive. We got loose and dragged, despite the 125 feet of chain in 12 ft of water. Michael powered up the Cats so we stayed off the rocks but did get into 4.2 feet of water. We were fine and just re-anchored after some calm resumed. At least, we offered our guests a unique experience! More drinking afterwards...
The water level in the system went down pretty drastically in the last 2 weeks, thanks to good weather and no real precipitation during the month. This resulted in some areas of the canal system being below datum at about 4ft 6 in. We swiftly decided to get out of dodge while we still could, and made the difficult decision to leave much earlier than expected and head back "South" towards Kingston (for our NC friends, not South to NC!). Here are a few last shots I took of our beloved Big Rideau Lake area. Keep in mind that this has been pretty typical scenery for the past 45 days.
I would not be doing justice to my captain if I did not post the following shots.
Michael headed by bike to a haircut appointment. This is him crossing a small one-lane bridge over the lock at the Narrows where we stayed at frequently.
Some fishing with friend Dale.
Dale caught a 32 inch pike. And I know what I am talking about, not 6 inches guys...By the way
Michael caught bupkas!!!! Gary too caught a (small) pike while visiting.
And here we are on the move again, locking down the Rideau. Heading back for American waters.
We just passed the sensitive (shallows) areas on the canal and are slowly inching our way towards the Thousand Islands at the Eastern end of Lake Ontario where the St Lawrence river starts.
We expect to be on the lower end of the Rideau Canal until early next week. We have no rigid plans at this point. When the weather turns cold, we will cross Lake Ontario and bring Sirocco to its winter shelter near Syracuse, NY. In the meantime, we'll be in the 1000 Islands.
After we leave our current location (where I am using a nearby hotel internet router), I do not know how often I'll have internet connection. Likely rarely.
To fair weather and chilled wine,
Annick & Michael cruising aboard Sirocco and still loving it.
We have had a wonderful August on the Rideau Canal, mainly on Big Rideau Lake. Since I last updated this blog, my godmother Nicole from Paris and her husband Patrick visited us. Patrick is a world class sailor, having competed in 3 Olympics in the 80s & 90s, as well as the World Cup. Nevertheless, he enjoyed the comfort and space of the BAB (Big Ass Boat)! We very much enjoyed their visit, as I had not seen them in 6 years.
Next our Rochester friends Julie and Gary stayed over the Labor Day weekend. More food, more drinks, more fun...they are always great to have on the boat, as they are boaters themselves and need no entertainment: they are the entertainment. Unfortunately, the weather turned cold and stormy while they were with us, which simply resulted in more drinking since there was not much else to do.
On Sunday morning at around 7AM, while we were anchored in one of our favorite bays (Lower Stouts Bay), a very powerful thunderstorm cell passed over us, literally picking up Sirocco and dropping her back on the water a few times too many. Another "never before" experience which I do not wish to relive. We got loose and dragged, despite the 125 feet of chain in 12 ft of water. Michael powered up the Cats so we stayed off the rocks but did get into 4.2 feet of water. We were fine and just re-anchored after some calm resumed. At least, we offered our guests a unique experience! More drinking afterwards...
The water level in the system went down pretty drastically in the last 2 weeks, thanks to good weather and no real precipitation during the month. This resulted in some areas of the canal system being below datum at about 4ft 6 in. We swiftly decided to get out of dodge while we still could, and made the difficult decision to leave much earlier than expected and head back "South" towards Kingston (for our NC friends, not South to NC!). Here are a few last shots I took of our beloved Big Rideau Lake area. Keep in mind that this has been pretty typical scenery for the past 45 days.
I would not be doing justice to my captain if I did not post the following shots.
Michael headed by bike to a haircut appointment. This is him crossing a small one-lane bridge over the lock at the Narrows where we stayed at frequently.
Some fishing with friend Dale.
Michael caught bupkas!!!! Gary too caught a (small) pike while visiting.
And here we are on the move again, locking down the Rideau. Heading back for American waters.
We just passed the sensitive (shallows) areas on the canal and are slowly inching our way towards the Thousand Islands at the Eastern end of Lake Ontario where the St Lawrence river starts.
We expect to be on the lower end of the Rideau Canal until early next week. We have no rigid plans at this point. When the weather turns cold, we will cross Lake Ontario and bring Sirocco to its winter shelter near Syracuse, NY. In the meantime, we'll be in the 1000 Islands.
After we leave our current location (where I am using a nearby hotel internet router), I do not know how often I'll have internet connection. Likely rarely.
To fair weather and chilled wine,
Annick & Michael cruising aboard Sirocco and still loving it.
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