We are off, and on to Canada

Day 1, June 15

Friday morning dawned clear and bright with cool temps promising a warm and sunny day. A perfect way to start our trip! We departed our home port of Champlain Marina at about 10am and headed west out through Malletts Bay to the cut.

Serenity on the move

John unfurls the Looper burgee

Malletts bay is separated from the rest of Lake Champlain by an old railroad bed that used to connect Colchester to South Hero. It is now a recreational path for walkers and bikers, but was badly damaged in the flooding in spring and summer of 2011. When the railroad was no longer used, the "cut" was put in to allow boats passage through.

Lily taking pictures at the cut in the causeway

The water was like glass in the bay but we felt a little north wind on the broad lake. It was just under 3 hours to reach the NY state park at Deep Bay where there are rows of moorings to tie up the boat.

Micki and Steve pick up their mooring

Micki and Steve on Endurance pulled in at 3:30 and caught the mooring right next to us. John and Lily took the dinghy over, caught one of their lines and we were able to pull our sterns together for a proper greeting and another brief look at the charts. 

Captain's Log:
Departed Champlain Marina 9:50am
Arrived Deep Bay 12:40pm   17.3 nautical miles
Average speed 6.4 knots
Wx - clear, wind N @ 5 or less

Day 2, June 16

We pulled out of Deep Bay just after 7am for points north. We crossed under the Rouses Point bridge and then pulled into Canadian customs where we passed with flying colors, literally, as we hung the Canadian maple leaf from the yard arm. The agents were not interested in seeing the notarized papers that we had assembled, they just warned Lily to not let her grandparents assign her to dishwashing duty!

Rouses Point bridge connecting Vermont and New York

Fort Montgomery

Fort Montgomery at Island Point was often referred to as Fort Blunder because the United States built it shortly after the war of 1812, thinking it was in the US, but it was actually in Canada. The elaborate project was abandoned after it's correct location was discovered!


Micki and Steve tying up in St. Jean, Quebec

We enjoyed the cruise up the Richelieu River and before we knew it, we had reached our destination at the St. Jean Marina.

Lily doing her ballet warmups on the upper deck

Captain's Log:
Depart Deep Bay 7:15am
Arrive St. Jean   12:40pm  37.6 nautical miles
Average speed 8.3 knots
Wx - clear, wind S @ 5 to 10