92 hours on motor
170 liters diesel 1.85 Litres per hour
586 Nmiles
The Track of our adventure
Monday, August 13, 2018
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Home - final leg
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| Leaving sanctuary of Kahnawake |
5:40 am We get up. The radar indicates that the rain will start around 7:30 am so we departed
7:18 am We docked at the club service dock as we slept. The mast did not let us go into our own dock.
We close all the hatches and we go back to bed.
10:30 am We empty the boat and we dock at the Redline wharf.
BYE BYE BELLUM, NEXT!
Monday, August 6, 2018
The Port of Montreal and the Locks
Drain the bilge under engine 2 bottles.
8:00 am Departure
The day will be long, we return to Dorval and we have two big locks left.
To avoid a little the current and the big ships, we take the secondary channel that will allow us to see these pretty villages and their beautiful churches.
The Montreal port is normally bustling with activity but this time it was relatively quiet.
We arrived at the port of Montreal, we look closely at all these big ships that were moored. Bellum is tiny in front of these giants! How lucky,
The London Star maneuvers to leave the port tethered with two tugs - one pushes the stern, the other pulls the bow and rotate it almost on the spot.
3:50 pm St. Lambert Lock. Three power boats. One of these power boats had cut in front of us, causing unnecessary shaking of Bellum with her mast horizontal.
Leaving the lock, the two boats in front of us slow down to adjust their fenders, we pass them quietly. Once they have everything in order, it is their turn to overtake us at a brisk pace and especially without worrying about the waves left behind them. Bellum gets brewed nicely. I am on the front deck, I cling firmly to the mast so as not to go overboard.
5:00 pm St. Catherine Lock
At the opening of the lock doors at the exit of the second lock, Allan is very concerned about the dark clouds in the distance. He consults his weather radar. A storm awaits us.
The further we go in the seaway, the more threatening the weather. Between the clouds, the light show is started.
And then lightning that tears the sky find their targets on the ground. It is beautifully disturbing.
There is the Kahnawake marina on the territory of Indian reserve at the exit of the channel ... What will be the best anchor in the bay in front of the marina where to dock?
No time to dock, the wind is blowing stronger and we now see the curtain of rain coming towards us.
We enter the bay, we face the wind we cast anchor and we leave the engine running. Now, we are soaked to the bones and the rain pinches our faces. We can hardly see anything in front. Storms of water are falling on us. Sometimes, it is his port that Bellum presents to the wind sometimes it is his starboard but she still hangs well at the bottom. The anchor holds up well despite the 30 knots of wind that shake the boat. Waytogo Rocna Vulcan.
As we were waiting out a storm, a mayday call came in near Chateauguay. A boat was hitting the rocks in the storm. Not much we could do.
Once the storm is over, we decide to spend the night here. The Royal St. Lawrence will have to wait a few more hours before we arrive.
End of the trip meal: Hot Dogs and well-earned Scotch.
8:00 am Departure
The day will be long, we return to Dorval and we have two big locks left.
To avoid a little the current and the big ships, we take the secondary channel that will allow us to see these pretty villages and their beautiful churches.
The Montreal port is normally bustling with activity but this time it was relatively quiet.
We arrived at the port of Montreal, we look closely at all these big ships that were moored. Bellum is tiny in front of these giants! How lucky,
The London Star maneuvers to leave the port tethered with two tugs - one pushes the stern, the other pulls the bow and rotate it almost on the spot.
 |
| London Star |
 |
| Champlain Bridge |
3:50 pm St. Lambert Lock. Three power boats. One of these power boats had cut in front of us, causing unnecessary shaking of Bellum with her mast horizontal.
Leaving the lock, the two boats in front of us slow down to adjust their fenders, we pass them quietly. Once they have everything in order, it is their turn to overtake us at a brisk pace and especially without worrying about the waves left behind them. Bellum gets brewed nicely. I am on the front deck, I cling firmly to the mast so as not to go overboard.
5:00 pm St. Catherine Lock
At the opening of the lock doors at the exit of the second lock, Allan is very concerned about the dark clouds in the distance. He consults his weather radar. A storm awaits us.
The further we go in the seaway, the more threatening the weather. Between the clouds, the light show is started.
And then lightning that tears the sky find their targets on the ground. It is beautifully disturbing.
There is the Kahnawake marina on the territory of Indian reserve at the exit of the channel ... What will be the best anchor in the bay in front of the marina where to dock?
No time to dock, the wind is blowing stronger and we now see the curtain of rain coming towards us.
We enter the bay, we face the wind we cast anchor and we leave the engine running. Now, we are soaked to the bones and the rain pinches our faces. We can hardly see anything in front. Storms of water are falling on us. Sometimes, it is his port that Bellum presents to the wind sometimes it is his starboard but she still hangs well at the bottom. The anchor holds up well despite the 30 knots of wind that shake the boat. Waytogo Rocna Vulcan.
As we were waiting out a storm, a mayday call came in near Chateauguay. A boat was hitting the rocks in the storm. Not much we could do.
Once the storm is over, we decide to spend the night here. The Royal St. Lawrence will have to wait a few more hours before we arrive.
End of the trip meal: Hot Dogs and well-earned Scotch.
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Richelieu River to Contrecoeur
Emptying the sump under engine 2 1/2 bottles
Oil ok
10h45 Departure
12h45 Lock St-Ours, the easiest because it attaches to a floating dock. We are 5 boats and it is comfortable.
Shortly after our exit from the locks, an osprey passes near us holding a fish firmly in his claws.
On the Richelieu, all the power boats drive recklessly like Sunday drivers. There are the rodeos on the slightest wave, and then there are also the ones who are a bit bigger and of course those towing children on tubes in their wake.
But the bigger, those nasty pooches, they move in wolf packs and pass near Bellum, completely lacking respect and caring little waves that make.
7:00 pm Contrecoeur, from an island in front of the Church.
We did not bathe nor did anyone else. We are 5 boats in the inlet and we do not see anyone swimming. The water is an opaque green-gray disgusting with heaps of seaweed floating around the boat.
No see thems invaded the boat. Tiny bugs that you cannot see and that could easily get through the mosquito netting. DDT did not help. Daniele googled and we think they might have been duck fleas. There were some ducks nearby. It was an itchy night. I am itchy just writing about it.
Oil ok
10h45 Departure
12h45 Lock St-Ours, the easiest because it attaches to a floating dock. We are 5 boats and it is comfortable.
Shortly after our exit from the locks, an osprey passes near us holding a fish firmly in his claws.
On the Richelieu, all the power boats drive recklessly like Sunday drivers. There are the rodeos on the slightest wave, and then there are also the ones who are a bit bigger and of course those towing children on tubes in their wake.
But the bigger, those nasty pooches, they move in wolf packs and pass near Bellum, completely lacking respect and caring little waves that make.
We did not bathe nor did anyone else. We are 5 boats in the inlet and we do not see anyone swimming. The water is an opaque green-gray disgusting with heaps of seaweed floating around the boat.
No see thems invaded the boat. Tiny bugs that you cannot see and that could easily get through the mosquito netting. DDT did not help. Daniele googled and we think they might have been duck fleas. There were some ducks nearby. It was an itchy night. I am itchy just writing about it.
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Chambly Canal
9am. Chambly Canal, beginning of the lock.
12.30 pm Forced wait between the penultimate and the last lock (lock 1). Thunderstorm. We wait.
Once released, I wanted to anchor at Chambly but the captain said we were moving on. She says there were no sailboats so all the harbour must be shallow. We go.
4:15 pm We anchored beside the Island of Jeannotte again, it is here that we spend the night.
We will not bath this time even though it was very hot during the locks and many people are in the water. The quality of the water has deteriorated it seems, it is now a milky green with foam that floats here and there. I am not inspired. Allan is less disdainful, he plunges head first and comes out refreshed.
12.30 pm Forced wait between the penultimate and the last lock (lock 1). Thunderstorm. We wait.
Once released, I wanted to anchor at Chambly but the captain said we were moving on. She says there were no sailboats so all the harbour must be shallow. We go.
4:15 pm We anchored beside the Island of Jeannotte again, it is here that we spend the night.
We will not bath this time even though it was very hot during the locks and many people are in the water. The quality of the water has deteriorated it seems, it is now a milky green with foam that floats here and there. I am not inspired. Allan is less disdainful, he plunges head first and comes out refreshed.
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| On December 11, 2020 we flew over this.. Photo by Jimbo |
Friday, August 3, 2018
Mast Down
8:00 am We removed the genoa before leaving the anchorage.
En route to go to Gosselin I am lucky to see an osprey plunge shoulders raised and wings folded. His body resembling the letter M until he touches the water. I do not think he managed to capture anything.
10:00 am Mast down at Gosselin.
We will stay at the dock until 3:00 pm time to do the washing and some cleaning.
Allan and I do not remember that the channel .. was so shallow ... we are very close to the datum this year, we move slowly.
5:00 pm Arrival at the Federal dock at St-Jean.
We waited for Daniele's daughter - Marifé sometimes.
Nice evening the Dorchester is a very nice place and the carpaccio is excellent.
Beautiful walking along the docks and in the busy city shoreline parks. There was an open salsa party!
Back to Bellum around 22:00.
During the night, young party goers will disturb our sleep. It's Friday night!
En route to go to Gosselin I am lucky to see an osprey plunge shoulders raised and wings folded. His body resembling the letter M until he touches the water. I do not think he managed to capture anything.
10:00 am Mast down at Gosselin.
We will stay at the dock until 3:00 pm time to do the washing and some cleaning.
Allan and I do not remember that the channel .. was so shallow ... we are very close to the datum this year, we move slowly.
5:00 pm Arrival at the Federal dock at St-Jean. We waited for Daniele's daughter - Marifé sometimes.
Nice evening the Dorchester is a very nice place and the carpaccio is excellent.
Beautiful walking along the docks and in the busy city shoreline parks. There was an open salsa party!
Back to Bellum around 22:00.
During the night, young party goers will disturb our sleep. It's Friday night!
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Bye Bye USA, back home welcome to Canada
Good morning!
Checks. Battery No. 1 ... dead.
We motored to North Hero Marina.
Full of diesel: 19.5 liters
Water at the North Hero Marina did not seem so good so we did not fill the water tanks
We sailed and motored our way to Canada. I called US Customs to report we were leaving via Champlain rather than Whitehall.
It was difficult to dock at customs. Waves were choppy and lack of shelter. Starboard stern gel coat was beaten by a cleat.
Canada Customs searched Bellum for half an hour. What an insult. These poor customs are bored so much, they must attack a boat from time to time.
We anchored behind Île aux Noix again. I like to return to anchorages that I know, it's like finding a friend benevolent.
After a good swim, we remove the mainsail but, it is too late to tackle the genoa we will do tomorrow morning.
Unlike the last time, the evening will be noisy ... we have a disco boat near us. Fortunately, the music is good.
Checks. Battery No. 1 ... dead.
We motored to North Hero Marina.
Full of diesel: 19.5 liters
Water at the North Hero Marina did not seem so good so we did not fill the water tanks
We sailed and motored our way to Canada. I called US Customs to report we were leaving via Champlain rather than Whitehall.
It was difficult to dock at customs. Waves were choppy and lack of shelter. Starboard stern gel coat was beaten by a cleat.
Canada Customs searched Bellum for half an hour. What an insult. These poor customs are bored so much, they must attack a boat from time to time.
We anchored behind Île aux Noix again. I like to return to anchorages that I know, it's like finding a friend benevolent.
After a good swim, we remove the mainsail but, it is too late to tackle the genoa we will do tomorrow morning.
Unlike the last time, the evening will be noisy ... we have a disco boat near us. Fortunately, the music is good.
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| Deep Bay moorings |
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Pelots Bay
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| What a view |
We raised the sails and we will go to where the wind carries us. It will be towards the south!
Weather is nice and it's nice to be tacking closed haul in light winds toward Pelots Bay. The conditions are ideal, 11 knots and regular. Bellum is happy!
Surely the most beautiful day of the holidays, we all agree.
17.35. Anchored in Pelots Bay
I did some sanding on the companionway and starboard handrail teak.
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| Ritual grooming |
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
We spent the day anchored in Pelots Bay to get brewed.
Too windy to sail.
We read and bathed.
Allan deflates the kayak.
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| Pelots Bay sunset |
Monday, July 30, 2018
Plattsburgh Groceries then Deep Bay
The wind is brewing nicely this morning! The wind is from the south between 11-12 knots and the waves have formed.
It was a little hard to pull the anchor this time. Wind and waves pushed Bellum from left to right and back as we tried to use the motor to head up to the anchor. Sometimes the anchor is on the port side and immediately after it is on the starboard side. Phew ... we are free.
We motored to the Plattsburg City Marina from Plattsburg Boat Basin. At first it was hard to distinguish
We had an easy docking since the harbour was well protected from wind and waves. We hung around the harbour to check in. Dockmaster was busy with a big Catamaran. We took care of garbage.
The Lashway's Meat Market store is 3 kilometers away - easy walking distance but it was very disappointing. Mostly a deli and some expired meat at a discount.
Fortunately, we did find everything we need at Yando's Big M Supermarket. Very similar to Price Choppers. We stopped for a Burger King.
We return to the boat with a Lyft car, it's like Uber.
We departed Plattsburg by the motor, getting whipped by the waves that are now well developed. Around Cumberland Head point we deploy the genoa and cut the engine.
Nice sailing north towards Deep Bay. We check out Middle bay but Daniele really wanted to visit her old hangout at Deep Bay.
There are many boats at anchor in Deep Bay. We go around slowly and choose a location. Allan goes for a kayak ride and walks the Point Au Roche trails as Daniele stayed with Bellum. It was a nice walk.
It was fun watching power boats at moorings tie up their sterns so they can stay together.
18:00. Emptying the bilge under a 1/3 bottle motor.
Meals, hamburgers!
21:00. Many mosquitoes.
Daniele found it difficult to talk to Ben, communication cuts all the time.
Nobody came by to collect Daniele's mooring fee.
It was a little hard to pull the anchor this time. Wind and waves pushed Bellum from left to right and back as we tried to use the motor to head up to the anchor. Sometimes the anchor is on the port side and immediately after it is on the starboard side. Phew ... we are free.
We motored to the Plattsburg City Marina from Plattsburg Boat Basin. At first it was hard to distinguish
We had an easy docking since the harbour was well protected from wind and waves. We hung around the harbour to check in. Dockmaster was busy with a big Catamaran. We took care of garbage.
The Lashway's Meat Market store is 3 kilometers away - easy walking distance but it was very disappointing. Mostly a deli and some expired meat at a discount. 
Fortunately, we did find everything we need at Yando's Big M Supermarket. Very similar to Price Choppers. We stopped for a Burger King.
We return to the boat with a Lyft car, it's like Uber.
We departed Plattsburg by the motor, getting whipped by the waves that are now well developed. Around Cumberland Head point we deploy the genoa and cut the engine.
Nice sailing north towards Deep Bay. We check out Middle bay but Daniele really wanted to visit her old hangout at Deep Bay.
18:00. Emptying the bilge under a 1/3 bottle motor.
Meals, hamburgers!
21:00. Many mosquitoes.
Daniele found it difficult to talk to Ben, communication cuts all the time.
Nobody came by to collect Daniele's mooring fee.
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