Mile 1132: Port Lambton

Left Goderich at 6am (OK, woke up at 6am).  Not much wind.  Our plan was to go as deep down the St Claire river as possible, hopefully Port Lambton.  That's about 75nm.  We figured that the current in the river would give us a boost (it did).

Once we cleared the pier heads at Goderich, we set a straight track to the entrance channel at Sarnia/Port Huron and let the Earnest do the driving.  For much of that leg, we had the apparent wind on the beam and motor sailed, and made excellent time.  The wind eventually died, and we dropped/furled sail and started on our journey down the river.

Algoma Transfer

We passed two freighter in the trip, and only a handful of pleasure craft.

Once we got the Blue Water Bridge at Sarnia, we tried our best to keep to the center of the channel and find the most current.  We goosed the motor a little, and were doing 10kts over ground at times.  After getting under the bridge, we began a zippy, hot ride down the river.

Fort Gratiot Light

We ended up at our destination at just after 5pm.  A long day, but the marina we found has full facilities, so we fueled up, pumped out, and filled up out water, showers, and cooked some burgers for dinner.

It cooling off outside, but the boat is a little warm.  The motor take a while to dissipate it's heat after running all day long.

Last lightship on the GLs
(now a museum)

The Highlander Sea
(built in 1924)

The river has a variety of mysteries and charms, but for the most part we'd see it on our trip up the river.  The large industry, the never ending lengths of sheet pile, the cigarette boats, were all there the second time through.

Movie night on the boat!







Another ambitious day tomorrow ... back to Pelee Island.

Chris


Chris