Working during Labor Day Week 9-09-09

You have returned to work—why shouldn’t we? We have been cruising for 1 year and our boat is a mess and caked in salt water. With a name like Baby Grand, there is a lot of pressure to get her looking good again so we’re working hard washing, waxing, sanding and varnishing. It’s paying off and already she has shed her scaly coating and is so glad to be back in fresh water again. Ahhhhhhh……

We are moored in Deep Bay in Lake Champlain with 3 sided protection. We are enjoying blue sky days with temps in the 70’s in the northland which is just perfect. The light is getting more golden and there are a few hints of fall with slight color change.

We are not all work and no play as Point au Roche State Park with hiking trials is just a dinghy ride away. There are miles of trails to hike and when we get hot, " just jump in the lake".

Great Labor Day Weekend 9-6-09

We left Burton Island on Friday, 9/4 so we could meet up with Bob’s brother John and his wife, Mary on Saturday at Treadwell Bay Marina. They have a cabin in the Adirondacks and this was a convenient meeting place.

I awoke on Saturday to the smell of strong coffee, cigarettes and the sound of French. I truly did not know where I was and wondered if I had lost a year as we plan to travel to Montreal and Quebec next year. I learned later that Treadwell Bay is 60 miles from Montreal and that the marina is occupied by 90% French Canadians. I love the lilt of the French language but why is it that I only remember Spanish words when I try to speak French. I think that I have some work to do this winter.

Treadwell Bay Marina is an interesting place which makes you work hard to get to the pool and the good restaurant. Notice the steps to the left side of the picture—41 total and we did them numerous times with groceries and 4 loads of laundry with dock carts. I asked a Montreal boater how he copes with this and he noted, “You get used to it and can drink more wine and eat more food and still stay in shape.” Hardy people.

We had a great time visiting with John and Mary on our boat. We tooled around Treadwell Bay made easy with a crystal clear blue sky day, 70 degrees and moderate winds. John even wore boat shoes and looked more nautical than Bob.

Bob and I love this lake and had seriously thought of retiring here. In 2003, we looked at a dilapidated property in which we saw great potential but our offer was refused. We cruised up Alburg Peninsula on Sunday to see what happened to it. Somebody bought it and transformed it into the Vermont “camp” we would have created.

We spent the rest of the weekend enjoying an anchorage in LaMotte Passage. Hope you are having a great weekend also.