The wind was out of the NNW at about 8-10 kts. We set the sails and were cruising along at 5 kts. Better than motoring. Caught a couple of gusts and doing 7 kts. But it did not last and dropped to below 5 so we furled the genny and started the motor.
We got to the mouth of the Detroit River. I had been hoping that there would not be any freighter traffic; there were 2 upbound boats and 1 downbound boat as we were approaching river.
We had arranged to stay for 2 nights at the Bob-Lo Marina . Bob-Lo is the anglicized version of Bois Blanc. We were concerned about the depth at the marina but they assured us that there was plenty of water at the docks. We made it along the channel and turned to go into the marina. The dock hands directed us to a better slip than originally assigned as it had more depth. I got close to the dock and ran aground. Not staying here for the night. We managed to back out and get back into deeper water. Once out in the main channel with a little more turning room, I reversed the engine to get the weeds off the prop. A clump about the size of a bean bag chair came off. Up the river we went. Too bad since the island looked very well developed: large houses and condos. We thought that we would stay but have to suffer through a sales pitch.
We had to take the Canadian route to stay on the Canada side of the border going up the river. Channels are well marked but you have to keep watch and stay alert. As one looks at the chart plotter and sets a new waypoint, the wheel sometimes moves (especially in a strong current) and the boat becomes directed at the marker. We didn't come close but Belinda thinks that we did.
Getting from Amherstburg to Windsor is not very far. Going upstream against a 2 kt current was not going to make for a short day. We called the Westport Marina in LaSalle ON and they assured us that they had sufficient water to get in and out and at the docks. We got into the marina and then had a selection of slips to use. The first had an extra piling to reduce the beam width of the slip so we backed out and went the other side. We got in but later realized that we were on the bottom, not hard but the front of the keel was on the bottom. Not so bad since last week 3 boats were blown off their stands at the marina. Not a tornado but very close.
The marina was not the finest marina that we have ever visited but it was secure and we were tired.
It was very similar to the marina that we stayed at when Brian and Sandi bought their boat in Detroit, except that there was not there same amount of security. It was a working marina; money is made on winter storage not summer mooring.
This morning I watched the marina owner right one of the boats that had tipped over in the storm. He used a forklift, a front end loader and a travel lift to lift the boat and right her and place on jack stands. Not the QCYC way since Ray (the owner of the marina) was the only one operating the heavy machinery but because there was not a sufficient brain trust helping, giving advice and assisting. The boat was righted with very little apparent damage.
We departed LaSalle and headed up river. We saw the beginnings of a tug boat race that was going on. US Border patrol was very busy.
We motored under the Ambassador Bridge. Although I know that there is lots of clearance, it never feels that way while going under the bridge.
Downtown Detroit.
We made it to the Windsor Yacht Club. The assigned slip was rather tricky to get into with a north wind. It took 5 tries with a little encouragement from the dock master to get in but we managed. It was not pretty but we did it. We are tied up, had a BBQ dinner and going inside for the band playing tonight.
The groundings are good practice if you ever decide to do the ICW. Likewise, learning that marina staff always overstate water depth. I love the photo of the underside of the bridge.
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