Day 76, 8.11.18, Isle Aux Noix to Lake Champlain

Acess Interdit. That's what the sign said greeting us onto Isle aux Noix, which we walked right past. This historical site is being restored, and construction is ongoing. However as this is saturday, nobody is here. We didn't explore very far, but being at lake level, this fort probably had a malaria problem. 

About eight miles of sailing and motor-sailing brings us to the border. Customs has a dock and an air-conditioned trailer for two officers for us to check in at. The officers were good natured with us, however two gentlemen from a larger sailboat were asked to return to Canada at their Customs dock, find land transportation (expensive taxi) and check in at US immigration, then return here with their boat. What a lot of b. s. for an imaginary line through the woods.

So we sailed out onto Lake Champlain. At least a dozen other sailboats were also out enjoying the wind, which was straight out of the south, against our intended direction. So we tacked back and forth and made progress down the lake before sundown.

Yesterday we learned of a balloon festival to take place this weekend in Saint Jean sur Richeleau, the town we left just yesterday. In the evening from our vantage point on Champlain, we could look back (binoculars) and see up to 20 hot air balloons. For dinner Kristen made homemade ravioli, to which I added a chocolate cake.

We sailed into the evening, past sunset, and took an anchorage near a marina and RV park in Monte Bay, where the RVers had pooled their moneys and were having a party with a DJ. We rowed ashore and joined the fun for a couple of hours of dancing.

Gary jumps for joy at Isle Aux Noix

Isle Aux Noix

The moat around the fort at Isle Aux Noix

As the Richileau River opens into Lake Champlain at the U.S. Border we find the U.S. Customs "Trailer" at the border

Kristen makes home made Raviloi.  First, make the dough and load with ham and Camenbert Cheese

The Finished Product, served with a view of Lake Champlain