MacGregorSailors.com

Had this same trip planned last summer, 2025, but instead had a proctectomy because of prostate cancer. They got it all evidently as it appears that as this date I am cancer free. If you face this surgery give me a email. I have learned a lot over the last 12 months about prostate cancer. So this summer we plan once again to put the Mac in at Ft. Edward NY on the Champlain Canal. Go up lake Champlain cross into Canada, go up Richelieu River enter Chambly canal to Chambly lake then continue on Richelieu River to Sorel-Tracy turn left on St. Lawrence go upstream to Montreal, then Ottawa River to Ottawa, step up the 8 locks into the Rideau Canal, travel 125 miles on the canal and rivers to Kingston Ontario. We have already voyaged on the Trent Severn Canal that goes from Port Trent to Port Severn on Georgian Bay 4 times so we will trailer the boat from Kingston to Midland Ontario on Georgian Bay. Launch the Mac and leave truck and trailer in Midland. Then spend a month at least on Georgian Bay and the North Channel might even make it to Sault Ste. Marie. Hope to see some of you on this trip. We are really going to take our time. This is picture of our Mac.

I wish you well. Sounds thrilling. I'll follow you on the forum if you post as you go.

Rich,

When do you anticipate being at Fort Edward?

We are out of the country right now, but will be up at Lake George July 17-31. Fort Edward is less than a forty minute drive.

I’m glad you’re on the mend and your prognosis is good! I hope I don’t need your counsel, but it’s entirely possible I may be facing that at some point - seems like after a certain age most of us guys get some level of diagnosis in that regard. I hope your worries are now completely behind you on that front!

As noted earlier, if you can let us know approximately when you’ll be passing Rouses Point we may be able to arrange to be at our lake house. If so, we can loan you a docking slip, and get together for a meal, etc.

The winds on Champlain tend to come up from the south, so, if you do have sails up, you may find yourself running, and the potential for powersailing is quite good for most of that part of the journey. Champlain’s water levels look good, so a standard chart should be fine for navigating. The lake’s center channel is quite deep, but of course there are occasional but well-recorded hazards. The bottom is nearly all rocks, so beware of shorelines and carry an appropriate anchor (I use a Danforth at the bow with a mushroom off the stern to reduce swing). You may find the following website to be very useful… you can quickly chart lake levels, water temp, etc.:

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-l ... ments=true

BTW, the web camera on that link is at the ramp where we launch, and shows the top of the lake just short of where you'll enter Canada - the border is just beyond the bridge on the left side of that view, as is the customs check-in. Our marina is just before that bridge on the west side - it’s the last one in the US before you enter Canada. The marina has a reasonable chandlery and pub, as well as fuel, bathrooms and showers, and the slips have electric, potable water and WiFi. We rent two slips there every year, so we can let you use one of them. The heart of the village, with food stores, a hardware store, and several good restaurants and coffee shops, is within easy walking distance from the marina.

Good luck on your trip, and I hope it’s trouble-free!

We for sure will post Herschel. NiceAft we hope to leave Ft. Edward by the 1st week of June. Kmclemore how much notice do you need to meet up? We have to check for when the Chambly Canal opens, but by the 2nd or 3rd week of Jun sometime. I will let you know by May 1st.

Hey, ris, if you want to borrow my spinaker for this piece of your trip, just let me know. I'm sure we can jury rig something.

The winds on Champlain tend to come up from the south, so, if you do have sails up, you may find yourself running, and the potential for powersailing is quite good for most of that part of the journey.

Congrats.

ris wrote: ↑Wed Apr 15, 2026 4:50 pm Had this same trip planned last summer, 2025, but instead had a proctectomy because of prostate cancer. They got it all evidently as it appears that as this date I am cancer free.

ris wrote: ↑Thu Apr 16, 2026 6:26 pm Kmclemore how much notice do you need to meet up? We have to check for when the Chambly Canal opens, but by the 2nd or 3rd week of Jun sometime. I will let you know by May 1st.

May 1st should be plenty of time. We have a lot of stuff scheduled this summer, but if we know approximately when you’ll be there, we’ll do our best to work it in.

Hi Richard,

We're planning a Champlain trip at the end of June, probably arriving in Westport by trailer on the 27th. Quite possible that we just miss you

If we don't see you on the water and you're in Montreal when we're on Champlain, you're welcome to our slip at the Pointe Claire Marine and we'll leave the keys to the car in the office for you if you want to do some land-based exploring.

Hi StarScream!

Congratulations!
Really glad you are better and now cancer free!!! That’s fantastic news!
That was a major ‘plannusinterruptus’ for sure… We’re really glad that you and your doctors were able to get it taken care of.

Getting back to your postponed trip plans sounds wonderful!
It should be a beautiful trip!!!
Please take lots of pictures to share on the forum.
Lots of us will live vicariously through your travel posts!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

Here’s a pic of the Jill Kristy and my tow vehicle near Brunswick Georgia at a Boondocker location. We belong to a club called Boondocker‘s Welcome. They were bought last year by harvest toast, but are still slightly separate. You stay in peoples yards or property as as you travel the cost is nothing except maybe sometimes for electric and water. We are a host at our home in Florida so we did not have to pay the membership fee and I’m not sure how much it is cause I haven’t paid it since 2018. We’re having to slow down and be at our son’s house on the weekend of 2 & 3 May in Raleigh NC. Then it is 3 or 4 days to Hudson Falls, New York.

I almost forgot to tell you guys that this year I’m using two Engel refrigerators, both are 30 quart. One is used at as a refrigerator and one is used as a freezer at 14°. The refrigerator and freezer run off my 300 amp hour lithium battery along with all my other lights water pump, etc. after 72 hours, I still have about 20% battery left. One of the Engels is 10 years old and the other one is three years old. I use them in the boat or our cargo trailer RV about 6 to 7 months of the year. Engel fridge/freezers are not cheap but for us traveling so much they are great.