September 13 Saturday:







click here for full-sized chart image (top half)
click here for full-sized chart image (bottom half)

I motored from Ox Island on a windless morning.  I nipped behind Ram Island for a short-cut on my way down river.  Arriving in Gagetown, I secured Naomi to a small wooden dock by a pleasant day park with picnic tables, washrooms and plaques describing the local history. This park is maintained by the Saint John River Society which promotes water access for visitors to the river.  Next to Naomi was a classic river punt from my youth except this one was outfitted with a hefty outboard motor.  

Gagetown is an attractive village which also has a marina.  It was once a steamer stop but is now a popular destination for day trippers in automobiles.  There are craft shops, accommodations and a pub. I have launched Naomi here in the past. Once, I took up the local RCMPs’ suggestion to leave my truck and trailer at their office while cruising.


From Gagetown, I motored down Gagetown Creek till it rejoined the river. Here I waited for the cable ferry to clear Naomi’s bow. These river ferries all have long cables on which they draw themselves across the river. The cables rise from the water far in advance of the ferry and are slow to drop behind.  The safest procedure is to go astern of these awkward vessels. 
 

September 14 Sunday:

click here for full-sized chart image (left half)
click here for full-sized chart image (right half)

Early on Sunday morning I left Colwells Creek and followed the buoys through the marshes into Washademoak Lake.  The lake is more like a river stretching for almost 20 miles to Coles Island where the chart ends. By lowering a Wayfarers mast for the next two highway bridges, a cruiser can potter for another 10 miles further upriver. Until 3 miles above Cambridge Narrows, the lake is deep with no surprises for the sailor.  However, the rolling hills bordering the lake tend to funnel and accelerate the winds.


Fortunately for me, I had following winds the whole way up the lake and to my destination at Long Creek.  As the wind speed changed, I used various sail configurations: from full main to single reefed main to genny and jib to genny alone and finally after Cambridge Narrows, I sailed with the working jib only.  Once into the narrow buoyed channel at the head of the lake, I fired up the Honda for the final 6 miles to Long Creek.
 
There is an old covered bridge at the mouth of Long Creek. I went ashore to inspect the bridge and also to shake out my stiffness from being onboard all day.  I anchored Naomi near this bridge but I mistrusted my anchorage. The scope was too short and my anchor lay on the bottom in the vicinity of a bed of lily pads. This holding ground was dodgy for the bow anchor but a stern line was fastened securely to a tree ashore as well.