Brockville Aftermath (and Yes... Same Time, Next Year!)

[diverbrian]

Well, after nearly getting thrown in jail for asking for a bathroom while customs in Port Huron did an agricultural inspection on a trailer full of dive gear :11: ... I am finally home.

A great time was had by all on this trip. We had Mitten Diver and son, Netmage, DiverPaula, DivingGal, and Hnladue along for both days and Canuck Diver along for Saturday. Hopefully, David will post in the Lake Effect Divers as he dove with us as well.

More will be said later, but I just wanted to start by publicly thanking a great group of divers for making life easy on myself and Capt. Mel Frechette of Bottom Time Charters. We were even able to coax Capt. Mel to dive the Daryaw with us.

Heather did an awesome job of handling lines for the Regulator on Sunday with Mel's normal first mate out and DivingGal was great at filling in details on dive briefings. Mitten Diver's chaffuer service was much appreciated as well (just not by US Customs). Netmage, Paula, JP, and Mitten Diver made for an entertaining group to spend an eight hour drive (one way from Southfield to Brockville) with. The hours just flew by too fast.

More later! Now it is time for bed!

 

[diverbrian]

To let everyone know what they missed :

On Friday morning, I met Paula in Southfield to await pick-up by MittenDiver's van and trailer. We loaded our stuff in that trailer and off we went! At the Port Huron/Sarnia crossing, the custom's agent reminded MD of his license number and told all of us to spend lots of money in Canada.

Due to Toronto traffic and a minor glitch with the video system in the van, we wound up running late for our orginal projected arrival time. Canuck Diver and Hnladue were already waiting for us. We had a late dinner at Kelsey's and discussed the weekend diving.

At about 9:00 am, our group started to arrive at the dock for the planned 9:30 departure. We met up with Diving Gal, David (one of Mel's former students), Dan, and Stephanie.

Off we went to the Muscallonge, this wreck pretty much exploded so there isn't much left besides the boiler. But it does leave a nice fish habitat for photographers. By the way, the water was in the seventy degree neighborhood plus a little bit. I was doing this dive in my drysuit with no hood or gloves and one set of thermals as compared to my normal two layers. Current was a little stiff, but not too bad. You have to remember that we are in the middle of the St. Lawrence River here.

Next wreck was the Robert Gaskin. The Gaskin is a nice wooden wreck just off the shore. We all went inside and played around as that gets one out of the current. Then we swam around and looked at the outside before ascent and retired to lunch.

Farewells were said to CD, Dan, and Stephanie who would not be diving with us on Sunday.

Lunch was at the Keystorm Pub in Brockville. After everybody freshened up had lunch, we ran over to Mallorytown to do some scuba shopping.

At that point, naps were taken, video was watched by those that took it, etc.

We then went back to Kelsey's for dinner.

Sunday (next post)

 

[diverbrian]

Our group was awakened a little early by the fact that we had to pick up tanks and check out of the hotel. This was good as we accelerated our departure for Sunday morning.

Mel's first mate had to work, so Heather was pressed into service to handle lines on the boat. Diving Gal added a great deal to the briefings on the Daryaw and the Lillie Parsons, which were the wrecks that we dove that day.

As the river was quite busy, we dove the Daryaw in two shifts. Diving Gal graciously led one group consisting of Paula, Netmage, MD, and JP (using my fins after Capt. Mel pulled one her fin straps through the buckle ) while Heather, myself, Mel, and David waited our turn. As luck would have it, the boat that we were tied to decided to take off right when our divers came up. That made life interesting enough that I forgot my camera on the boat while we dove with Mel and his Inspiration rebreather.

The Lillie was a bit crowded and we were concerned about a couple of divers having the ability to equalize so we opted to wait a bit until the buoy that marks where divers are normally dropped off was clear. We did two circuits of the wreck and all came back with lots of air as this a drift dive. There isn't much swimming involved here.

Lunch was at Bud's on the Bay and we exchanged addresses, hugs, and handshakes with the non-Michigan members of our group and started the long drive back to Michigan.

Upon reaching US Customs at Port Huron, we were randomly picked for an agricultural inspection. The customs agent there had his face drop when we told him that we had a trailer full of dive gear. We unloaded it and were directed inside. At this point, one of us decided to kill a couple of birds with one stone and use the locked bathroom. We asked for the key and one of the older customs agent basically stormed into the face of the person asking the question and bite off everyone's head. (PS, most of the younger agents were all right with us. The only one that we noticed with the attitude was one who may or may not have been having a bad day).

The trailer was loaded back up and we went to Southfield to unload Paula's stuff and mine and send off MD for Jackson. Again, hugs, handshakes, and farewells were exchanged. I took off for home and arrived tired early this morning.

Great weekend, great people. I am running this trip again next year for anyone that wants to plan ahead .

 

[canuckdiver]

Had a BLAST guys!

I look forward to doing it again next year!

JP, Mittendiver and Netmage, it was great to finally get to meet you!
Hnladue, Paula, Brian, and Divingal, was GREAT to see you again!

 

[Mitten Diver]

After putting Netmage up for the evening in fine comfort on the futon, we went to breakfast at the Cracker Barrel. Tim left for Chi-town around 11:45am.

Had an absolute hoot of a time this weekend as was to be expexcted with the group that I was with. The trip over to Brockville worked out very well as we "Caravaned" our way over as a group. Sorry for the 10 minutes of driving torture in pursuit of the game controller.

Diving in the St. Lawrence was most excellent as Capietan Mel was a most excellent host. I really enjoyed meeting some of the Fresh Water Freaks and some of our own LED members as well.

I got some pretty good pics and some good video of our Superman flight down the St. Lawrence as well. June looked most excellent in her Force Fins, and thank you for providing local knowledge and guidance on the wrecks.

I believe that I have dibs on the return trip next year. However I will stop before we get to the border and use the restroom. What is it about government employees hating their job so much?

I have started my savings fund for the return trip to the "Candy Store" next year. Only question now is does Netmage fly into Detroit or Lansing for the "Caravan" trip.

Mitten Diver

 

[hnladue]

Hey Guys!! What a weekend we had eh? I think this was the most fun I've had a trip yet! Mel Freschette is definately the best charter out there IMO. Brian even managed to squeeze in some training (BTW-how did it go?) What fun to actually dive with a rebreather diver too. The 'chain gang' dive on the Lillie was a sight to behold. 8 divers, all in a line, like a ribbon in the current. That's what I call teamwork!! I think this would be a good event to have next year too!

Oh, and I'll being a bottle of Captain's next year for my dive buddy..... I think he was going thru withdrawal, from not having any available!

 

[diverbrian]

Hey Guys!! What a weekend we had eh? I think this was the most fun I've had a trip yet! Mel Freschette is definately the best charter out there IMO. Brian even managed to squeeze in some training (BTW-how did it go?) What fun to actually dive with a rebreather diver too. The 'chain gang' dive on the Lillie was a sight to behold. 8 divers, all in a line, like a ribbon in the current. That's what I call teamwork!! I think this would be a good event to have next year too!

Oh, and I'll being a bottle of Captain's next year for my dive buddy..... I think he was going thru withdrawal, from not having any available!

The training? I am done with Gas Blender's course, so my mixing of gases in scuba tanks (gases with cute symbols like O2 and He) are now legal. I am waiting on the card.

I heard your buddy tell me that there was NO withdrawal from the Captain. Your buddy informed me that he and that Captain who stands on one leg are on a live and let live basis, LOL.

I think I have some video on the Lillie. I have to play it back and see what I get. Nice dives, every one of them.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Glad to hear you all had a great trip and are home safe! I don't know why I was thinking you were going to Tobermory (sometimes I get confused :biggrin: ).
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Mitten Diver]

Mitten Diver

 

[diver_paula]

Most definitely a blast! Wonderful diving The wrecks were very interesting - lots of ship stuff on all 'em. Dealing with the current was fun. The boat was nice. The people GREAT! Warm water - I was quite comfortable in a 3mil. Most definitely a trip to repeat.

Paula

p.s. Love the photo!

p.p.s. Ber - How was Tobe?