July 3, 2025 Final stop in the US

 Thursday, July 3, 2025   Cedar Island to Ogdensburg, NY   24 miles and 2.6 hours

Another relatively short cruising day as we're still in sightseeing mode. Today's destination is Ogdensburg, NY.  and the Frederic Remington Museum.   Anchor came up easy with just a bit of grass and a smidge of clay.  Overall, a nice two days at anchor. Good temperatures, gentle breeze, nice sunsets, and minimal wave action at night so we slept well.  Short run to Ogdensburg but wanted to arrive early to have time at the museum.  Overcast with occasional drizzle had us driving from the pilothouse.  We leave the 1000 islands behind and head into the "North Country".  Lots of lighthouses as the main channel crosses back and forth.  At one point it goes through a narrow section where we saw speeds increase 2 mph.  Also, where we crossed paths with a rather large ship.  Not bad except his wake reverberated back and forth in the channel for quite some time.  

Overcast day as we began, then a little drizzle and finished with some sunshine

Lighthouse

Lighthouses

And more lighthouses

And ships too!!

Ogdensburg has a small municipal marina.  Primarily for locals with runabouts and pontoons but they can fit 1-2 larger boats on a seawall.  Really not enough room inside for us to even spin the boat around so we simply backed into the marina and laid to against the wall. Certainly made easier as the weather settled and the sun actually started breaking through. Got all situated, grabbed a couple of very good tacos for lunch at the Dirty Gringo (not sure that's really the ideal name for a food service) and headed to the museum.  

 

Secured and settled.  Time to go eat and explore.

Frederic Remington spent several years in his youth here.  He also had a summer artist's studio on a small island across from Singer Castle.  Because he is so well known with a vast collection of over 3000 works, I was surprised to learn that he died at the early age of 48 from a burst appendix.   His early work was as an illustrator - primarily in black and white for magazines.

Illustrator work in black and white for magazines like Harper's

  He's best known now for his color paintings and sculptures of the west - cowboys, Indians, and soldiers.  The museum has a collection of original castings of 13 sculptures and a huge number of his paintings and illustrations that were donated by his wife Eva upon her death. Remington fought hard to change his image from an "illustrator" to an "artist".  In his later years he started painting landscapes in an impressionistic style.  He also was the author of several novels about the west.  A nicely done small but focused museum. 

Remington sculptures like "The Stampede" were known for the way they captured motion

On left is casting #1.  Note how Remington altered the shield in later castings
 making it easier for the foundry to cast

'Coming Through the Rye" One of the more challenging pours for the foundry
 as only 6 of the 16 horse's feet actually are touching the base

Back at the boat we got busy making arrangements for the next few days.  We'll be starting through the big St. Lawrence Seaway locks and entering Canada tomorrow.  Reservations and fees need to be paid in advance. There's a total of seven large Seaway locks we'll transit.  Five Canadian and two US.  Also need to be sure we have reservations at marinas in between.  Got that all done and still had time to practice some pickleball on the new courts right alongside the marina.  Overall, a pretty satisfying day.

Journey for July 3, 2025