Spirited solve, Cheryl! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Rog!

Soaks, drifting in a stream (9)

Direct on the left. 4 vowels, two the same.

Marinates = soaks - anagram (drifting) of "in a stream"

That's it, Kevin! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks Cheryl

Drink's provided following weary Dad's return (8)

Direct on the left - vcvcvcvc - one vowel appears twice, no other letters repeated

Wordplay 2 + 4 + 2, but don't forget the indicator...

ap/erit/if

Cheers m'dear!

===[**CDM**]===

Sail west round bend for a small treasure (5)

Direct on the right (small treasure)

Okay, this one is a little trickier then usual and requires some out-of-the-box thinking.

Sail west / round / bend

3-1-1

"west" is a reversal indicator

"round" and "bend" describe the actual letters

That certainly helps!

Bijou (jib reversed) + O + U

I've never seen that done before in a cryptic clue but it feels fair enough to me. And if it feels fair enough to me, you and Lex aren't even batting an eye.

Here is your bijou belt! ===[**CDM**]===

Sue, it is a fairly standard UK crossword trick, a variation being north in a down clue.

Not the reversal, Kevin, the descriptions of the letters. Have you seen that before?

Round is certainly not uncommon for O, and a u-bend is a familiar enough expression to justify bend for U (and I think I have seen it used before).

Other variations I have seen are junction for T and right angle (and I think perhaps corner) for L

I'm with Lex - O and U quite common over here. My problem was I'd never heard of bijou as a noun - I'd always used it as an adjective meaning "small". As in a bijou residence.

Any road up, should have no problem with this:

Well designed, hence back on with Frenchman in charge (9)

ergo/no/mic :grin

ergo = hence
no = back on (reverse indicator)
mic = I have no idea why mic would equal Frenchman in charge but that's my answer and I'm sticking to it!!

Bonjour Cheryl, M(onsieur) = Frenchman + ic = in charge, so well stuck!

Couldn't have put it better myself (although I like the idea of a Frenchamn called Mic)

Nice solve Cheryl ! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Rog and thanks for the assist, Kevin!

South America is pursuing distant expeditions (7)

sa far is