Weather!
27 June 2013 | Paspebiac PQ
Sucks!
So, we're in Paspebiac, Quebec. After being held in Chandler by strong northeasterlies we decided to make a break for the New Brunswick shore 30 miles away to the south after a fairly calm night. So, up with the sun, a quick breakfast of instant oatmeal and raisins, dose Cara with gravol and head out at 5:50 am. We found 2 meter swells rolling down the Baie de Chaleurs from the open gulf and no wind to speak of so we couldn't hoist the sails to stop the boat from rolling from beam end to beam end. I altered course to take the waves off the quarter and ran down the coast..... Cara lasted about an hour before succumbing to Mal de Mer and joining me in the cockpit. Heather wisely stayed in the v-berth.
By 8 am we were ready for a break and I ducked into Gascons, a small, but very busy, shipping harbour. We relaxed, walked the dog, ate some breakfast and decided to make a break to Paspebiac about 20 miles further down the coast, which would put us only 18 miles from the marina (and pumpout) that we need to hit in New Brunswick. We left about 10:30 and arrived about 1:30. Aboat 1:15 the wind began to pipe up and by 2:00 it was blowing 25 knots plus.
Paspebiac has been a major fishing centre sincing the mid 18th century centred primarily on the salt-cod trade under the auspices of several large merchant/fishing concerns from the island of Jersey. Their 21st century legacy is a wondeful, secure harbour with a large fish plant and marina and an amazing restored set of buildings from the early 19thy centruey that tells the story of the Gaspe/Chaleur cod trade. (http://www.shbp.ca/)
We had lunch at the museum restaurant, visited the museum, walked the dog and went to the Poisonerie at the fish plant and bought a pile of snow-crab legs for dinner. They were awesome.
After a promising forecast and intially calm conditions by 6 am it was blowing stink and pissing with rain, so rather than try again, I went back to bed. We alzed around, had a leisurely brunch and then I got a lift into the Canadian tire to get a few needed repair items.
The weather is really taking its toll. It's cold, wet and windy (from the wrong direction). There is acontinual procession of low pressure cells that is producing this weather and there's little sign of change. One couple on a 34 footer that we have run into a coule of times have given up, rented a car and gone back home for a week to dry out and regroup. They hop conditions will be better next week. So do I! A local said that summer in Gaspe is quite nice, it was a Thursday last year..........