Finally Went Far Enough North to Go South
14 August 2010 | Rieviere-au-Renard, Gaspe Peninsula. Quebec, Canada
Sylvia - Gloriously boring weather
It was another 0400 start in order to go the 90 NM to Riviere-au-Renard and arrive in daylight. Entering an unfamiliar marina or anchorage at night is one of the things sailors hate most. For those of you unfamiliar with this "no-no", sailors will often stay outside a marina or anchorage until daylight just to keep from those night time entrances. We are both willing to do the early morning casting off of lines rather than consider an entrance in the dark. And for those of you who know Bill and his sleeping habits, I must say he is doing very well at being alive, alert and coherent that early. The naps do feel good to both of us, though, as the day progresses.
Today was a day for seeing whales and porpoises and trying to catch them with the camera. Ha, what an impossibility. They are here and gone so quickly. The one really close encounter, I didn't have the camera and didn't even realize what that strange sound was. As I looked over the stern it was a big whale moving away and the sound was the air from his blow hole. Would have been a good photo.
There was no wind and the sea was either very mild or glassy. So it was motor along and look at the shore line, read, or nap. Although a long day, it wasn't a hard one. We have regretted not being sail but the weather marvelous for making distances.
We arrived in Riviere-au-Renard at 1615 and tied up behind a 60' motor yacht. Soon after another 50 foot sailboat flying a Swiss flag came in, and then a 30 footer being single-handed by the fellow who ended up docked behind us last night. He had left just after us in the morning and because of the size of his boat it took him longer, of course. By the way, he is quite the sailor - he has only one arm and very thick glasses but he is out there doing it with skill, perseverance, and, I am sure, great joy. He asked Bill if we would be staying a day or two so if we do we should be able to get to know him.
This is a very small fishing village and we are the only boats in the marina that aren't work boats of some kind. There are no restaurants near by so it was dinner on board. This is just the reason I put so many of those stores on board. We are both eating well, feeling good but tired, and, in fact, both of us have lost weight. Tomorrow is a question mark. We haven't decided if we will take a lay day or head on down the Gaspe to L'Anse-a-Beaufils. It is only 40 or so nautical miles so we don't have to make an early start and can decide in the morning.