Saturday, July 11, 2009

June 26 - July 10 ::: Rimouski to Charlottetown

Back at the marina . . . Rimouski is nice and quiet in this photo. Not true for the week SONATA remained there waiting for Bonnie's return. Every day was strong wind, rain and/or fog. The sun ceased to exist. Les and Judy Emery arrived the same days SONATA did and was waiting, as was ODYSSEE, for a clear day to proceed east, down river on the St. Lawrence.


July 3rd was a better day; Bonnie to arrive in Quebec. Charlie is off in a National rental car from Rimouski to Quebec, and, a pause for a bite to eat. This little hummingbird brightened an otherwise, again, foggy day in Quebec before meeting Bonnie. Grocery shopping completed in Rimouski and then preparation for our next stop.



Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. As seen on radar and the GPS. When we departed Rimouski we were following ODYSSEE and VOUAGER II; they had left Rimouski on July 2nd. The river was to be calmer on the 4th . . . it was not. There was fog, rolling seas and a tough trip to Sainte Anne.


In Sainte-Anne-des-Monts we met up with Les and Judy and they were nice to provide us with this photo.


Sainte-Anne-des-Monts to Riviere-au-Renard . . . another trip with fog, rough sea . . . a long day. The benefit of the day was arrival at about N49-16.0 W065-13.8 (our northern most latitude) . . . we turned SOUTH. We are now really on the way back to Virginia.


SONATA rests after another long day at the end of the pier across from the fishing boats in Riviere-au-Renard. We had 15amps of electrical service . . . the boat was still, we did not rock and roll. A quiet fishing village. We walked to lunch and visited the local fishing fleet.


We walked down the street toward a local eating spot. After several blocks, asked a fellow driving a pickup for the restaurant location. He could only speak french . . . made some eating gestures . . . and he offered a ride. We took the ride for several more blocks to eat. Ordering was assisted by the fellow at the table . . . we enjoyed a a "Michigan Hot-dog" (heart-burn special). It was a small hot dog covered with spaghetti sauce and cheeze.


One of the fishing boats we passed was a shrimper. They were unloading shrimp that has been bagged, then when unloaded placed in the large blue containers and covered with ice.



The next boat was a "long-line" boat. They take all these hooks and fasten them to a line they play out behind the boat (movie "Perfect Storm") then after laying out their lines, come back and pull them aboard hopefully having caught fish. Hard work!



The Canadian Coast Guard. Not enough good can be said about them, in particular their radio and emergency systems. You may file a "Sail-Plan" with the Canadian Coast Guard. You tell them your MMSI number, your boat name, homeport, USCG Registration number, a description of the vessel, and who is on board. They then record and keep this information. Then you tell them where you are leaving from and your estimated time of arrival (ETA) at your destination. If you tell them you will arrive at 1800 and you have not called by 1800 they start calling you, first by radio, then by phone, then the marina . . . then a search and rescue mission will be launched. They are serious about this matter. Along the way you can file updated positions, and for us that is terrific. Some days we will travel almost 100 miles so updated positions narrow the search if there is a problem. We have used this service since leaving Quebec. It adds a comfort level!


After remaining in Riviere-au-Renard for an extra, weather, day, we departed on the 7th for Shippagan. Outside the harbor we were greeted with the wait-a-day-reward, calm seas and a beautiful sunrise.


Along the Gaspe Peninsula there are light houses on the coast line down low, and


and ones up high; the Cap-des-Rosier light which was built in 1858 and is the tallest in Canada at 112 feet. The walls are 7' thick at the base and 3' thick at the top.



Perce Rock is one of Canada's most famous and most photographed landmarks. This picture comes just as we leave the Gaspe Peninsula.


And here we are, not yet clear of Perce Rock and Bonnie captures a whale. He did not breach, just a little roll as he went by.


Our next stop was to be Shippagan. A long channel into the marina, then in the am a long channel out the "back-door".


This possibly give you a better understanding of how we came in the front door, Northern entry, and went out the back-door, Southern exit.



On our way out through the southern flats we were blessed with a fishing vessel that went before us and made sure we knew where the channel was. We were further blessed with another Glorious Day of flat water and a beautiful moon-set and a sun-rise. One can never see enough of these!




We continued south with great flat seas and by-passed the mouth of the Miramichi River where Charlie had previously fly-fished with Bob O'Neill for salmon. We never touched bottom and the place was remote, clean and a great overnight stay.


July 9 we left Boctouche in the fog. We had the track on the GPS from entering and felt confident with a high to falling tide. Another flat day on the water.


The Confederation Bridge. Confederation represents the formation of Canada, which took place in Charlottetown, PEI. Wonderful flat water!!!!!!!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

June 21 - 26 ::: Tadoussac,the Saguenay River, Rimouski


SONATA is on the outside pier, Pier #3, between the front of the Tadoussac Hotel and the front of the Marina Officer . . . where you can see how high the office is at low tide . . . a range of 12-15'.


Later in the day we are all off for a shore-side lunch and a trip to the grocery. The wind is still blowing and the ladies are glad to be off SONATA for a while.


The next day, its back on the water again, on our way up the Saguenay River.


After the rough ride, Taylor decided to take charge and guide SONATA into the calm waters . . . off to a mooring ball in Baie Eternite.


As we approach Baie Eternite you can almost hear the music, strains of Ave Maria drifting out over the water. Charlie and Taylor are searching for the 32-foot statute of the Virgin Mary that has been placed on the river's edge up some 400 feet.


And there she is. The statute was hewn out of wood then coated with lead and hoisted into its present position in 1881. During the haydays of the 1900's well-to-do holiday makers would tour the Saguenay fjord on luxury steamers and as they passed a search-light beam would be placed on the statute as Ave Marie was played softly over the steamers speakers.


SONATA eased into the Bay (Baie) past the rocky cliffs and prepared to tie up to a mooring ball; Taylor at the wheel.


With Charlie on the bow . . .


. . . and Taylor at the controls; an easy landing was made and SONATA was secure for the day.


An outstanding job accomplished well!!


As the evening grew near other boaters came into the bay to remain for the evening.


The next day, June 23rd, SONATA had to pay for the use of the mooring ball, so, Taylor took her over the the pontoon dock so Bonnie and she could take a walk into the Park and Charlie could make a donation to the "mooring-ball-box".



During the morning SONATA got "dressed" for her return to Tadoussac . . . so she could take part in the celebration planned for the evening, Quebec Festival Day. Then it was away we go.


The evening celebration brought fireworks and a band on the beach in front of the hotel that played until . . . 0500!?!



Later in the day we had a "distinguished" visitor (unknown) and his family arrive by helo . . . later to be chased away by the incoming high tide.


We all then had a most enjoyable evening with several new friends, Greg and Suzanne Brown (aboard their vessel LARSEN), . . .


. . . and Jack and Christine Vanderloo (now aboard their vessel SOUTHERN CROSS).




On Wednesday we were back at sea in search of the whales. Everyone said they saw whales . . . we had not. We finally saw one do a roll, a couple of times a good distance from SONATA, then we had the seal . . . he stayed on the surface long enough to have his picture taken. A calm foggy day.


A last opportunity for pictures of Taylor and Bonnie. Taylor, Bonnie, and Charlie off from Rimouski to Quebec City. Took three days of travel to move from Quebec City to Rimouski (with other trips included) and will take just over three hours to drive the trip. It has been wonderful having Taylor aboard! She is a joy to have around! She helps with the driving and navigation of SONATA, and does a great job; she also assists with the other various shipboard duties that need to be accomplished. When visitors are aboard she joins in the discussions, and we have been proud to have her join us.................believe she will come back for still another visit!!!! IT WILL BE GREAT!!

On Friday, June 28th, SONATA and crowd crossed the St. Lawrence from Tadoussac to Rimouski. There was a rather thick fog ending in a safe arrival. On the way we saw one more whale roll, this time much closer to SONATA. Then on Saturday, the cruise with Taylor aboard ended. Off to Quebec City and a flight for Bonnie and Taylor which will require a wake-up-time of 0245 in a Quebec City Hotel.

In Rimouski we met up with Chuck and Claria Gorgen on ODYSSEE. ODYSSEE had remained in Rimouski over the winter awaiting repairs by Chuck. Chuck was wonderful . . . he loaned us his truck so that Bonnie and Taylor could be taken from Rimouski to Quebec City to catch their flights home. We traveled in the fog to Quebec . . . by road.


Leaving Tadoussac was a foggy day. A foggy day all the way to Rimouski. Arrival in Rimouski . . . it was time to prepare to let go of Bonnie and Taylor, time to return to Virginia Beach and Knoxville. Charlie will return to SONATA in Rimouski to await Bonnie's return in a week.