Flying High

click here for more pictures

Saint Anne des Monts to Rivière Madeleine

Today, the forecasted easterlies came as anticipated but shortly after leaving the harbour, the rain came and stayed with us the entire day until an hour before reaching the picturesque harbour of Rivière  Madeleine.  So there is really not much to say about this leg except again the occasionnel whale, seal and dolphin sighting.   The harbour was one of our smaller more intimate locales where the people are very friendly. The town fills, ok 6 boats, with recreational fisherman that come back year after year for the famed cod and mackerel.   I took a picture of one fellow with his prize cod.  He tells me they are only allowed five fish and there is no catch and release, what you catch you keep no matter the size.   His was average size as the big ones are no longer around due to over fishing.   Mackerel is by the plenty as they hunt in schools.  Here they use jiggers and if you catch one you wait a minute because soon the rest of your hooks are filled and you bring up three of four at a time, no bait, just a fly and gold hook.  

Rivière Madeleine to Rivière-au-Renard

The wind is gone and its another flat day and great if you're a power boat.  But this was one of our best wildlife days yet.   It was not long before we see a pod of humpback whales swimming along peacefully down the Channel. They are easy to see on a day like today as plumes of mist shoot 15 feet into the air while they surface.  But it gets better, one flys straight up out of the water, turned ever so slightly and then lands on its side - it was an amazing thing to see.  We were in awe as we stood frozen in time.  Not thinking about pictures we captured a few off the internet to show you what we saw.  I finally found a walking stick I liked so in between wildlife adventures, I decided to clean it up and try my hand at carving - not bad for a first time:). It's now 2:30 pm and this is a good time to be at our next harbour as we are in need of some groceries.  Rivière-au-Renard is a larger commercial fishing community with a small yacht club at the end of the harbour called Club nautique Forillon.   This is a great place to stop for supplies as they have everything you need from marine supplies, engine repairs to basic needs.   We made some friends here with another couple and a young baby girl. While chatting with them, we came to learn that they too are into construction and she is nurse, fancy that!   The plan is to sail their 47 foot steel boat around the world in 2017.  Later after chores, visiting and a great dinner, Doug and I found the local watering hole, had a pint of Muddy Ale and played some pool - Doug 2, Andy 1.