Victoria Harbour

We wound up our stay at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club with fresh blueberry pancakes for breaky. Not much wind today but no rain so all is good. We crossed under the Confederation bridge and ended up at a quant title village called Victoria. Cute little harbour nestled along  the rolling hills of PEI, with restaurants, bars and ice cream stands on the pier. We shared a bowl of mussels and all had the wharf platter. I went for a dip to freshen up and the gals fixed the mosquito nets. We had a few of the buggers buzzing around the last two nights. Another grrrreeaatt day!

   

Shediac to Summerside

Introducing Beth. We met Beth on a Celebrity Cruise trip we made around South America in 2011. She is a fun loving traveller that is game for adventure. 

Today we were up at 5:45 AM and en route to Summerside with 10 knots of wind by 6:45. It rained a little but other than that we sailed on a beam to close hauled reach all the way at 5-6 knots. We tied up at 2:00 and walked the waterfront trail. We ended up at the College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada where we enjoyed a rehearsal of the "Highland Storm" and checked out the gift store (who would have thought???). The gals cooked dinner while I played Chase the Ace at the Silver Fox and Curling Club. It was a grrrreat day.

Joann and Beth join the tour

Joann has been on board 5 days and Beth arrived yesterday.  We have been enjoying the Shediac area-  taking in local activities, eating world famous lobster poutin, cycling, and walking. We attended a wonderful farmers market, enjoyed lunch from the Bangkok food truck,  a live band and lots of people to watch. We been to three beautiful beaches all with sand dune back drops. We visited all the arts and craft shops and took pictures at all the Kodak picture spots. We had planned to sail on today but the wind was blowing 20- 35 kn all afternoon so we will being heading to Summerside tomorrow. 

Shediac, yes I'm still here

June 25 +-

I woke up at six, pulled the hatch cover back and there stood the oldest great blue heron I'd ever seen. Just look at his whiskers. This picture I down loaded but that was it.  

The next time I got up, there was a 34' Tartan on the crane, the prettiest I'd ever seen. (The Tartan not the crane.)

The alternator is working, the guys from Romeo's rebuilt the sea water pump and I cleaned up the boat and changed out some lines and picked up some additional  water storage tanks. Fresh water is at a  premium in Ile de la Madeleine.  We are fully loaded and  ready for the summer.

Looks like Summer Wine II  is staged to sell - I mean sail...  

Tomorrow is a big day.  I am taking Jon's parents out for a sail midday and Joann is arriving at 4:00. I know Jon from Bikes and Beyond and his parents Hans and Rosita Iive in Bathurst but are in the area, so it all works out prefectly.

I found some single track bike trails in Dieppe at a Rotary park and killed a couple of hours there. Met up with Sailor Jerry and the day was done.

Father's Day

This is not Donald Trump's hair piece.

Kinda weird spending Father's Day alone,  I must say. The wind blow 30 knots all night and all day and is still howling out there. 

 I had Dave, a boat electrician consult on the intermittent alternator problem in the morning. Of coarse it performed  perfectly. Sea water pump gets looked at tomorrow.  

I did more boat chores then hopped on a bike and hit the beach. The tide was out, beach for miles and 32 degs and sunny. Pretty nice even with the wind. 

I went down to Moncton for dinner and to check up the Pumphouse Brewery restaurant. Great beer and good food. 

    

BBQ pulled pork and pontine mm good. 

Shediac lobster capital of Canada

June 18th
I arrived in Moncton four days ago in cool spring conditions, drizzly and damp. Rented a car and drove 20 minutes north to Shediac and stopped in to see Jackie at Romeo's Marine and Autobody where Summer Wine II spent to winter.

Shediac is a lot like Gimli, the population triples in the summer with tourists and cottagers. There are two full service marinas with about 150 slips in each with both full. It was a good thing I had booked early. 

The boat seemed to winter well and once the prep was done,  I was trailered to the bay and launched for a mere $160 and with another $80 the mast was standing. I had enjoyed the Emery Laundry's bed and breakfast and the movie chanel in the evenings, but couldn't wait to move aboard once she was in the water.

I have her mostly rigged now and I'm working thur the intermittent alternator problem and a drip at the seawater pump shaft that started at the end of last season. The people are friendly and the yacht club has loaner bikes for members and guests so off I went peddling my . .... all over town.

   

Doug

2016 Maritime Adventure Begins

 Hi Adventurers

It's been a busy winter, but it's time to answer the call to the sea once again. This summer the plan is to sail, hike and bike as much of the Maritimes as we can.  We won't be chasing as many miles but intend to take our time and smell the kelp, taste the lobster, view the sites along the way.  

We have some of the crew members from last year returning and a few new ones joining us. 

In a few days I'll be heading to Shediac to pickup from where we left off last summer.  Where is much to do, and lists of things to buy, fix, and polish. Radio licenses to be renewed, insurance to buy, slips to book, harbour masters to contact and sail plans to prepare. 

Doug