Author: BobS

A fairly lazy day. We enjoyed frittata a’ la Linda for brunch and a few hours later Linda and Tarja went to the two nearby towns to help their economy a bit while Bob, Chris and Chris relaxed at the resort bar. It’s been an overcast day, but no pouring rain and temps are not too cold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finnish Line and Ramble on left at 8am for the marina at Brudenell River Resort. I dropped Andrew off at Charlottetown airport for his trip back to Kingston and then did a meandering drive along the southeast shore of PEI in search of a perfect picture of lupins. They bloom in late spring, into mid summer so are now starting to fade in places. It was a beautiful sunny day and I enjoyed driving the back roads as much as possible while the sailors encountered some not so comfortable swells during their 8 hour trip. They were not able to do much sailing but did get some in. We met up around 5pm. It’s a very friendly resort but my, it’s a long walk to the facilities! We’ll be here for two nights, weather might make it three.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good morning from lovely Charlottetown. Woke up around 6:30 to the boat bouncing around for a few minutes and then I heard the sound, or so I thought, of Bob grinding the morning coffee beans, although it was much louder than usual and seemed to go on and on. Seems the cause is our new neighbour. I couldn’t get the whole ship into the pictures, it’s too close ! Several tenders are floating around, I assume waiting for shore bound passengers to have their breakfast before they disembark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ramble On and Finnish Line left Summerside this morning and I drove off looking for places along the shore where I could get some pictures. Here are some taken near Chelton and at the Confederation Bridge as the boats went under. The bridge is a very impressive structure.

I’m now at the Charlottetown Yacht Club having enjoyed a delicious lunch and glass of wine while I wait for the sailors to arrive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A relaxed and pleasant two days of food, ice cream and drink.

Yesterday we drove up to the red beaches of Cavendish over pleasant rolling green hills. In the afternoon we went to the Acadian Museum which was very interesting. Had not known of the Acadian connection to PEI. Today’s about 25% of the population traces its roots back to the Acadians.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left Shediac at 9:30 on calm seas with very light winds. Sailed (slowly) for a little if the way but it was mostly motoring sails up or no. And aren’t we fortunate, the RCMP again stopped both boats although this time it was just questions and we did not have to produce papers. The RIB was from the same ship that had stopped us in the St Lawrence just different crew. It was a pleasant experience and they gave us a float key holder with a number we can call if we see anything untoward.

We arrived at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club about 3:30 and geez was it

 

 

 

 

 

hot 36C. However late afternoon winds blew in and the temperature became instantly more pleasant. Weather, eh?

Tarja arrived about 4pm and we all went for a drink to celebrate!

? Heat !!! ? After freezing our bunnies off for 7 weeks we awoke to a heat warning. And sure enough the temps were over 30C. Instant summer (finally).

Our friend, Chris McDonnell, arrived from Florida and will be on Finnish Line 2.0 until the Bras d’Or Lakes. Chris kindly drove us around for groceries and suds and to pick up Chris and Linda’s Andrew from the airport the next day. Other than that it was boat clean up with bouts of relaxation thrown in. And because of the heat G&Ts were served.

Calm, sunny and warm motoring the 20 nm to Shediac YC. Club has a lot of boats and nice facilities with pretty views across the river.

 

 

 

 

 

We had a romantic dinner for three to celebrate Linda and Chris’ 3rd anniversary at a French style restaurant.

We are here for 3 nights …. the ‘other’ Chris arrives tomorrow to ride with me to PEI and then on to the Bras d’Or Lakes in Cape Breton. The following day Chris’ son, Andrew, arrives and will be with us until Charlottetown. It’s wonderful to share our adventures with family and friends.

 

The yacht club land and clubhouse are owned by the Irving family. KC Irving was born and raised here where his father had bought and run a sawmill now the site of the club. There is a lovely walk along the shore from the club into town that is all park land. Originally it was housing and dockage for sailing vessels but a fire burnt down all the buildings. Bouctouche, unlike Kingston, turned its waterfront into parkland.

The first day we had breakfast in town and then Tom and Sue came by and drove us to liquor and grocery stores and then a quick tour around including the Irving Arboretum across the road from here. It’s very beautiful with many well maintained flower beds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Off the dock at 9am and carefully made it out of the harbour seeing 5.2’ on the way out … both boats draw 4.5’. There was a hint of sun which quickly ended giving way to light rain as we neared our destination.

Just out of the five mile channel I heard a slight change in engine noise and realized that water was no longer being pumped through the engine. Radioed Ramble On and they stood by as I dropped the anchor in about 12’ of water. Sure enough the strainer was clogged. I had noticed a nearby lobster trap as I dropped anchor. What I hadn’t noticed was how slack the line to the trap was, almost parallel to the surface! Hauled up the anchor and reversed rather going forward to avoid the line. Whew.