Bob and Tarja's Adventures Page
Our sailing voyages, trips, and hikes
Lovely sail in the lakes to our anchorage. We went by Marble Mountain but weren’t sure what the attraction was ? Winds had picked up to high teens and were set to swing from SW to NW overnight so we tucked up as closely to the island as we dared. We buddy anchored which keeps life simple. Chris M tried out our inflatable kayak from Advanced Elements and blessed its tracking and nimbleness.
Light winds and sunny skies. 
The bridge through the shortcut still under repairs so we needed to go around Isle Madam an extra 10 miles. But this gave us the chance to have the asym up for an hour or so reaching over 7 knots —- nice ride!
Arrived at the St Peters Canal and lock early afternoon and had to hang to wait for a down locking boat to come through. We had two fishing trawlers then locked through … a 2’ rise.
Once out the St Peters Marina was just around the corner. Great marina with good facilities and a very friendly, easy-going manager, Jerry. Lots of sunshine and heat! so all hatches open. Tarja arrived a short time after our docking.
Our evening meal was at the MacMouche where local talent was playing guitars and singing …. a fun evening.
Off the dock at 8 with sunshine and light airs to cross St George’s Bay to the Canso Strait, the Canso lock and then Port Hawkesbury on Cape Breton.
Both boats used their asyms for awhile
but eventually the breeze died to below 2 knots. Of course the wind picked up to 15 knots as we entered the Canso Strait. As it was on our stern this caused real problems in stopping inside the lock. Several bruised/cut hands on both boats trying to keep hold of the line. Why not tie or at least wrap to a cleat? By the time I got control of it I only had 5” of line! With Chris’ help we managed to obtain enough slack to get it on the cleat. The lock was only going down a foot so no fear of ripping the cleat off! The exit wasn’t much better as the woman throwing the stern line onto our boat missed and it all went in the water. Quickly retrieved it to save it from being prop meat. I returned to the wheel to find us at a 45 degree angle to the lock. A quick application of power fixed that although had to then throttle back to maintain a slower lock exit speed.
Three miles later we were at Port Hawkesbury to get diesel and pumped out. Diesel yes, pump out no. Ah oh. Called ahead to our next stop to ensure they have a working pump out. Whew they do as we are getting close to bucket time.
Port Hawkesbury is very much a working port and as such the prettiness of Cape Breton is not present here.
Off the dock just before eight. Once out of the river it became a bumpy ride. Winds good enough to sail but after less than an hour they diminished and turned on our nose. At St George’s Bay the winds came up along with some rather large swells. Lots of banging as the hull dropped over waves and a fair bit of water coming over the deck including the coach roof. Arrived at the very small fishing harbour of Ballantyne’s Cove mid afternoon. Tied up at a dock and went to help Ramble On come in just as a huge rain storm hit. Storm was apparently local but brought lots of water which washed down the hillside giving the harbour very brown water. Very limited services and washrooms are a very long walk but then it’s only $1 a foot.
Stayed an extra day due to the slop in the Northumberland Strait. One distraction was a 100+ Model T Ford Rally. It starts here on its Red Dirt Tour.
Tarja left today to visit family in Moncton and will meet us in a few days in the Bras d’Or lakes on Cape Breton.
New friends in car. Note the GPS on the windscreen.
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.
