It is 4:30am on Wednesday and I am doing a quick update before we leave. We have made it to Gaspe in what can only be described as two huge days. Monday we made 90 miles into a 6 foot swell and made it to St Anne du Monts. Took about 14 hours. The country here is incredible and getting more remote by the mile. Boat handled awesome and has given us much confidence in her ability. Barely any places to hole up here, so you have to plan carefully or spend a night at sea.
Left at 4am again on Tuesday. Forecast looks good although there are alot of storm cells around and we are going to try or 123 miles to Gaspe through some of the most remote boating area any of us has ever seen. We had a day of everything, NE swells, a westerly following sea and fog, lots of fog. Barely saw anyone or anything on this leg. Few sailboats headed in the other direction. The appalachians come right out o the ocean here and the little towns are beautiful, it is like going back in time. Fog stuck with us on and off for most of the day giving the trip a surreal feel. We approached the Cap de Gaspe at 6pm and as we rounded it the fog dissipated and we had one of the greatest views of our life. Flat calm now and after 16 hours of intense navigation and concentration, one had to sit back as we set our course straight into the setting sun, and reflect on what we had just done. The final 2 hours up the bay to Gaspe were nothing short of spectacular, sun shining great panoramas and even whales(we thought we might have a day without a whale, but they came through).
Must be going now , even after 213 miles in 2 days we have to keep going while the weather lets us. Some big water to cross in Bay de Chaleur, but we expect next to no winds and a beautiful day. Feel like a true sea dog now, salty and wearing same clothes or 3 days, tired and windblown but as usual, feeling more alive than ever. Miss all y’all……………..Dave