August 18          Riviere de Reynaud, Canada

We were determined to make the 90 nm journey to Riviere de Reynaud despite weather reports that showed light rain and winds of up to 11 mph.  We left the dock at 7:30 AM with clear skies and negligible winds.  We were delighted to have great visibility and we enjoyed viewing the charming villages we passed.  The mountains became taller and the granite cliffs steeper as we continued on our route.

Fog suddenly enveloped us and once again we were navigating via GPS and radar with zero visibility.  The wind was not a significant factor so we continued smoothly on our route.  These long cruises involve intermittent naps for both of us and lots of needlepoint for me.  About an hour from our destination, the wind considerably increased, the water became very choppy, and the boat was buffeted by waves.  Not a pleasant experience!

The harbor at Riviere de Reynaud is protected behind another huge stone breakwater.  The marina shares dockage with the large commercial fishing fleet that has made this a mecca for seafood processors.  We were assigned a great place on the new dock.  Our dock hand was Robert, a recently arrived sailor who volunteered to secure our lines.  He spoke excellent English and had a delightful sense of humor.

The rain continued and we were restricted to the boat.  The lovely village ahead of the marina was beckoning but we were reluctant to venture that far in the rain.   After dark, we saw the large lighted cross next to a small church on the hill.  The village, situated at the foot of the mountain, was postcard-perfect.  Reluctantly we decided to spend the evening on the boat and plan for the next days.