August 19                                                        Chandler, Canada

Chandler seemed to be the perfect place to stop before we crossed the Bay of Chaleurs, noted for its high afternoon winds.  Morning rain and wind caused us to reconsider venturing from the marina, however, a favorable report from Chandler encouraged us to continue our journey.

We were instructed that entrance to the marina had to be on a high tide.  We arrived an hour too early and floated about in the bay.  Noting the many marked and unmarked shoals at the entrance to the marina, we made plans to take a wide arc around them upon departure.

The marina, reportedly a full-service marina, was very small and very tight.  The fuel dock was at the end of the marina and with the help of numerous dock help, David expertly parallel-parked our boat, which appeared gigantic to the others in the marina.  The dock help was excellent.  Diesel fuel supplies were limited and we drained their tanks with 300 gallons.

Simon, the dockmaster, invited us to his sailboat for rum and coke.  We spent a delightful hour with him and three of his friends and gained considerable information about the small marinas in this area.  Marinas are government funded and staffed by volunteers.  Simon was a lawyer who specialized in labor negotiations but he loved sailing and he was thrilled to be a volunteer for part of the summer at the marina in Chandler.

Dinner was at the recommended marina restaurant.  On the second floor of the marina office building, the restaurant had an incredible view over the breakwater to the wide expanse of water beyond.  The service and food were excellent.  I had morue, a local fish which was wonderful.  David had escargot and mushrooms in a vodka tomato sauce as an appetizer and langoustines for his entrée.   We spent a delightful evening recalling sixty years previously when we were at our wedding rehearsal dinner at the Liberty Grill in Cleburne, Texas.  The menu had been considerably different!  Looking out at a fabulous view, we recalled many happy times and wonderful people who had contributed to our lives in our sixty years of marriage.