It's a cold one !

We woke up yesterday morning in Bristol, NH, with just a few degrees to share in the cabin. Again, we're glad to have the heater, but it can barely keep up when the wind is blowing. We still managed to dress warmly to go and visit the Herreshoff Museum, a very interesting place to learn about this famous yacht designer. We saw lots of gorgeous original boats in their big warehouse, along with lots of pictures from the turn of last century. The next day, we sailed into Newport, NH, the sailing capital around here. For the second time, we ran into the people sailing in "Black Thorn", which also stayed in St.Andrews for a bit last month. Val and I visited a yacht restoration school (yes, Val was drooling a bit over the tools), and we grabbed supper before heading back to Pegasus. Right now, we are trying to figure out which day will be best to head out around the coast again, as the wind is still not favorable, but is suppose to calm down over the weekend. We will stay tuned to our VHF !

Hier matin, nous nous sommes réveillé a Bristol, NH, avec seulement quelques degrées au-dessus de zero dans la cabine. Notre fournaise est bien appréciée ces temps-ci, mais quand le vent est bon, ca ne suffit pas. Alors on s'habille tres chaudement, et cette journée-la, on a été visiter le musée Herreshoff, dédié au fameux designer de yachts. L'immense batiment avait plusieurs bateaux originals restorés et beaucoup de photos qui dataient du siecle dernier. Le lendemain, nous nous sommes rendu a Newport, NH, a la voile. Nous avons encore rencontrer les gens qui se promenent a bord de "Black Thorn", qui étaient aussi a St.Andrews le mois dernier. Valery et moi avons été visiter une école qui répare les petits voiliers de bois (oui, Valery avait les yeux grands en voyant tous les outils!), et on a souper en ville avant de retourner a bord de Pegasus. En ce moment, on écoute attentivement la météo sur la VHF, car nous attendons avec impatience une bonne journée pour retourner sur la cote. En espérant que les vents redeviennent en notre faveur!

Good days and bad days

Well, it's definitely Fall, with one gale warning after the other. We ended up staying 1 week in Gloucester, with the lovely and helpful people of this port city. Then came one good day of sailing before the next gale would hit, so we made a dash across Massachussetts bay to reach the Cape Cod canal.  That was 45 nautical miles in 10 hours.  We slept at the marina at the entrance, and crossed the canal the next morning. We took refuge in Marion, to weather the next gale, which happened overnight, including thunder and lightning.

The bad day happened when we decided to leave Marion for Newport, as the swells were still present on the ocean, but because Buzzards Bay is protected, we didn't see this phenomenon until later. We were happy to be able to duck into Sakonnet river, because it was way too much for Pegasus (and her crew) to handle. We landed in Tiverton, Rhode Island, which is very protected from the swells, being 1 hour away from the coast, behind a breakwater.  The next day was very warm. We walked around in short sleeves, admiring the gorgeous Fall colors.  We are now Tuesday, and guess what ? Yes, another gale is blowing !  So we are going to wait until tomorrow to go visit Bristol, on our way to Newport. Lots of maritime museums await us !

 C'est définitivement l'automne, avec toutes ses tempetes de vents. On est resté une semaine a Gloucester, avant d'avoir une belle journée pour traverser la baie de Massachussetts, pour aller rejoindre le canal de Cape Cod. Ca veut dire que Pegasus a fait 45 miles nautiques en 10 heures !  Nous avons passé une belle nuit tranquille a la marina de Sandwich avant de traverser le canal le lendemain matin. On a tout-de-suite trouvé refuge a Marion pour la nuit, car ils annoncaient encore une tempete de vent. Le vent a hurlé a travers les éclairs et le tonnerre. Mais le lendemain, la mer semblait calme, alors nous sommes partis pour Newport, sans savoir que la houle était encore présente au large. C'était un peu trop pour notre petit voilier et son équipage !  Alors nous sommes tres soulagés d'avoir trouvé la riviere de Sakonnet, ou nous nous sommes trouvé un petit port bien protégé pour la nuit. Tiverton, Rhode Island, est un beau petit village derriere un brise-lame. 

Hier, il a fait tres beau et chaud. Nous nous sommes promené en manches courtes, mais aujourd'hui, devinez !  Oui, une autre tempete de vent. Alors nous restons en place jusqu'a demain, ou nous prendrons la route vers Bristol et Newport, en visitant les beaux musées maritimes.

The great Boston

Since the weather is calling for a lot of winds and waves for the next couple of days, we decided to stay put in Gloucester. Today however, we took the commuter train to Boston for an afternoon of fun ! We ate a scrumptious lunch at the famous Quincy Market, and then went to the New England Aquarium. Quite a bit bigger than Huntsman ! We arrived just in time to see the caretakers hand-feed the penguins, and other creatures like the sharks and sea turtles. It was nice to relax and spend a day elsewhere than on the boat for a change.

Alors qu'ils annoncent des grands vents et de grosses vagues ces temps-ci, nous sommes resté a l'ancre a Gloucester. Nous avons par contre pris le train cet apres-midi pour aller visiter Boston. Nous avons pris un exquis lunch au fameux Quincy Market, et ensuite, nous avons visité l'aquarium qui est beaucoup plus grand que Huntsman ! Nous sommes arrivés juste a temps pour voir les penguins etre nourris a la main. Des plongeurs nourissaient aussi les tortues de mer, et les autres creatures comme les requins. Ca a fait du bien de relaxer dans un paysage autre que celui du bateau, pour faire changement.

2 states behind us

We have finally arrived in Massachusetts, after going through Maine and New Hampshire. We can even see the skyscrapers of Boston rising from the distant waters (we're too far to see the actual shore). We spend a night just outside Portsmouth, NH, and since the strong winds were delayed a day, we decided to make it around Cape Ann the next day. This is the furthest we've been offshore yet. We had 6-foot swells, even though the wind was light, so Pegasus was rocking and rolling. She did great, and took us safely to Gloucester, where a very friendly harbormaster showed us an empty mooring for the night. Today, since they are calling for strong winds, we're gonna stay put and do an oil change for the engine, and maybe even bake some fresh bread. Thank God for our heater, because it is finally chilly outside.

On a finallement passé le Maine et le New Hampshire ! On est arrivé au Massachusett, et on peut meme voir les gratte-ciels de Boston a l'horizon ! On est resté une nuit dans un petit port pres de Portsmouth, NH, et ensuite, on a decidé de faire le tour du Cape Ann, qui nous amenait le plus loin des cotes a date. Ca a tres bien été, sauf qu'il y avait de la houle de 6 pieds, meme si les vents etaient légers, alors ce n'etait pas confortable. Mais Pegasus se porte bien, et elle nous a amené a bon port a Gloucester, ou on a passé la nuit. Aujourdhui, on reste tranquille, alors qu'ils annoncent des grands vents. On va en profiter pour changer l'huile du moteur, et peut-etre faire du bon pain maison. Heureusement qu'on a la fournaise a bord, car il fait un peu frais dehors maintenant.

Beautiful Kennebunkport

We just made it to Kennebunkport for the night. Beautiful sunny day, very little wind. But the last 2 days were spent in Portland, doing things other normal people do: laundry, shopping, and a hot shower !  Portland is a city, full of services. Val found some marine stores and got us some parts, and I found a huge natural food store that offered free delivery to the marina ! I went nuts.  It was very windy yesterday, but a sailing school full of kids still went out and raced. They were flying ! We also went to visit the Narrow Gauge Train museum. 

On s'est rendu a Kennebunkport pour la nuit. Les 2 derniers jours ont été passé a Portland, pour faire des choses que la plupart des gens font tous les jours: magasiner, faire la lessive, et prendre des bonnes douches chaudes ! Val a découvert des magasins de pieces a bateaux, et moi, j'ai trouvé un énorme magasin d'aliments naturels, qui livre gratuit aux marinas. Alors j'en ai profité ! Il a venter beaucoup hier, mais ca n'a pas empeché les jeunes d'une école de voile de sortir et avoir du fun.  On a aussi visité un musée de trains a voie ferrée etroite.

A day for shopping

We spent all of today in Portland, after spending a night last night, admiring the city lights from our mooring. Portland has lots to offer, and we took advantage of it. Val went to visit West Marine, where he bought us a new GPS chartplotter, and I discovered a natural food store that is the size of a big supermarket !  I was in heaven. We also did laundry, and watched the crazy young students learn how to sail in the harbor, on this very windy day. I guess they don't stop offering sailing classes even in October !  

On a resté a dans la grande ville de Portland la nuit derniere, en admirant les belles lumieres au loin. On en a profité pour aller faire des emplettes. Val a trouvé un autre bon GPS au cas ou l'autre ferait defaut. Moi, j'ai découvert un grand magasin d'aliments naturels rempli tout ce qu'une cuisiniere pasionnée pourrais avoir besion ! Il vente énormément cet apres-midi, mais il y a quand meme des jeunes qui sont sortit avec un cours de voile, en 

On the move again

We left Bar Harbor for a good long day of avoiding lobster pots !  Oh yeah... Did we mention the 3 million lobster pots on this coast, and how they are always right on our path ? Val and I are getting good at spotting them, but it's very hard when the sun is in your face, and when it's choppy. But we survived. We landed in beautiful Southwest Harbor, home of Hinckley Yachts, where we found Peter and Michelle, from Saint John. Small world ! The next day, we made it to Rockland, and today, on a gorgeous sunny day, we landed in Boothbay Harbor.

On a quitte Bar Harbor en essayant d'eviter les nombreuses trappes a homards !  Il y en a partout !  On s'est rendu a Southwest Harbor, ou le manufacturier des yachts Hinckley est situé, alors on a passé la nuit, en jasant avec des gens de Saint John qui s'adonnaient a etre la aussi.  Le lendemain, on s'est rendu a Rockland, puis aujourd'hui, on passe la nuit a Boothbay Harbor, qui est charmant pour les touristes comme nous !

A day to relax

Well, it was a bitter sweet day here in Bar Harbor.  We had lots of wind and rain this morning, but sunshine later on.  I have to say this before I go on: I miss all of you !  It was a very emotional day when you bid us farewell on the wharf in St Andrews !  But today, we were able to roam around this lovely tourist town, and we do feel like we are on vacation. Tomorrow, we have to start another leg of our voyage, and this is when I keep thinking: can we do this ?  I really hope that the weather will cooperate. Pegasus has been very good to us so far. She may still bob up and down like a 10-foot tender on the big waves, but she stays afloat and I'm proud to say: nothing has been flying around in the cabin !  And Val had doubts... Goes to show that a woman knows how to put away stuff ! 

On a passer une tres belle journee a Bar Harbor, meme si il pleuvait le matin. Le soleil a sortit dans l'apres-midi, et on en a profite pour relaxer un peu. Nos amis et notre famille nous manquent beaucoup par contre !  Demain on va essaye d'aller rejoindre le port de Southwest harbor, si la meteo est bonne.  On est fier de Pegasus, elle se porte tres bien, meme quand les conditions nous donnent des sueurs par fois. A plus tard !

We depart, finally !

After 2 days of very strong winds (40 knots), we finally got kicked out of St Andrews (thanks BB!) on Sunday afternoon. We arrived in Lubec to clear customs 2 hours later. We spent the night there, then had a wonderful productive day Monday, going all the way to Jonesport. We met a nice guy at the boatyard, who rented us a mooring for the night. But the next day proved difficult, as we tried to cross a bay with a strong west wind, and very steep waves.  We turned into the wind, in the only harbour in this area for safety, Eastern Harbour. Being a small fishing boat harbour, we had to take a mooring suggested by a fisherman, but it was a small one and ended up dragging into another boat !  So we went to another group of boats, where another fisherman suggested a guest mooring, more solid. Thank goodness !  But it did make for a very nervous day overall.  Today, Tuesday, was a lovely day on the other hand, sunny, very little wind, so we made it all the way to Bar Harbour, where we will stay at least for a day.

On est finallement partis !  On s'est rendu a Lubec pour voir les douaniers, qui nous ont laisser passé.  Le lendemain, tres belle température, alors on s'est rendu jusqu'a Jonesport, ou on a passé la nuit dans un petit port tranquille. Mais le lendemain, la brise a monté et on a eu de la difficulté a maneuvrer, et on s'est demandé quoi faire. Mais j'avais trouvé un petit port de pecheurs a l'ouest, alors on a trouvé refuge la, pour la nuit. Apres cette peur, on a bien mérité la belle journée d'aujourdhui, beau soleil et peu de vent pour se rendre a Bar Harbour, ou on va se la couler douce pour une journée de plus.

D day minus one... hopefully

Kyle was the biggest non-event ever !  If anything, today's thunderstorms gave us more wind and rain , so yes, we got delayed a bit more. Tomorrow, Friday, we can hopefully clear customs in Eastport, Maine, to start our journey south. Weather permitting, of course. We almost have a heater working (just needs the diesel and a test), and that'll be a good thing, since the mercury is also thinking of going south !  Brrrrr...... On the positive side, we did kick out the engine gremlin that was living in our electrical wires. Thanks Val !