St. Peter's Marina

Wednesday, July 22, 2015
45 39 683 N
60 52 537 W

It blew a bit during the night and we arose to a horrible morning - very grey, almost fog, low 50's, breezy and raining on and off. We had planned a 9 AM departure but we all begged off. The weather forecast suggested tomorrow would be the same plus more wind, so we decided to move on 20 miles into the Bras D'or lakes and take a slip at a little marina just through the lock. Don had arranged for a mechanic to look at his outboard at the marina. Before that could happen Don rode over in our dink, I took him back to Cavara and then headed back to Tide Hiker where Deidre and I got the dink back on board and secure - all in the rain of course.

On the way back in the dink this AM

Engines started at 11:30 AM and we were underway into the fog and rain. The boating was not difficult or unpleasant, But it was just such a shame that we were cruising thru such spectacular country, and we could hardly see the shore - all guided by radar and the chart plotter. We have to come back basically the same way, so maybe the sun will be shining then.

It was only 20 miles or so to the canal and lock that would let us into the lakes. The geography here is quite amazing. The canal and lock were built in a convenient fold in the hills between the Atlantic and the lakes, and the canal is less than a mile long. We were thru in 30 minutes or so and into the lake - 80' deep - and around to the marina. The marina put both boats on a 80' dock, so we are back to back with our bows hanging over, but that's OK. When we arrived it was just pouring with rain so we all got soaked. This is such fun.............

In the St. Peters Canal

Wet deck hand

Thursday, July 23rd, 2015

While Deidre did the shopping I walked down to the canal and had a chat with the Lock master. He was only too pleased to talk. He explained some of the the history of the area. The Portuguese were first in the 1500's, the French in the 1600's and the English in the 1700's. The French established a trading post and in those days boats were hauled over log rollers thru ("portaged") the valley where the canal is now located. The British built the canal in 18XX, and a stone fort.

View of the little marina

Good thing its Wednesday already