Wed July 27: QC to Cap-a-l’Aigle (Refuge Marina)

Don't ask me how this happened - but I was an enthusiastic participant in the decision to start this day at the FREAKIN EARLY HOUR you see below.  That's am, people.  AM.  The timing of tides is everything, so last night we came through the lock and got on the waiting wall....so that I could NEVER GET BACK this sleeping time.  

Actually, I was keen to see the city dressed in its lights, and Rick was keen to get us a tide-bump, so ....

 

 

 The first thing we encountered was this big boi, and the pilot boat headed out to help him.

And then the sunrise and first contrail of the day!

Rick took me for a spin around the QC area so I could see the lights - then we were 'downbound' for Cap-a-l'Aigle.

We passed by the Falls (Chute) again, but from the water.

 

This sailboat was up even earlier then we were! I'm super happy not to be living on a sail; it's small and crowded.  But they are so elegant...

 

The topography continues to grow - such a huge and lovely change for us. We even went by a ski resort.

 

 

 

I got kind of obsessed with this little 'train-board town' high on the hill...

 

 

And THEN...... We had been told that we could expect Beluga Whales anytime after Cap-a-l'aigle, but they apparently hadn't gotten that memo because they were RIGHT THERE BEFORE CAP!!! They are so pure white they stand out, like little ice bergs or wave caps.  It was so so exciting.  All of a sudden there were seals, dolphins and Belugas - oh my!!!  I don't know if either of us really thought we would get this far, nor actually see whales!

It may look like a white lump - but, trust me, it's a Beluga!!

It was, as expected, a long day - even with a push from the tide, we were on the water for 9 hours. It was a bit bouncy at the beginning, but then smoothed out, and it was sunny but a bit on the cold side.  Hooray for that!

Fastest we have ever gone! A 6-7+ MPH bump - we had to slow the RPMs down to keep from arriving too early.

At the marina we saw jellies for the first time- an indication of salinity!

It is very sea-like.  Kelp has replaced grass, and the water is now brackish - with the ocean coming up to mingle with the fresh water of the St. Lawrence River.

This is our Looper Map - and now we are OFF THE MAP!!! If the world is truly flat, we are goners...

It's a tiny, but friendly marina - not much English spoken down here.  But Rick is doing well with French, and my Spanish seems to work.  The fact that French is Latin based, and the context, is helpful for us both.