Kalinka1's Adventure: 2024

13 Episode, Where our pals came and helped.

Up and away at 0530 AM we still had fair winds and now day light. We passed large trees floating down river and we saw whales blowing about us. What a treat. Calm and foggy day

We were under way at 0530 heading to Matane....by 0630 we had drained the filter and re started the engine....this was going to be a long day at this rate.

Fog, rain and fuel issues.

The exhaustion is very real. Noel was sound asleep.

Entering Matane

The harbour is up here somewhere.

Forest of masts is a good sign.

Can't go under the bridge so... turn to port!

Harbour of Matane opens up with a wide fairway and long docks, perfect!

Saturday Aug 26th the day after my nephew was married in Ireland. Missed it totally. This summer has been a bit of a test with the boat for sure.

We were excited, Carl and Patty were going to join us that evening driving from Rochester NY. We each had about 13 hrs. in transit. Carl and Patty was a bit longer as they also had to cross into Canada.

We got the boat chores done before our pals arrived. We had some beers on shore followed by oven roast wonder. I think we may have made it as late at 8PM all four of us were exhausted but happy to be together.

Under way at 06:15...this means Patty and I were off the boat for the day and in the car. We had about a one hour drive to Rimouski so we took our time showering, then a lovely breakfast.

Noel and Carl had lumpy seas and found themselves draining the filter at 06:50 and again at 08:10. The wind was up so they could sail a bit but then found themselves motor sailing to maintain speed. Drained the filter again 12:15 and then moored in Rimouski 14:00. Total days run 48NM. We purchased fuel in Rimouski, it was the slowest fill up ever....not a drip over board....then I was expected to pay 20% tip for over priced fuel! That jammed up my visa as the lady was very pushy regarding getting a tip. My French is fairly good and there was not a chance for a percentage tip. I resent being hassled into tipping. Had we known how water logged the fuel was...

We had a great afternoon. Carl and Patty treated us to burgers out in a brew pub. Then guess what...we had an early night.

The next day Patty and I cast our husbands off the dock at 05:15 and we had laundry to get to and showering then breakfast and our drive was going to include crossing to the north shore so hopefully a ferry ride.

Underway headed up stream. Not much wind.

Noel and Carl on board Kalinka 1 were motor sailing in south west wind with the current making for lumpy sea. So drained the filter and then was not quick enough for the second draining so the engine stalled....This is a total pain in the ass!. Carl is convinced it is a boat problem and not an import with the fuel.(our first disagreement)

They had the tide with them and were able to sail for a bit. Then at 15:30 the engine was on and they continued to drain and re fill the filter. The estimated they removed 5 liters of water from our fresh expensive and tipped for fuel.

Patty and I in the car with the help of the tourist information team made a ferry booking for our crossing at 3PM then found a fun place for breakfast. We then had a costal road drive along the shore. We found a market so got some onions and a funky zucchini to try. Went shopping in Canadian Tire and picked up a fuel pump for $17 Cdn...We were not sure it would work but it was exactly what was asked for.

Noel: Navionics and tide calculations all in hand, along with a medicinal glass of rum.

One very tired Carl.

We ladies stayed out of the cockpit and enjoyed our G&T's below.

The day was long...fuel issues continue. A local boat was so impressed at how Kalinka 1 sailed and kept pace with him on his 34 Catalina....Little did he know the stress and stain of keeping the boat speed moving up stream. Patty and I had a call to find a dock that they could sail onto or they would just anchor out if the engine quit....We were ready on the dock to catch their lines. The local boat helped too. He and his wife produce maple syrup on the south shore and sail with their dog. Carl and Noel arrived exhausted.

We have many provisions on board so we enjoyed tinned ham, potatoes and fried onions with zucchini. Followed with tinned fruit for desert. First class dining on board this yacht! We had for everyone's added pleasure, eau du diesel.

We had lovely driving on and off ferries.

From Tadoussac to Cap-a-l'Aigle the next day and so were the locals sailing with their dog. Its fun how you meet people. The men got into the marina shortly before sunset and were super frustrated with the on going fuel issues. We had more tinned provisions for dinner, Frey Bento Steak and Kidney pie with tinned potatoes and vegetables.

A tinned "Frey Bento" mince and onion pie...they are all good.

We were all tired but happy to have continued to make progress. Pushing hard to get the last leg of this journey completed. Carl and Patty had a garden to be harvested so were feeling pressed to get home.

Then,,, knock on the boat. Delivered dipped in chocolate fresh strawberries! What a treat! So out comes the Old Sam for a tasting and some of Carl's buddy's maple syrup for tasting as well. Fun night.

The tidal charts of the St. Lawrence now have an "APP" that is live in real time to help with navigating up the St. Lawrence. Buddy showed us this but since none of our phones had access to "data" we could not make this work but he managed to have this information overlaid on his chart plotter. What a fabulous tool...if only we could have worked with it...

Off with the tide the next day...Head out on a low and hope to make Quebec City.

Did we mention the tide was out....

This was a steep climb and then just when you needed it most the railing ran out and you had the horrible sensation of tumbling backwards down the grating. Patty warned me and I still started to tumble back with my arms cartwheeling and stuck out...managed to save myself.

Wide awake for driving after that!

Destination Quebec City! We had gotten in touch with our pal Lise who met us at the Quebec City Yacht Club for drinks as we waited for the arrival of Kalinka 1. They arrived after the race and as the sun was setting. We enjoyed fresh race night special pizzas and pitchers of draft. Great evening and wonderful to catch up with our pal Lise.

Approaching QCYC just as the sun was setting

Then next day there was discussion regarding departure times....well it was to be after breakfast. So we ladies had showers after the men got underway and we had a coffee and a wonderful visit with Lise at her apartment with a beautiful view of the St. Lawrence above the Yacht Club. What a lovely day we had. Then off we went heading for Trois-Rivieres

We were driving the shore roads as we had all day to do about one hour of driving. We stopped at the first harbour we saw and walked out along the break wall and I thought we were looking at Kalinka 1 on the far shore....Patty figured we were too far away to tell, I was fairly sure it was her.

We got back into the car and figured it could not have been Kalinka 1as it was still 97KM to Trois-Rivieres and the boys should be much further, it was late in the day.

Next thing the phone rang and Noel announced they were heading back to Quebec City as the engine was just too unhappy.

We suggested the harbour on the north shore if there was sufficient water to get there between where they were and the harbour. We were not sure of the name but there were many bigger boats then Kalinka 1 floating at low water...Guess what that boat was Kalinka 1.

Vanquelin at low tide. There are wheels on the gang way over the rocks.

The race was on between the car and the boat...They needed to sail onto the slip and so needed to be there to catch the lines and get help if necessary. We got their just in time...and they got the engine running so managed to steam in with a latex glove over the filter as it was no longer sealing from the drain.

The men had a vile time.

Noel went for a shower, then Carl both came back refreshed and talking to each other discussing options. We were 10 NM up stream from Quebec City in 9Hrs. We the "Shore Crew" were happy to have our suggestion work as a solution. The 10 NM had been hard won after all. Noel made the decision to stay an extra day and drain the tank and replace the filter system with the old one.

The next day with the boat not going any where Patty and I were kicked off and told to go away...they would call when we could return! We had not been expecting that.

Hard to see the fuel pump but it worked a treat. Carl polishing the fuel.

Patty and I had another long shower and went driving about. Found a place for coffee and sticky bun. We had bought fresh farm produce the day before so we did not need any food. Feeling a bit adrift and hoping our spouses would remain friends after this trip. When we got a call. OK to come back on board and they wanted lunch!

We do not have many photos of this chapter of the passage as frankly it was not top of mind.

We got back with some local beers for the men that helped land us along with a few samplers for ourselves.

100% of the fuel was drained, polished and the tank when empty was sponged out of any possible debris...Carl dismantled and cleaned the "new" this season "supersized fuel" filter so that we could use it again. The debris in the fuel had blocked the drain from re seating and this was what was letting air into the system. While he did this Noel reinstalled last summers smaller edition.

They announced that we were good to go the next day to Trois-Rivieres. They double checked their tide times, before we got into the evening libations. Thankfully for Patty and I these times were getting to be more reasonable in that they were less early.

Trois-Rivieres we got fuel and had a fun barbeque with the locals on their big deck. Noel and Carl were delighted with the engine finally running happy.

Killed the wine

Trois-Rivieres has a great barbeque deck area for the boaters

Happy Carl

Next day we were heading to Sorel by now it was "Labour Day" long weekend. Patty and I found what we thought was the marina but neither of us recognized it on the beautiful sunny day bursting with boats....all of them power. Last time we had been there the harbour seemed deeper and more sail boats. We confirmed with Noel and Carl and organized fuel and then did a big shop as we would be leaving the next morning as I needed to be back in Toronto and Patty to Rochester.

We would re join Noel and Carl in a few days further up stream.

Carl and Noel anticipated starting into the sea way later that day and then would anchor over night waiting for the locks to open near Montreal. Patty and I drove to Toronto with Patty driving on the next day to Rochester. What would we have done with out these wonderful friends I do not know.

Back in Toronto I sorted out mail and got things organized. Picked up our car that had been repaired while we were away and visited friends. Noel and Carl anchored out that night near Montreal waiting for the locks to open.

Carl spent many hours at the helm

Locking up

The view astern.

Anchored at Beaunarious

Dealing with prop wash

Waiting for bridges..

Cornwall

Made Cornwall the next day....Engine running beautifully with all the polished fuel. Cornwall Marina is down stream of the dam close to town built into the old Domtar Paper mill spillway. Keeping close eye on the channel they got in no issues. The Marina were expecting them and even offered to stay late if needed.They fueled showered and had a early night staying on the fuel dock.

Next day they were off around 0630 to get to the wait on the Seaway Transit Dock. They were following their track from the night before when at 6.5 knots through the water plus the river flow they came to a sudden stop that had both Carl and Noel in a heap about the wheel. The boat rode up and fell over well and truly aground. What to do? One sail boat left the marina behind them and just kept going. Few other people were up after all it was still the long weekend. The coast guard would not tow as they did not have any vessels in that part of the seaway...The option was to build the dingy and either set a kedge anchor or try to pull off with a halyard. Just as they started to untie the dingy a pontoon boat from the shore came to the rescue. He was well used to helping sail boats get off this ledge. Plenty of various colours of bottom paid were visible as they looked over the side. The pontoon boat first checked if they were taking on water and then requested a halyard. Quickly they were underway and floating higher, one bottle of rum lighter. Good thing we had stocked up on that

Approaching the American locks.

Along side in Iroquois

Later that day both Patty and I in our respective cars met our husbands in Iroquois, the last lock of the seaway where we all had a lovely picnic beside the boat and you guessed it an early night.

Carl and Patty headed home the next morning. Both Noel and Carl were stiff and sore from the sudden stop but were saying nothing about that.

Commercial boat CSL, with little wiggle room.

Noel and I got to Brockville that evening and had a wonderful time with it being race night. The current was strong due to all the recent rain and the shipping was busy. Even the sharks had AIS ship information on hand.

The fleet had three ships to contend with during their race.

Leaving Brockville with our speed 4 knots.

Lots of water draining from the upper lakes in preparation for the winter snow fall. NO fuel problems!

And it was raining...

Head wind as we approached Kingston.

We got a plum slip in Kingston harbour, and beside us was an E boat charging station!

The brother Islands.

The view of the chart. Friends of ours live with a view of these islands and we think they were still sleeping when we went by. We had a fun visit the night before.

We got to the Murray Canal and were going really slowly as the bridge did not open for an hour and there was this very pretty boat astern of us....never crowding and staying in the center doing exactly what we were doing. I thought I recognized the boat for MCC. The binoculars confirmed it by the club burgee.

Watt's next in the canal.