49℉ at 4:00am and high 77, 49 at 8:30pm
Saturday, September 4, 2016
We drove to the mouth of the Quai (dock) Petite Sanguenay where the Petit Sanguenay meets the Sanguenay. It is a beautiful spot with a concrete pier, picnic tables and a place to launch a boat. When we got there at 9:00 the parking area was full. It is Labor Day weekend, so everyone is out, and the forecast is for a perfect day. A couple form Montreal asked us to take a picture of them, and we talked for a while. They said they took the whale tour yesterday and it was spectacular.
As we walked back to the car, we saw a man with a fly rod and a fishing basket walking with purpose along the beach. I couldn’t be sure, but I don’t think he had waders on. He walked around the cove to the other side then began wading out into the bay. Once he was waist deep, he began casting with a long fly rod. He didn’t let the fly sit but a second or two, then walked and cast again. Keeping this up for 25 casts, he caught a fish and put it in his basket. We watched a few more casts and went on.
Driving back through the cute town of Petit Saguenay, we drove 20 minutes to the Plage (beach) on the Sanguenay River to hike the Pinèda (pine forrest). This is in a little piece of Parc National du Fjord du Sanguenay. It’s a 3-hour intermediate hike. It was cool when we started, so I wore long pants and a long sleeve fishing shirt – big mistake, as it would get hot when we began the climb. The first part of the hike was a bit boring, and we couldn’t really be sure we were on the right hike, our maps being very basic, but it turned out to be the right one. It wanders along the coast through a beautiful forrest before climbing to the top for a spectacular view. On our way back down, we passed two ladies camped right across from us, and lots of others followed. The parking lot was full when we got back down. I changed my shirt and tied it to the kayak to dry on our drive back to town.
We had been eyeing Cafe Bistro Boutique Les’Arts since we got here, but no one was ever in the parking lot. We decided to give it a go. At 2:30 there was again no one there. A lady met us at the bar while a man was behind an overhang of glasses, pots and pans. We studied the menu, which was of course in French. She asked if we needed translation, and we were happy she spoke good English. I chose Salmon and an expresso, while Martha ordered creamed vegetable soup and a salad of hearts of Palm and Artichokes, and a beer. It is a local artist place, probably where they meet and talk and also show their work. There was a picture of the restaurant with snow covering half of the building. We sat outside on this perfect day and watched a few more people trickle in. Lots of motorcycles passed by, as it is a great route to ride and explore. Local ladies were walking their babies through town, which is about 5 blocks. Others were walking for exercise. There is a beautiful Promenade along the Petite Sanguenay with hanging flower pots. The Coop de consommation is across the street. I wish I owned it! It’s a gas station/grocery store where all the locals go as well as everyone who comes through town. Probably 30 motorcycle riders were taking a break there. Martha’s soup was so good she wanted to lick the bowl. My salmon arrived and it was sushi, which I don’t do. There was a salad, an orange wedge, a splotch of soft cheese and two pieces of some kind of toast. Gingerly tasting a bit while testing Martha’s salad, it grew on me. Actually, it was excellent, and Martha loved her healthy salad.
We thought about doing something else, but decided to go back to camp, get some laundry and clean up a bit. Martha went to the Coop and bought a salmon steak, a sausage, corn on the cob, squash and a baguette. I got the fire going while we showered and did laundry. I did the tepee method of starting the fire and it did great until it all collapsed. Trying to add more wood, I smothered it. I could hear Kelly giving me grief now. I had the perfect smoke-producing fire ever. I was sure everyone in the campground was looking at all this smoke wondering what these gringos from Virginia in an Airstream were doing. I started on the wine as I added a couple of fire starters and paper underneath. More smoke! The area around the fire pit was loaded with termites, and they were all coming out! I’ve never seen anything like it. I had noticed a lot of what I thought were ant hills, but they turned out to be termite hills. I looked at the Airstream. We’ll probably have termites eating the floor. A pileated woodpecker loves our campground, totally unafraid of people. Now I know why.
By the third glass of wine, the fire got started and quickly built up embers for cooking. Happily, the termites went to back to their homes.
Beautiful walking trails in deep forest. The boat ride sounds nice too.
Still a lot of talk about fish.
Fish were here, now gone . Ideal trout fishing hole. Water too swift. Lots of fantasizing going on with little action or meat to show for it. I hope Martha doesn’t get tired of vienna sausage. It sounds like a sardine is the only fish that you are going to be able to offer your very tolerant bride. You don’r have to get up too early for those. You can just wait util the store opens at 8 AM. Don’t forget to buy saltines and malt vinegar.
I just opened up a can, but I didn’t know about the malt vinegar. Labor Day is over. Not a sole in the campground but us. I’m going around seeing who left firewood.
Happy Labour Day – Great stories! Thanks for sharing everything. Pat
Thank you so much Pat, and thank you for following. All the best my friend.