friends | Sailing Red

THE GRAND GATHERING – part two

Jul 9, 2016 | Flotsam

As a follow-up to our post from the other day (story here) about sailing past Sainte-Flavie to catch site of Marcel Gagnon’s statues in the tidal waters….

We now have the land perpsective, visited with friends today…

Fun with Friends

…and what better way to initiate our visitors to the fine shores of the Saint Lawrence then to treat them to their first feed of real Quebec poutine. Not the traditional fries, gravy and cheese curd but a feast of three cheese sauce served with fresh shrimp from the village of Matane.

Poutine aux Crevettes de Matane

DINGHY RHODE TRIP

Mar 6, 2016 | Flotsam

It was an offer we couldn’t refuse.

Pig the Navigator

We packed a breakfast picnic, brewed some coffee and headed out before dawn.

Adirondack Scenery

Perfect road weather and beautiful scenery along the way.

Achilles Tender

The chance to visit with friends and to inspect our prize – little R.E.D.

Inflation Test

Once back home, Francois couldn’t wait to re-inflate and inspect her. She showed some signs of wear but was in incredibly good shape for an eleven year old.

Cleaners

What we used to clean her:

A paste of baking soda and Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds

A combination of Mary Kate Hull & Bottom Cleaner and Aqua Tek Dinghy Cleaner

My plastic pan scraper (for the barnacles)

Several hours of Captain’s elbow grease.

A rinse with vinegar and water.

A final coating of Aqua Tek Vinyl Guard for UV protection.

Barnacle Remover

12 hours of Elbow Grease

Can you see the difference?

Repaired and Ready to Go

Cover all washed and strap repaired.

I have to add a little side story about rinsing. We live in an apartment condo with two elevators. We had to deflate Little R.E.D. a little so she could fit into the larger of the two elevators. Imagine the two of us dragging her down the hallway, struggling to get her into the elevator, inject a few choice words exchanged here, an expedition into the garage so we could spray her well with vinegar then rinse well with water to remove the last residue of cleaner. We dried her well with a chamois then repeated the elevator performance. We have to really love this life and each other to be doing these things.