It’s been a week, but at last a selection of my Coast Raid pictures are on my pics page.
Some were also published in a small paper, Le Journal du Havre (Québécor)… (Though they don’t indicate the provenance of the pictures… Grrr!)
And in this online article…
As this gift was given on Friday, I can now post a pic of it!
Thursday I flew to La Romaine! About 2 hours on a small old Twin Otter plane.
Landing in Tête-à-la-Baleine and La Tabatière was impressive… A short gravel landing strip! The Twin lands and stops within seconds though, really easy landings/take-offs! Here, the village of Mutton Bay from the sky…
La Romaine was alright… It’s a Montagnais reserve where some whites also live. They have a school there, that’s where I was for work. The teaching staff was neat, really motivated to start the new school year! I stayed at the Mme Ruby motel. The accommodation was basic, but what I liked was the home-style meals served in the dining room. No choice, just what they have for that meal, but nonetheless pretty good. One thing is sure, though I was a bit sleep deprived (could hear my neighbours in the motel too well) I sure wasn’t hungry! A view of the beach/village…
On Friday for the way back, it was the same plane… Except this time it was loaded with cargo! My seat partner were boxes/mail bags..!
And for some reason, they flew REALLY low… I have never flown that low close to the ground before. Quite a neat experience!
At work I sold one card I made. Then someone else saw it and bought four. Someone heard I’d made a baby quilt and asked if I had some to sell. I sold one. Someone saw the quilt and asked if I could make a special order. I made the special order (which will remain a secret until Friday when it’s given as a gift). Where will it end?!
Tomorrow I’m off to La Romaine for 2 days. Hope there’s net access there… Happy will stay at mom’s.
Today’s Photoblog pic is “Team Harrington Kayaking!”
I have a few really annoying fly bites! And once I start scratching, I can never stop! Until I spray some Benadryl on… Mmmmmmmmm! Then comes the relief. I remember as a kid mom used to put calamine lotion on. I’d have funny pink spots all over!
Validation feels good…
Out of my 3 times going out to the city, I got stuck 2. My bro is kind of unlucky like me… He took the plane yesterday to come for 5 days for a visit at mom’s. But the fog/weather wasn’t good, he’s stuck in Sept-Îles… The plane didn’t leave today either so he’s at the hotel for a second night! Hopefully the weather clears up for him tomorrow!
And for me too when I travel for work on Thursday…! I sooooooooo don’t want to get stuck in La Romaine!
A first pic of the Coast Raid is on my Photoblog… “Helicopter and kayak“!
Everyday up bright and early! Bring along everything I need for the day… Lots of food! My camera equipment! Warm clothes! Or anti-flies gear! And off I went chasing the adventure athletes!
Thursday: I was mostly on a boat. I followed the teams at the start in their kayaks as they paddled all the way from St-Paul’s to Old Fort, about 20 kms. They had a tough portage to go through as well. Near Old Fort they then went up on a hill, trekking around there. They came back on the coast line, doing some coastering. They had to get wet in the cold sea water at some spots where the rocky coast line was too abrupt to climb on. Afterwards they repelled down a rocky wall, quite exciting! I then went to the school in Old Fort to watch the teams finish their day with some biking.
Friday: The teams left by bike from Old Fort to St-Paul’s. I photographed the start and quickly drove to St-Paul’s to see them arrive at a transition point, they were now going to go with their kayaks! They were going to Eskimo Island. A fishermen boat brought a whole bunch of us there (photographers/cameramen)… The boat was so full that it was so low into the water! The teams went off trekking all over the island. I walked a good way to the middle of the island where a check point was located. And walked all the way back! I saw the DFO boat was there, so I asked to get onboard! I followed the teams as they did a bit of kayaking. They then went to do some biking. They also had to swim in the sea from the St-Paul’s fish plant to the Island accross, a good distance for glacial waters, about 800 meters! Some teams simply swam, others used inflatable pool mattresses, others used those plus their kayak paddles, other had fins and mask… Whatever the way, it was quite an adventure! The rising tide made it more difficult, as swimmers drifted off a bit!
Saturday: Today I was accompanied by J. We drove to St-Paul’s together. The start was in kayak again, the teams going to a lake, portaging and then more kayaking in the sea. Afterwards they went biking on some rough gravel trails to find more check points. And all the way to Middle Bay where they trekked for hours around there. J. and I went to Five Leagues to see the teams arrive at a nice bay with locals’ cabins for a check point. Once the flies started to come, we left!
Sunday: The final day! The teams left Middle Bay on bike. They seemed more tired on this last day, and with the strong wind it was not helping! They stopped to do a bit of kayaking in Belles-Amour. Though the winds were strong, the fact that they were inside a bay, the water wasn’t agitated at all, luckily for them! After that they continued biking. I waited for them at Pointe Rocheuse. Then they went trekking on a rough/mountainous terrain… I met up with J.&M. there, they went to find the check points just like the teams, for fun! Afterwards there was a spectacular tyrolean traverse accross the Brador Falls! WOW! A big crowd was there to watch! And more biking! I went to the school to photograph the teams as they arrived at the finish line. In the evening, there was a nice banquet with all the teams, the volunteers and the population. They gave out certificates to the teams and some prizes.
I’ll have some pics on my Photoblog in the next few days. Then I will put a selection of my fave pics on my pics page. But I took so many, it’ll be hard to narrow it down!
Next up for me… Going to La Romaine on Thursday for a couple of days, then off to St-Augustine next week for 2.5 days and on Sunday the 7th going to Quebec City! It’s going to be a busy couple of weeks!
Wow… What a day! I followed the teams from start to end, well in a boat! While they were in kayak, portaging, trekking, coastering or biking! Took many pics. Too tired for more, but for now, one pic of a team kayaking!
My photos are on the new website for my workplace. Indeed, I sold them a few pics to use for the design. They choose to put them as random headers. Refresh to see them all… All mine, minus the road one. Pretty neat! Except for the fake stock photos of people they added to them…
I’m hosting someone from the Coast Raid for a few days. And Happy is a real scaredy-cat! She won’t come near this person! I hope within the time he’s at my home she’ll learn to go close/that it’s not dangerous… When Mira evaluated her fears, they said she had 9/10 for stranger, which is almost perfect! But in real life, I’d give Happy a 4/10. I guess we’ll see how it goes when I bring her back in September…
I’m really hoping we get decent weather for this raid! The organizers put a lot of effort into it, if it was to be rainy/overcast/foggy the whole time it would suck! And the teams have to be able to see the beauty of our area!
I have bits of Happy’s dog food in most of my coat/jacket pockets. It’s useful whenever Happy and I go for walk, she gets a treat for walking well. This morning, while walking with the dog, a crazy thought came to mind… If I was stuck in a Winter storm all alone somewhere with no food for days, would I eat the dog food to stay alive? Mmmm probably. Afteral it’s what’s keeping Happy alive and healthy, can’t be bad! Though it wouldn’t taste too good I think!
After work I went to my fave walking spot with Happy, the 4-wheel path near the beach. She loves to run free. And when it’s nice, the waves crashing on the rocks nearby or the sun setting, it’s a beautiful spot.
Happy particularly likes the tall grass… To run/jump like a kangaroo through it or to eat. She kind of gets lost in it…
Until I call her name and she looks up at me!
The eternal question, I never know what to have for lunch.
It’s nice outside today, enough to wear shorts/flip-flops, sun and wind. Though my toes are a bit cold right now.
I’m in concert withdrawal. I soooooooo want to see Sigur Ros at the Quai in Montreal. Had they planned it for 5 days later and I could have made it! I’ll be in Montreal 1 night, September 25th, and taking the plane back to Blanc-Sablon the next morning.
This morning I watched a movie, The Invasion, with Nicole Kidman, a remake or a remake. I thought it was alright, though sci-fi isn’t my fave movie genre.
For supper I’m having moose roast. I put the meat to cook for a loooong time so that it becomes tender. I am now preparing the side, a mashed potato and carrot combo. This meal is a typical to the region and delicious! I just hope I am preparing it right!
I can’t believe the weekend is over. Weekends always go by too quickly! The fun thing is this week is a short week at work! I’m only working 3 days. I took Thursday and Friday off, for the Coast Raid! I’m going to be taking a few pics there.
I love today’s Photoblog pic, “Whale tail+…“!
This afternoon I went for a walk with Happy… And a work colleague, her boyfriend and their dog Nougat, a malamute! Happy LOVED it. First I went to their house. Happy ran around freely in the yard with the other dog trying to chase her. Happy runs really fast! Then we all walked, with dogs on leash, down to the path going to Blanc-Sablon on the side of the Mont Parent. We let the dogs free on that path. Happy and Nougat loved running together. It was nice to do a dog walk as a group for a change!
