revised July 31, 2023.
Baie des’ Ha! Ha! Saguenay
Originally called in French the “Grande Anse”, then the “Grande Baie” the resplendent small port made us feel like we just stepped onto a movie set.
Holland America cruise lines started the lovely development back in 2009, assembling an attractive port terminal, information center and tour bus depot.
Within close walking distance is a state-of-the-art pavilion. Perfect for line dancing to country music (in French), the spectator area consists of built-in stair-stepped seating. Two very busy local restaurants (not shown) overlook the energized gathering space.
Now that was fun!
Just one block from the port terminal (within sight) you find photo worthy residential areas. BUT walk one more block and you might feel like you just stepped beyond the lens of the movie camera. Forget finding an ATM, or any form of shopping. Art galleries, boutiques and eateries are notably absent, eliminating the prospects for entrepreneurs.
The shortage of amenities was perplexing – given the expensive looking structures found at the port – until we learned the cruisers are offered one of two options: 1) behold the countryside by bus, or 2) view the fjords on a zodiac boat.
The dancers we saw earlier, they began their festivities well AFTER the cruise ship departed. Concluding the port name Bay of Ha! Ha! is ironic, especially since “HA” is the acronym for Holland America, probably not a coincidence.
Tadoussac
Capt. Rick says this is one of his favorite new spots in Quebec Province, thus far. Yes, we went there twice, both before and after Saguenay.
Funny signs: Don’t walk on the wall.
For John: Last Pub for 240 km, that reminds us of Arkansas!
Le Gibard, a notably pink structure, has an eclectic feel, and it serves a delicious pizza.
Ste-Anne-des-Monts
When you name your town after a Saint, it is appropriate to have the most prominent building be a breathtaking cathedral with the same name.
Thanks, Paul for arranging the private marina!
Drapeau Blanc, Ma Statue de la Liberte, 2008
A phallic collection of driftwood or just the makings of a gigantic bon fire? You decide.
Sunrise departure at 5:33 am
Although I am NOT a morning person, I do love a gorgeous sunrise. For Dave Lubs.
Riviere du Renard
Again, assisted by Paul, we stayed at a well-protected marina as the wind continued to gain in strength. Reminiscent of Homer, AK, we were surrounded by commercial fishing boats.
A Gargantuan Travel Lift
Several years ago, we told the story of our search for a boat yard with a travel lift large enough to hoist Exhale, to repair a busted prop; Capt. Rick says fully loaded she weighs roughly 60,000 pounds (30 tons). Followers of Tonto’s Reward also know about her roundabout route mid-June to Sodus Point, NY; a marina that could lift her beefy mass – weighing in between 44 and 53 tons, depending on her load of fuel, water, and ships stores (including the liquor cabinet).
The travel lift at Marinard is designed to pick up hefty fishing boats, weighing up to 300 tons (imagine 10 Exhales)!
Heave Ho, Bessy! Breaking a Record
With a capacity of 1,120-tons, Bessy broke the record in 2019, reigning as the strongest hoist in the world. Wondering where she is located? Her name is a solid clue. Heather and mOrk know, the BSE Maritime Solutions-Cairns Slipway shipyard is in Cairns, Australia.
An International Competition
Okay followers (especially Commodore Greg and Commodore Gary), do you know the size and location of the world’s largest mobile lift that dethroned Madame Bessy in 2021? It’s okay if you scroll to the end of this post if you are overly curious.
Frontibus, a microbrasserie
Riviere du Renard has one restaurant close to the marina. Fortunately, it is very good! Dominated by images of a red fox, we surmised the translation of Frontibus would be fur-related, but both iTranslate and David B’s Google translator reported the English translation is simply “Frontibus.”
Thinking the apps were flawed, we queried the friendly wait staff, who happily explained Frontibus was a meaningless word (correction provided by David B: the name frontibus is taken from a French drinking song, conjured up by a folk singer, the lyrics include “au frontibus, au nasibus, au mentibus, au ventribus and au sexibus”).
That reminds me of a vanity plate that is tough to decipher, if you are thinking about creating a special plate, here’s a fun link: https://licenseplategame.com/generator/
For example, BTERCUP = Buttercup, and 2N2RWRD = Tonto Reward
The server at Frontibus did shed some light on the significance of the ever-present fox images. This red-hatted fox is for Tony.
Still Reading? Riviere du Renard means River of the Fox, Voila! For Ray, we found a delicious French micro beer, Rousse [translation red, of course]!
Buttercup
Buttercup was more than happy to hold still for an extra day while the wind dies down.
The world’s largest Marine Travel Lift
Here we go. In 2021, the record was broken with the launch of a 1,500-ton mobile lift – now the largest of its kind in the world. The $6.5 million mega-yacht lift can accommodate power and sail vessels measuring up to 250 feet in length. Dimensions of the mammoth lift? 85 feet tall, 73 feet wide and 105 feet long! That’s substantial enough to pick up superyachts, commercial vessels and naval craft.
Manufactured in northern Italy, where is this custom-built hoist now, Commodores? Drum roll please … Derecktor Shipyard, Port of Ft. Pierce, Florida.
Here she is:
Its recent lift of M/Y Coral Ocean, a 240-foot (73m) Lürssen weighing in at almost 1,300 tons, makes it the largest yacht hauled using strap lift technology, anywhere in the world. That is until a bigger one is built, let the universal competition continue!
IN PASSING
ADVISORY: The following tribute includes personal commentary from this blogger that may be controversial and/or inappropriate for children.
Saddened by the news of Sinead O’Connor, both my daughter and I were big fans.
In 2017, Alisha and her cousin Suzanne (both born in AK) battled cancer (correction: Suzanne was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, Alisha was diagnosed with a rare form of aggressive breast cancer), causing them to shave their heads.
My daughter, Alisha, remains proud of her resemblance to Sinead, which she embraced with great strength as Mija fought, and won, her battle with Cancer.
In honor of O’Connor here’s an excerpt from The Independent (click to read the full October 2022 article, published after Sinead released her 2021 memoir).
Her green eyes gleaming with determination, Sinéad O’Connor stares into the cameras at the Saturday Night Live studio . . . and holds a photograph in front of her face. The picture is of a Brazilian street child shot dead by police death squads. It’s 3 October 1992 and O’Connor is rehearsing her cover of Bob Marley’s “War” for her performance on SNL that night. The child’s photo is a calculated distraction. For her real appearance, she’ll proffer another image entirely. And the response will be very different.
“I sing ‘War’ a cappella. No one suspects a thing,” O’Connor recalled in her 2021 memoir, Rememberings. “But at the end, I don’t hold up the child’s picture. I hold up John Paul II’s photo and then rip it into pieces. I yell, “Fight the real enemy!’” Her words hung in the air as she blew out the candles set on a table to one side. Darkness descended, in more ways than one.
In this blogger’s opinion, Sinead was a fearless, outspoken woman. I saw that 1992 SNL episode when it first aired. There was total silence as she walked off the stage. It was jaw-dropping.
This week I read about the story behind that defining moment. Sinead’s mother died in a car accident in 1985, when she was 18. Tragically, for most of her life Sinead was badly abused, physically and emotionally, by her alcoholic mother.
The photo of the Pope came from the wall of Marie O’Connor’s home in Dublin, one of the only things Sinead kept from her childhood home. Sinead hid the photo until the last moment of her a capella performance. Tightly focused on the cameraman (who had been told to zoom in during the rehearsal), Sinead dramatically tore up the Pope’s image; it was a VERY personal demonstration.
In my opinion, Sinead was a change maker, a Haas (right, Mija!). She demanded awareness of the evil inflicted upon the innocent, by ministers sheltered within the Catholic Church. Nearly 10 years later, the Pope formally apologized to the world: On 20 November 2001, from a laptop in the Vatican, Pope John Paul II sent his first e-mail apologizing for “sexual abuse committed by Roman Catholic clergy.”
Rest in Peace Sinead, gone too soon.
Celebrating Milestones – July 31, Ann Freedman; August 3, Andrea and Carly, August 4, Weston Wayne Sumpter Straley turns 10!; and August 6, Morgan Wasmuth turns 6!
Next Up – Gaspe
Exhale on the Water 