Woken at 7AM by a cell phone call from Peter’s good friends John and Jill Hill inviting us to breakfast at their nearby home. Peter had known the Hills as neighbours in Westmount back in the early 70s and subsequently did business through John in his capacity as a Canadian trade commissioner with postings, among others, in Poland, Mexico, New Zealand and then Chicago. Jill is well known in Picton and elsewhere as a collector and dealer of rare and old books. They live just outside Picton in a delightful Victorian farm house with 100 acres ensuring their privacy. We had a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit, yoghurt, huevos rancheros
(recipe please!) and great coffee and, with this wonderful start to the day we boarded Prozac once more and set out for Kingston - a four hour chug down the Bay of Quinte and into lower Lake Ontario. The sun came out and we had a pleasant, relaxed and uneventful run to Kingston. punctuated with some nice swells abeam of the Upper Gap which separates the Eastern peninsular of the Isle of Quinte from Amherst Island – excellent timing as it coincided exactly with injured Peter’s preparation of his famous luncheon sandwiches. In spite of the swells, they were devoured by the crew with the usual few pints of good English beer. . In Kingston we intend to bull up the boat for a potential wifely visit and inspection and, with the help of Greg and Peter C, who had volunteered to help, bless ‘em, to reinstall the mast and rigging on Monday morning. Carl’s younger son Jack, recently graduated from Queens University in Kingston, may join us for the ride home. Potentially back in Montreal by Thursday, the horses are sniffing the barn…..
After some ship-to-shore communications seeking recommendations re a suitable location to step the mast, it was decided that Collins Bay Marina (on the western edges of Kingston) would be the right place. After a couple of attempts, we were safely moored at Collins Bay in late afternoon. The marina is beautifully maintained and the best we have stayed at the entire trip. But… one drawback… we are way out in the ‘burbs a long way from our requisite entertainments. Yeah, no pubs within miles. Never mind, a quick phone call and Peter’s snap decisions on the menu and a fine Indian meal of various Vindaloos and other spicy delicacies was on the way. Dinner on board was very good indeed. A few bottles of wine and a few belts later we adjourned to the lawns for more wine and the captain savoured Sandrine’s cigar.
Tomorrow is the planned mast-stepping day…
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Recipe for Huevos Rancheros (courtesy of Jill Hill)
To one large tin of spiced stewed or crushed tomatoes -- we have used Mr. Gouda but now have some sort of organic version -- tart up with any or all of the following: