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Quebec City, STILLJul 1, 2009
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Well, we are making the best of the crummy weather. Please keep us in your prayers so we do not make a hasty decision to leave. It is now day 7 of being here, when we planned on 4. The 3 extra days have not been too bad, but we are now getting antsy. We have seen almost all of the tourist sites, and shopped to. The bikes help and at least we are getting some exercise. Since we must run wtih the tide as best possible, when the winds are from the east against the current, then the water gets quite choppy.We have some boater friends who are congregated about 3 day run from here to the east, and they are stuck too. We email/talk on the phone with them since they have a better picture of what we are up against, and they say that it's bad. Even the locals are not going anywhere. Coupled with the wind is rain. EVERY DAY! Today looks better rain-wise. Due to the rain, the city can not have their celebrations. A tent blew down last night that the city ahd set up the day before. Cranes came in today to re-set it up. We were to leave tomorrow (Thursday) since the forecast was good, but during the night, the forecast changed to warnings. We will wathc it yet another day.
As for what we have done these past 3 days: John finished up his "pooey" project by installing a new vent on the waste holding tank. It is a better design that should get rid of the final smells we get from time to time. He also cut the shore power cord in two, making it two shorter ones. The cord is too heavy for Sue to pick up, and generally we only need 1/2 of the cord's length when we connect the boat to shore power. He is so kind to Sue - always thinking of her. He also cleaned the bilge from fore to aft. During the day, the winds slowed down to a mere roar, s since the holding tank was full, we took the boat over to the pump-out station and got some gas for the dink too.
As for sightseeing/fun: We hooked up the WII and Leslie enjoys beating John at boxing. We also have watched some more movies, played games. Sightseeing every day to break the cabin fever. Yesterday while Doug and Leslie shopped at the local mall, we went to the Bodies L'Exposition, which is a touring presentation of cadavers. If it comes to your city, make a point of seeing it. They have dissected bodies in many ways for learning. For example, they used a process to keep only arteries and veins and have them on display. Some models of broken arms/legs/hips with steel pins/plates. Organs with cancer - you ought to see what smoking does to a lung. It took us 2.5 hrs to see it all. It is tastily done, not gory at all. Then onto the Musee De L'Amerque Francaise where we learned more of the French Canadian history and their "situation" with the Anglo's. We in the USA get some news on Quebec separation, but we do not understand very well their points - it was enlightening. There is a Chapel associated with it and they were preparing for a wedding while we were there. It was designed by a famous architect of the mid-19th century, Joseph-Ferdinand Peachy who designed many buildings here. A famous nun who came here in the early 60's, Marie de l'Incarnation has been up for sainthood for many decades now. she stared a girls school at the Ursulines Chapel and was Beatified by Pope John-Paul II in 1980. She apparently knew how to "buck the system" to accomplish much. She wrote many prayers and one that toughed up particularly is: "He who engages in a "heart to heart" dialogue wtih Jesus will be happy from this very life." She has other prayers that are good in explaining why there is bad in the world and why we do bad things, and how to ask God for forgiveness. WE hope for the Maple Sugar museum today and yet another walk/bike ride.
