Before going any further, I would say to situate you, that we are leaving Montreal to join our sailboat in the Azores where we left it last summer. The purpose of the trip: to go to the Canary Islands to be able to return there this summer and sail quietly from island to island.You know what it is, always crazy at work before going on vacation. Finishing work later than expected, arriving home at 1 p.m. because the highway exit was closed. Race against time to pack our bags, lucky we had already taken out some of what we needed. Then head to the airport without having dinner. We eat at 3 p.m. We are then chosen for a random search at security, then we try to relax at the gate. Our flight, the first of 3, is delayed by 1 hour, it will leave us little time to catch the 2nd flight, but it will be fine
After the first flight (Montreal-Toronto), we hurry to have a drink at the small bar near our boarding gate: a double will help you sleep on the plane tonight. 15 min to drink a pina colada, I should have done like Louis and had a double martini. Nobody likes going to the bathroom on planes, although it loosens their legs. Finally boarding is delayed so we drank too quickly! We are still more relaxed after this drink, so thank you for the idea Marie-Andrée!
We take off at 10:50 p.m. Louis swaps places with me because he says he has too broad a shoulder to be between me (aisle side) and a man (window side). It doesn't bother me too much. The food served at midnight is excellent, the flight attendants smiling. We have slightly wider seats but no screens on the seats. Apparently it's a new plane, but no screens on the seats. Pardon my ignorance, but this is the first time I've seen this. 5h30 of flight without film, it's a long way. We try to read a little. We try to sleep but we sleep very little or not at all. We're getting tired of it, let's say, but there's still one flight left. At the end of the flight, I learn that they could give us access to our cell phones. Next time I will find out more. But superb moment approaching Sao Miguel where I could see the islands of Horta, Pico, Sao Jorge and Terceira. How beautiful were the islands! I remembered our passage in a sailboat with Sao Jorge on the port side to reach Terceira. I would have liked to take a picture of them for you from above but I was not at the window. We even saw the sunrise from the air (6:30 a.m. but 3:30 a.m. for Montreal). We descended directly from the plane to the tarmac. I still love this instant contact with the place, rather than spending a long time in airport corridors. We feel the fresh wind. I already know that I did well to bring warmer clothes. I can already imagine the temperature on the water, but the air (14 degrees Celsius) will warm up in the afternoon (18 degrees Celsius).
As we are late again, we are told that we must hurry to get to the boarding gate for Terceira so we hurry. Last flight, we can't wait! A little 40 min and we'll be there! The sea seems beautiful seen from above, beautiful and long waves, can't wait to be there. Arrived at 9:23 (less than 40min). We all want fast flights like that! We have to find the vehicle we reserved!
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Today, funny to say because yesterday is also today when we don't sleep :), we go grocery shopping and buy diesel.
It's crazy how we don't always do what we plan. We never found the vehicle we rented. He wasn't at the airport and everyone we asked didn't know the company. A taxi even drove us around town to find the company until told to take us straight to the marina.
Oh how we saw our superb sailboat from afar!
Arrived on board, we see the work that has been done during our absence. People are hardworking, at least for the most part, but thoroughness is lost. We always imagine that people work like us, but no. The company that took care of our sailboat told us that they could repaint the wood, which they were used to. It was expensive but ok since we weren't there. Well, can you believe that there is stain everywhere: on the fiberglass near the wood (it seems to me that they could have protected it), on the outside benches/chests, on the gangways (the sides of the boat towards the bow)… really a shame, and we will tell ourselves: frustrating!
I let Louis digest all that, because it does not come off, and I left to get us lunch/dinner. The restaurants with sandwiches open at noon (it's 10:50 a.m.) and we're not ready for a big meal to bring on the boat, which is upside down at the moment. I will fall back on a restaurant in which I would never have entered, in the islands, otherwise: the Subway. I like the Subway, I used to work there when I was younger, but I love the fact that there are not many restaurant chains here. People take the time to eat. We like that! But after a sleepless night, the Subway will do the trick to restore our energy and see everything we have to do before leaving.
Anecdote: I ask if there is grilled chicken, the employee tells me no but that they have chicken, pork, cow (cow in English), etc.
- Hell, we don't have that in Montreal in our subways
- You don't have cheesesteak in Montreal
- Well yes, we have streak
- Steak is beef
- You are right
Let's say I was tired and... a little embarrassed ;)
Back at the boat, Louis tells me that the batteries are dead. The company that had asked to take care of it, did not do it. So we try our battery recharge but it jumps, smoke comes out everywhere. So I'm going to see the marina. There is no one since it is noon and I therefore pass my head in the immigration office where I hear talk. They give me names of stores, telling me that it might be better to wait until someone comes back to the marina to be sure. We also ask a boat neighbor if he has a refill, this is not the case but he calls someone who could help us if we go there. We're not ready to wait until 1:30-2 p.m. for the marina guys, so we walk to the store. We needed to move a bit anyway and we need a long-term recharge. We come back from our walk exhausted, even if it wasn't that far. We try the refill but it doesn't work very quickly, so we decide to borrow the old refill that we were offered at the start. A box from the time of Methuselah. We are a little stressed to use it, but we leave it outside and we install the clamps.
It's sunny, it's hot (18 in PM) we're good, we're better. We allow ourselves a few days to arrange what we can and see where and when we will leave.
My head is in the mist, I'm so tired. Everything is difficult but we are in good spirits and the weather is fine. Mauzuss that just sitting down and taking 2 minutes is fun. We appreciate!
For supper, we decide to eat in a food truck so as not to have to eat with what we have left from last summer's caning. Really fun these small mobile restaurants. We even met a cat who really liked the customers of the food truck.
Then back to the boat, mitten wash with hot water. The battery charger works well even if it leaves us on the alert! Hot water tastes so good! A cup of hot water on the body is so appreciated! I tell you!! The little pleasures of life!
Well, after nearly 36 hours of standing, it's time to go to bed. Tomorrow will be another day where we will work to prepare our departure, if the engine is willing to start. Today, he did not want to, at least not for very long. But that will be tomorrow's challenge!
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