bedroom eyes mounty

Aug 5 The weather was not bad and we had a good current with us so we decided to go all the way to Halifax. Halifax is one of the largest natural harbors in the world but luckily there is an offshoot called North West Arm and one can go up to the end and anchor in a nice quiet area. First, we pulled into a marina to clear back into Canada because we had been in “France”. As we motored up to the anchorage, we noticed two boats of our group already there. Small world isn’t it. We all went into the local yacht club and had drinks.

Aug 6 What a gorgeous day! Sunny, warm, and no wind. We shared a cab with some friends and went to the big indoor farmers’ market. It was wonderful with great local produce and crafts and food to nibble on as well. Afterwards, we met up with a couple who own a sister ship to Windermere and had lunch and they showed us their boat. Afterwards, they took us back to our boat and we all had cocktails and dinner outside! Our captain from time to time, Peter Murphy, joined us. He lives in Halifax.

Aug. 7 Gray again but it was time to go further west along the coast to Mahone Bay where we anchored off the town. The cook wanted to eat out so we walked along the main street and found a great bistro and had a delicious dinner.

Aug. 8 The naval architect for the boat came to Mahone and drove us to Lunenburg to see the new building of a famous schooner called Bluenose. He is the architect for that project too. Then we fed him lunch and he helped us with questions we had about the boats design. Even tough it was rainy, we need to move on a short ways to the LeHave River and anchor for the night.

Aug 9 Not bad weather greeted us which was nice for a change and we made good time to Negro Harbor and anchored off of a beach out of the wind. The sun was out and we were able to enjoy its warmth during cocktails and cards on the aft deck. John even had a cigar!

Aug.10 We left at 5 am for Yarmouth trying to get the Bay of Fundy tides to help us. We were not quick enough and we had to crank up the engine to keep a reasonable speed. It was raining and very windy but we were able to anchor right off town in a secure spot for the night. 

my favorite rock

old lobster shack

Sheep Laurel like Mt Laurel

Pitcher plant

Hawk and Windermere in Culotte Cove

Aug 2-3  We didn’t want to move but need to in order to get to Halifax to meet people. It was still windy and rough on the outside so we only went as far as Tor Bay. Our original anchorage, that we used on the way east, was too exposed to the NE winds we were experiencing so I found another one across the bay. This one proved to be a nice cove with a few houses along its shore and we ended up staying through the rest of the storm and the next night.  It rained and blew all day long but we were snug inside and did chores. 

Aug 4 The weather was better so we poked our heads out and went down the coast to Sheet Harbor. We hadn’t been here before but were glad to add a little cove called Salmon Cove to our list of good anchorages. The sun even came out and we had a nice sunset while playing cards.

up the mast and she comes down. Once she puts the radar unit down, she goes up the mast and he comes down again. What a crazy situation! We all laughed almost to the point of peeing in our pants. If you want to know more of them, I will tell you when I see you. July 30 It was gray again and we were up early and off on an expedition with 16 other sailors on a big Zodiac with a guide to see the island of Langlade and Miquelon. We all donned our life preservers and loaded up into the Zodiac and were off to look at puffins, seals, wild horses. countryside and have lunch at a seaside cafe oowned by our guide. Part of the tuor was by bus up to the town of Miquelon where we had beenonly a few days before. The Zodiac ride back was quite bumpy but not wet. The guide got us all back safely. It was an ibuprofen evening. We went out with a few boats crews for a delicious final dinner. July 31- Aug.1 We left St.Pierre and made good time to Port Howe Harbor in Nova Scotia but the seas were confused and big and we rocked and rolled quite alot. My montra at times like theses has become “This too shall pass!” We finally turned to go into Port Howe in the late afternoon and it was a welcome moment. Our anchorage was behind two small islands and very cozy and protected and included two eagles for the first minute. John managed to zen us into just the right spot so we could still turn with the tide and just miss the shore rocks. Sleep came soon after dinner.

July 29 Several tours of the island were scheduled and we were on the first one. Luckily, the sun was out and the tour interesting. Afterwards, we had lunch at our usual restaurant and went shopping for more lardon. Once back at the boat, it was time to cook it all up and work on our slide show of the trip.Later in the afternoon both “Glide “ and “Faring” showed up. “Glide” was the one we towed to safety and “Faring” was the boat that decided to escort her to St. Pierre. That night was the final celebration dinner and we showed the slide show on our computer. There was good food and lots of awards. We got one for our rescue effort. John and several other sailors told funny stories. His was about his walk from hell with the bugs driving him crazy. Another one was about one of the couples trying to get their broken radar down off the mast. The wife went up the mast and the husband discovered there was a problem with the line on the winch so he took the line off the winch and held it by his own strength. Just as he did so, she got the radar unit off and in her arms. Now she is heavier than he is so he goes up the mast and she comes down. Once she puts the radar unit down, she goes up the mast and he comes down again. What a crazy situation! We all laughed almost to the point of peeing in our pants. If you want to know more of them, I will tell you when I see you. 

July 30 It was gray again and we were up early and off on an expedition with 16 other sailors on a big Zodiac with a guide to see the island of Langlade and Miquelon. We all donned our life preservers and loaded up into the Zodiac and were off to look at puffins, seals, wild horses. countryside and have lunch at a seaside cafe oowned by our guide. Part of the tuor was by bus up to the town of Miquelon where we had beenonly a few days before. The Zodiac ride back was quite bumpy but not wet. The guide got us all back safely. It was an ibuprofen evening. We went out with a few boats crews for a delicious final dinner.

July 31- Aug.1  We left St.Pierre and made good time to Port Howe Harbor in Nova Scotia but the seas were confused and big and we rocked and rolled quite alot. My montra at times like theses has become “This too shall pass!” We finally turned to go into Port Howe in the late afternoon and it was a welcome moment. Our anchorage was behind two small islands and very cozy and protected and included two eagles for the first minute. John managed to zen us into just the right spot so we could still turn with the tide and just miss the shore rocks. Sleep came soon after dinner.