A work day in Lunenburg

                                                The view from our Hotel window across the harbour.

The humans slept well and when our BBF woke he was the last one as Brec had already gone to the boat and Sandy was in the bathroom. He showered and got dressed packed all his stuff and then Brec returned and the humans went for breakfast. Hurricane Lee by all accounts is due to hit here on Saturday 16 September. Brec said they had to decide how best to secure OTTER for this event. It was decided that the men would do all that was necessary to secure her and take her out to a mooring today. If possible they wanted to stay an extra night in Lunenburg before taking off on a land based holiday returning on Friday 15 September to watch how OTTER faired in the Hurricane. They tried to get an extra night in the hotel, but they were all booked up. Sandy found a Motel where we could stay and the car booking was change to tomorrow too. They went to the Savvy Sailor for breakfast and after breakfast Brec went to ensure we got a mooring and Alan and Sandy returned to the hotel to get their kit. They then went to the Zwickert Dock and the boat where Sandy packed for the shore based holiday. Brec returned and then the real work started.

The men put Sandy and her kit with our kit ashore and they worked together for the rest of the day stripping all sails off the boat and generally making her have less windage and more secure for the Hurricane when it arrived on Alan’s birthday! They worked quite well as a team and consequently although it took until about 17:00 hrs, without a break for lunch, which upset Brec, the boat was ready then to be taken out to a heavy boat mooring on the other side of the harbour.

Booms and whisper poles were taken and stowed below with all sails the liferaft and the dodgers too were taken down.

Alan had pumped up the dinghy and when all work for today was done they climbed aboard and went back to the dockside leaving the good ship

OTTER to her own devises. 

To the left of the very white schooner and before the little red boat you can see OTTER on her mooring.

On the dockside the men now discovered there were only two taxis in Lunenburg and they were both out, one in Halifax at the airport and the other out in the wilds of Canada!
It was at least a mile and a half to the hotel would we have to walk it? The humans decide to go for a meal, but being a Monday it was a rest day for most restaurants  restaurants! The Dockside Hotel restaurant was open so they went back there to eat.

Our BBF had Lunenburg Scallops with fries and mayonnaise all washed down with a good white  wine.

Now the Gods smiled on us for the one Taxi called to say they could pick us up and would be there shortly. We all walked back to Zwicket’s Dock and waited.

When we pulled up outside the Motel there were four deer caught in the headlights of the taxi.

The room is not a nice as our last hotel, but we have a bathroom and beds enough to sleep in. The humans are tired after a long days hard work,  showered or just fell into bed. Tomorrow is another day.

A day off in Lunenburg

Despite their fatigue the humans didn’t sleep well this first night in Lunenburg. Brec was the first to leave the boat at around 06:30 hrs. Our BBF and Sandy tried to sleep  on. Alan finally got up at 07:30 hrs which was also when Brec phoned Sandy. He was in a restaurant drinking coffee and using their wifi. Our BBF said he would go there too.

The pair then discussed the Hurricane and when it might arrive, as well as what they would do. Brec and Sandy had planned to visit a number of places in Nova Scotia as well as New Brunswick. It was decided that they all needed a break from sailing so they would get off the boat that day and hire a car tomorrow to start touring. 

Brec was pleased that they had a number of items on the menu named after him. The men both had a Savvy Brekky!

After breakfast they returned to the boat taking coffee and breakfast for Sandy with them.

It was decided that Brec would do some boat stuff, Sandy would do the laundry and our BBF could go find an ATM to get cash and he could if he wished have a look around town.

By the War Memorial Alan found an ATM then went and sat in a Cafe to have coffee and use the wifi facilities.

The little town built on the fishing industry in the early 19th century was pretty. There were interesting little shops and plenty of places to eat.

This interesting memorial is to all the fishermen and boats lost to the sea and there was a memorial service in the harbour later in the morning.

Alan returned to find Sandy soaking up the sun on the dockside.  They checked the laundry and then went for lunch and an isotonic drink.

After lunch they returned to the boat to pack some gear to get off the boat and check into a hotel. Sandy had already booked a room and now Alan helped her book a car for the touring part which they will pick up tomorrow. Brec was heavily into boat maintenance and refuelling and wanted to do an oil change. They left him to it and went to the Hotel and checked in.

We have a nice large suit with two Queen sized beds.

And a view over the harbour.

As the sun set the fog rolled in again. The humans enjoyed an evening meal and even a bit of TV watching before retiring to bed.

The plan tomorrow is to pick up the hire car, leave the boat here and then to tour the country until Thursday when the men will get the boat prepared for the Hurricane should it arrive the week after. 

The Passage to Nova Scotia

We left Provincetown at around 06:00 hrs on Tuesday 5 September. Brec had worked out a watch system which worked well we have to say. The sailors did 4 hours on and 4 hours off in the night, Sandy came on at 06:00 hrs every morning and did a three hour watch in the morning and one again in the afternoon.  This ensured the men did not have to do the same night watch two nights running. The weather at the start seemed benign there was no wind and it was flat calm. So under engine we motored out and on throughout the day. The sun came up and it promised to be a good day on the water. However, out in Cape Cod Bay the visibility was poor until we rounded Race Point when the sun began to burn off the fog. 

Brec paid homage to Neptune and gave him a good shot of Ouzo, but the crew did not get any. 

Brec and Sandy then sang in harmony quietly a song called:

Blue out on the Ocean

Blue out in the air

Can’t stay here much longer

I’ve got no steamship fair

When my earthly days are over

Cast my body out to the sea

Save all undertaker bills

Let the mermaids flirt with me.

We were now on the open ocean and crossing the Gulf of Main. Wind came slowly, we put up sail, but kept the motor going to maintain boat speed. Later when more wind came the engine was turned off and we sailed on into the night. On that first day we saw Dolphins and many sea birds. 

Our BBF acted as the Cook and so began by making everyone a cup of tea in the early morning and gave them a biscuit. Later he made breakfast and lunch and the evening meal before he went on his first night watch from 18:00 hrs till 22:00 hrs.  He was pleased about this as he would get to see the sun set and the sun rise again. 

The second day at sea was a little rougher now as we really felt  we were on the ocean far from land in all directions. The motion of the boat was very much like a corkscrew and it was difficult below as one was thrown about a bit. We sailed this without the engine and OTTER could handle it well. The Monitor Wind Vane steered and only at night as the wind died did we put the engine on again to charge the batteries. During the day we saw dolphins again up close and later we saw whales blowing, but much further out.

The second night at sea was bitterly cold even those sleeping below felt it. Our BBF made those  that wanted it breakfast and later sandwiches for lunch. The evening meal he made scramble eggs, bacon and beans. None of this was easy as the corkscrew motion he had to hold on with one hand as well as cook.  The second morning at sea the humans were all a little bleary eyed with fatigue. The cook made everyone porridge for breakfast. It was a very foggy and cold day, but later the sun did come up and burnt off the fog.

By later afternoon on the second day it was clear that if we continued like this we would arrive in Lunenburg at around 02:00 hrs so the skipper decided we needed a bay to anchor in for the night. He found an excellent little bay called Little Herbert and once the anchor was down an anchor beer was poured and the cook got on with making a pork casserole for supper.

The harmony on board was excellent, Brec and Sandy sang again after supper and the mood was very jocular. So much so that our BBF learnt that one could die laughing. While Brec was washing up Alan noticed a bright light in the rubbish bag and asked what it was. Brec replied that it was a damned flashlight that didn’t work for him so he threw it away. The way he told it made Alan laugh so much that he got into a spasm and couldn’t breath! It took awhile for Brec to notice Alan’s gesture to pat him on the back!

Brec retrieved the torch and gave it to our BBF saying if he could switch it off he could keep it. Alan did just that and noticed that the battery cap had been put on back to front. We now have a very bright light! Later that night our BBF had another laughing not breathing spasm because of the jocularity between Brec and Sandy and this time Sandy patted him on the back till he could breath again.

There was a thick fog over the anchorage in the early morning and we could not see the exit, so stayed put until the fog cleared enough to get out again.

Once underway because it was a late start Brec chose another anchorage to go to rather than try a night entry into Lunenburg.

A waypoint to the next anchorage was past an Easterly Cardinal Buoy, but here in Canada they are not at all like the ones in Europe for there is no top mark!

This is how the cardinal buoys look in Europe!

We now anchored next to Carter’s Island off a nice little beach in Port Mouton Bay. The cook made the evening meal and the  Skipper planned the next part of the voyage to Lunenburg assuming it would be in fog. Port was poured in the Shipfaced glasses and then the humans retired to bed, tired but happy.

The next morning we could only just see Carter’s Island but with our BBF on the helm and Brec navigating we set off for Lunenburg in the thick fog.

Brec hoisted his radar reflector.

But the humans worked together as a well oiled team and so the navigation was easier than it otherwise would have been.

At one stage the fog lifted but sadly it socked in again. As we got closer to Lunenburg we saw sail boats in the mist and eventually the weather Gods smiled on us for the sun came out and we could easily make out the marks to the harbour.

As we entered the harbour hte sailors on deck saw a seal close by in the water.

Brec had phoned ahead and reserved a place on a floating dock in the Zwicker Warf. The town from the sea looked really nice.

Once the boat had been washed and put to bed the humans went to shower and then to eat ashore. Sandy had found a nice restaurant in the  museum.

Muscles were had as a starter and they were delicious, so much so that Brec drank the broth they came in.

Our BBF had a burger which had been recommended by the waitress and he said it was good. The humans then returned to the boat and went almost immediately to bed as they were worn out but the last five days.

One fact we need to mention is that Hurricane Lee is about to put a spanner in the works.

One forecast puts it arriving on our BBF’s Birthday!! There are a number of options the humans are considering, none of them perfect, but they have not made a decision yet. Plan A calls for going ashore, hiring a car. For four days on Monday and touring. Then coming back and waiting out the storm. It is not even certain it will come this way, but it is as well to be prepared. There is no going to sea while the danger is imminent. You can all rest secure in the knowledge the very experienced round the world sailors will make the right and safe decision when more facts are known.