Rouge's Roost

Rogue's Roost July 24

We left Mahone Bay with not a breath of wind,on a flat ocean, heading towards Pearl Island. Pearl island is a breeding ground for our  little feathery friends, the Puffins.

Along the way we were greeted by many seals and upon arrival saw dozens of puffins scooting here and there with their short wings just a flapping. After leaving the island and heading towards Rogue's Roost we encountered numerous ocean sunfish. These strange creatures can grow up to 1500 pounds. They looks prehistoric and if you happen to brush against him you're liable to get a bad rash. They had caught our  eye by waving one of their fins out of the water. The first time Steve and I encountered these fish we thought they were a baby whales, but Ben set me straight after I sent him a picture.

Also on route, we saw three enormous  whales, and caught a sculpin. 

It was interesting winding our way into the roost through all the rocks. We tied to a mooring ball and I got out the fishing pole. On the first cast I dragged up a pair pantyhose. Apparently what happens the Rogue's roost stays Rogue's roost.

I also got some mackerel, which we had for dinner.

Mahone Bay Townsite

Mahone Bay Townsite July 22 & 23

Joann and  I had a lovely sail to Mahone Bay townsite. We picked up a mooring ball and call the water taxi for a ride into port. We went for a walkabout and found a bistro with dark and stormy's and clam chowder. Heaven can wait. On the 23rd we took a taxi into Lunenburg so Joann could see the sights. Our cab driver filled us in on all the history, politics and where the haunted houses were. 

St. Margaret's Bay

Saint Margaret's Bay July 18,19&20

We motor over the shining waters marina after breakfast of omilets and cheesy jokes. We could havarte stand it. Along the wa,y we saw two baby whales waving their fins at us. Very cool. They were about 6 feet long. 

Well staying at Shinning Wtaters marina we had a crew change and Stephen and Keith headed out and Joann arrived.

Stephen and I had a chance to visit the Citidal  fort in Halifax. 

Although Shining Waters Marina was nice, it was a bit of a rip off, slip fees were two dollars a foot per night and to launch a boat was 25 bucks. Supply and demand it is finest.

Mahone Bay townsite July 22 & 23

Joann and  I had a lovely sail to Mahone Bay townsite. We picked up a mooring ball and call the water taxi for a ride into port. We web for hey walkabout and found a bistro with dark and stormy's and clam chowder. Heaven can wait. On the 23rd we took a taxi into Lunenburg so Joann could see the sights. Our cab driver filled us in on all the history, politics and where the haunted houses were. 

Princess inlet

Princess inlet Mahone Bay July 17

We went for a day sail under spinnaker and ended up in princess inlet, where we anchored for the night. We're definitely in cottage country now. We cooked up some tuna steaks and I won the wizards game.

Lunenburg

Lunenburg July 15 and 16th

Coming in with dense we ucame across numerous schooners in a race.although this is the sailing capital of Canada is was tough to find a slip where we were welcome. We gain permission one night and got kicked out the next, then move to another area where somebody else with the engine problems got kicked out. Could be, we have a bit to learn, but the welcoming mat was not out.

Lunenburg is a world-class unesco heritage site, with buildings and residences dating back to 1850. We wondered the shops looking for treasures and found some wonderful restaurants and bars. We visited the fisheries Museum.

Keith won the wizard card championship for the night.

Brooklyn - Liverpool

Brooklyn – Liverpool July 14

Brooklyn is a small town across from the town of Liverpool there's a paper bill there and. There was a Canadian frigate park there under repair. Now they were around Cape Sable Island we don't have as much tied and current to worry about.

Shelburne

Shelburne July 30

The Shelburne yacht club was a live with festivities as it was the beginning of Founder Days. The club hosts four days of racing and hands out plenty of trophy hard ware. We found a sleepy little place for breakfast and played trivia pursuit but we waited.

West Head

West head, Cape Sable Island, July 12

We had to wait till 1 o'clock to leave with the current in the fog again and motored to Westhead. It was recommended we stay 3 miles offshore for safe passage, even then the tidal current was over three knots. The harbour was like a rock fortress with the tide still over 3 m the walls were very high and low tide.

This is definitely a working harbour and then our lobster holding pens scattered about the grounds. We cooked amazing dinner of tuna scallops and lobster. 

Yarmouth

Yarmouth, July 10 and 11th

Yarmouth, July 10 and 11th

After another foggy day of motoring Stephen and I arrived at Killan Brothers Marina in Yarmouth. Meanwhile Keith flew in to Halifax rented a car and drove down to Yarmouth to meet us. When he arrived we headed to Rudder's Bar and Grill to celebrate, eat drink and be merry.

The next day we took the self-guided walking tour around the town and checked out all the houses that were built in the late 1800s. Checked out some fishing supply stores and bought some cool lights. Very handy I might add.

Westport, Nova Scotia

Stephen and I left Grand Manan with the low tide in thick fog, visibility only 1/4 mile. It stayed like that the whole way across to Westport on the end of the Digby neck. Getting in was interesting, we had to time it for ebb tide, which was easy enough but the fog was a challenge. It thinned out just as we were entering the pass, good thing because we still had 3 knots of current. Once again rafting to fishing boats for the night. We hiked out to the Joshua Slochom menorioral and back. Not much to it. There was whale watching tours be offered and a couple of tourist traps. The tidal range was still 4 meters.

The Bay of Fundy

Tides on steroids. Full noon and 28'. Docks higher than most buildings.
We went through the reverseing falls this morning. On our first attempt and we had to bail, doing 8 1/2 knots going down stream turned and clawed our way back to a safe distance away,  waited another 15 minutes and went through with no problems. We were instantly rewarded by a seal siting.  With little wind and small seas we bundled up and headed out to sea in a thick fog, our goal was north head harbour on Grand Manan Island.
Saw a small dolphin on the way.
Having entered the dock area and finding it full of commercial fishing boats, we tied up against one and climbed a three storey ramp to get to ground level.
I called Ben ( I guy I meet in St. John who lives on Grand Manan) and he came down and took us to his place for a beer and visit. He picked us up the next morning and gave us the island tour complete with some of it's history and lots of info about lobster fishing, he show us this boat and shop. Nice to get a guide tour, we exchange contact info and promised to keep in touch.
I hiked around part of the island in the afternoon, and saw two bares sun tanning on a picinic table, and came across the hole in the wall rock formation along the coast line.
 I should have bought the Granud Manan tee shirt. Great place!

Canada Day 150

I spent the day hanging around the yacht club, listening to 3 music groups and eating seafood.
After my mighty walk the day before I wasn't going far with shin splints.
On the 2nd I left harbour in the afternoon and foundg a place to anchor for the night. Not a hard thing to do on the St. John river system, there a tons of great spots that remind me of the white shell.
I cooked up a steak, did a little fishing, the fog rolled in around 10 pm again, talk about dark, unbelievable. You couldn't see the shore line 100 feet away, no lights, just crazy dark. I rented a mountain bike and headed to Rockwood Park. It's a large park basically in the city and multi use. They had lot of trails and 10 k of single trail, some root sections and lots of technical rock and slopely stuff. I got a good workout. I moved to the RKYC and met the comidor Kim and she gave me rum and introduced me to a Don, who taught me the ins and outs of the currents around here.  I helped Roy rig his new Hunter. Assume sun rise and set today.