Throw in a large pod of dolphins and it was a magical 187 mile motor to the top of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia where we dropped anchor at New Cambleton at 0130 after 30 hours (the longest we have ever motored!). We motored because there had been so many headwinds and more predicted and it was time to get south.
We headed off the next morning to Baddeck to visit our friend Henry Fuller who has the Baddeck Boat Yard and were able to tie up at his dock in very beautiful surroundings. We were last here in 2000 with our boys. It was as far north as we got on that trip before we turned for home.
While we were there we were able to replace our 11 year old batteries as they were a little tired and we got such a good price we couldn't say no. $1,000 cheaper than we paid all that time ago! We figure they should be the last set we buy if we look after them. Of course, it's never as simple as just dropping them in, the new ones were 10mm longer so Phil had to lengthen the battery box.
Henry was the perfect host, driving us around the Cabot Trail on a sunny day, introducing us to his interesting friends and letting us use his workshop. After 6 days we headed off again, leaving the BraDor Lakes via St Peter's Lock. We had one opening bridge along the way.
We stopped at several small fishing villages heading south. Did a lot of walking and talking to the locals. We swung on a mooring in Purcells Cove, Halifax, where Brigid, whom we had met in Greenland lived, and enjoyed a social few days.
We have been moving quickly to get south to see our dear friend Paul McNiff who joins us regularly, 7 times over the years. He developed a brain tumor this year and was unable to come to Iceland, but we were sure we'd get to see him. We were wrong, and he passed away just days before we were able to sail to Maine. Here he is in Fiordland, on the second of three trips he made to NZ.
Then just 3 days later we heard that our lovely friend Jen back home had passed away. She was the wisest, kindest and most caring woman I have ever known and had been dealing with cancer for several years. The loss of these two friends has been a big blow.
Next stop Maine, and we will be arriving without visas so maybe we will be back here again in a few days. We did the online application at Henrys and phoned Halifax for an appointment only to be told they are not making anymore. We got an ESTA visa waiver thinking that might help. Fingers crossed.
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