Halifax, Nova Scotia to Ross Ferry, Nova Scotia

We left Halifax at 6:30 am on Thursday, June 15th.  Justin saw a cruise ship and a tall ship as he was leaving Halifax Harbour.  Justin spent the morning watching episodes of "Bones."  I woke up at 11:00 am.  It was sunny and cool.  Justin and I got out all the flags and tied them on ropes so that we can dress the boat up for our arrival home.  Justin went to bed at 2:00 pm.  We had 8 to 12 knots of wind all day.  We moved along at 3 to 4 knots, with Nova Scotia to our port side.  I watched episodes of "Hornblower, " and the movie "K19, Widowmaker."  It was cold over night.  We were bundled up as much as possible.   We could see our breath.  We ate soup and drank tea to keep warm.

Justin tying the flags together

Dressing up the boat for our home arrival

The next morning, Justin saw dolphins just after sunrise.  We had enough wind to sail at 2 knots, but we wanted to make the canal before it closed at 4:00 pm.  So Justin switched back and forth between motoring, sailing, and motor sailing to maintain over 5 knots.  I woke up at 1:00 pm while we were coming around Isle Madame and approaching St. Peters Canal.  The sun was shining and I took off my jacket once we got out of the channel winds.  We entered the canal at 2:30 pm and exited at 3:30 pm.  The canal had just opened for the season that day after replacing the swing bridge.  Just Dreamin was the third boat through the canal since opening.  We dropped about a foot and a half in the lock.  Afterwards, I wrote the blog while Justin navigated the channel to the Bras d'Or Lakes.  We were in home waters, only hours away from where I grew up.  Justin made dinner as I kept watch.
After dinner, Justin asked me to marry him and I said yes!  We went through the drwabridge at Grand Narrows at 7:00 pm.  We anchored for the night in Maskell Harbour at 8:30 pm.

Justin before entering the St. Peters Canal

St. Peters Canal

Justin guiding the boat into the canal

Just Dreamin in the St. Peters Canal

Myself manning the mooring ropes as the level in the lock dropped

Justin as we exited the lock

Approaching the swing bridge

Exiting the St. Peters Canal

Bras d'Or Lakes

Highland Village in Iona

Barra Strait Bridge at Grand Narrows

The drawbridge at Grand Narrows

Justin as we went through the Barra Strait drawbridge

Justin and I on the Bras d'Or Lakes after he asked me to marry him

And I said Yes!

We left Maskell Harbour at 6:30 am on Saturday, June 17th.  We motor-sailed down the Great Bras d'Or Channel towards home. We arrived at in front of my home at 9:00 am.  My mom was waiting for us on the wharf.  We circled around a few times,  mapping the bottom and finding a place to anchor.  After anchoring, we dropped the kayak into the water.  My brother Gerard had arrived at this point with our dog Vada.  We kayaked into the wharf.  Vada became very excited once she saw us and greated us as we climbed up the wharf from the kayak.  My grandmother and sister were waiting for us at the top of the hill at the house.   We're finally home!

The link to the video of us arriving home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMVeUGNsZG0

Justin as we sailed home

Ross Ferry Wharf and Marine Park

Home!

My mom, Vada, and my brother, Gerard, waiting on the wharf to greet us

Just Dreamin in front of its new home on the Bras d'Or Lakes

Halifax, Nova Scotia

On Wednesday, June 14th,  we came into Halifax Harbour.  We were docked at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, just outside of Halifax, by 1:00 pm.  Wayne, the dock manager took us up to his office, and we called customs and immigration.  Customs and immigration came to take a look at our boat.   We were finished up by 3:00 pm.  We met Dennis, the Yacht Club liason, and he gave us lots of good information on winterizing our boat and cruising Nova Scotia.  I took a quick shower, and then Justin and I headed up to the restaurant for a late lunch.  I updated facebook.  Justin called his parents.  My friends, Jessie and Darren, with their adorable son, Hayden, came to visit us.  After dinner, we showed Jessie, Darren, and Hayden the boat.  We chatted and caught up until it was Hayden's bedtime.  Afterwards, I went up to the Yacht Club and updated the blog.  Justin got a shower and went to bed early.

Reunited with my girl, Jessie

Myself and Hayden checking out the baby jellyfish

Darren helping Hayden onto the boat

Hayden making some high importance communications

Our new helmsman

Jessie, Darren, and Hayden checking out the boat

Hayden working the wench

Hayden making himself comfortable

The following morning, Justin was supposed to wake up at 4:00 am, but slept through his alarm. We left at 6:30 am instead.  We were trying to leave early so to arrive at the St. Peters Canal during operation hours.  Next stop, Cape Breton.  Home!

Maine to Halifax, Nova Scotia

Justin and I left Kittery Point, Maine at 6:00 pm on Sunday, June 11th.  We motored out, dodging lobster pots.  Once we got out of the channel,  we unfurled the jib.  I took a nap from 7:00 pm until 10:00 pm.  After a couple of hours out to sea, Justin raised the main sail.  We had 16 to 26 knots of wind.  The boat was moving at 5 to 7 knots on a broad reach, and we had a knot of current going with us.  I did a later shift to allow Justin a chance to sleep since he went to bed later to allow me to nap.

The lighthouse by Pepperrell Cove

Myself as we leave Maine, excited to be heading towards my home province

Justin as he pulls up the sails

Sunset in Maine

The next day was a sunny, lazy day, which  we spent crossing the Gulf of Maine.  We had  0 to 15 knots of wind.  Thus, we spent the day going back and forth between sailing and motoring.
The boat was traveling at 1 to 5 knots, and we had an additional knot of speed due to the current.  We had horse flies on the boat and they were driving us nuts.  We watched episodes of "Bones" to pass the time. I cut Justin's hair.  We saw a fin in the water, but we had no idea what it was.  I read and did a workout on my night shift.  Justin finished his book on his night shift.  We had 16 to 26 knots during the night and we were traveling at 6 to 7 knots.  We forgot to turn on the navigational lights for night shift, and Justin had a close call with a container ship.

Sunrise in the Gulf of Maine

A good sign that we're close to home

Justin enjoying the sun while we have a snack

On Tuesday, June 13th, Justin and I played crib and rummy to pass the time.  The wind was blowing at 8 to 15 knots.  We putted along at 4 to 5 knots on a run.  Justin and I spent most of the day in the cockpit, chatting and enjoying the sun.  Although we had to bundle up at night with sweaters, hats, and blankets, we spend the hottest part of the day in shorts and tee-shirts.  We spent the day sailing within 12 to 20 nautical miles away from Nova Scotia; however, we couldn't see land.  During the night,  we had 12 to 20 knots of wind.  We made excellent time, moving at 5 to 7 knots.

Another pretty sunrise

Myself adjusting to the cool weather

It started warming up in the late morning

Justin enjoying the heat while it's available

Clear skies at night

I woke up the next morning at 10:30 am and joined Justin in the cockpit.  We were coming up on the entrance to Halifax Harbour.  We dropped the sails at 11:00 am.  We saw a huge, Italian square rigger coming out of Halifax Harbour as we were coming in.  We docked at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron by 1:00 pm.

Justin in full foul weather gear

Justin taking down the main sail as we approach Halifax

Italian square rigger leaving Halifax

Justin and I in front of Italian square rigger

Coming into Halifax Harbour

Justin at Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron

New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts

After anchoring in Pepperell Cove by Kittery Point, Maine by 9:30 am on Sunday, June 4th, we had an exquisitely lazy morning.  Justin took a nap.  I watched episodes of "Bones."  I made us bacon and eggs for a late lunch.  Then, I did a Pure Barre workout.  Afterwards,  Justin and I took the dingy to the government wharf in Pepperell Cove.  A local sailing couple offered us a ride into town after we asked for directions.  The couple kindly dropped us off in downtown Kittery Point, where we had dinner at Rudders Public House.  After dinner, we enjoyed a leasurely 4 km walk back to the government wharf and arrived back at the boat around 9:00 pm.

Pepperrell Cove

Justin and I at Rudders Public House in Kittery Point, Maine

Justin in front of the public library in Kittery Point, Maine

The next morning was overcast and cool.  We slept in.  Justin made us french toast for breakfast.  We cleaned the boat and prepared the boat to be left alone for a few days as we were going to be staying with our friends,  Ken and Adrienne McCarthy.  We went to shore at 2:00 pm, leaving the dingy at the government wharf.  Justin mailed the broken bow sprit back to the manufacturer.  We walked to Fort McClary and wondered around the historic site.  Ken picked us up at 4:30 pm by the government wharf, and took us back to his home on Cobbetts Pond in Windam,  New Hampshire.  Adrienne joined us at their home after she finished work.  Ken barbecued us some pork loin and vegetables.  We caught up over beers and wine.

Government wharf in Pepperrell Cove

Justin in front of Just Dreamin at Fort McClary

Justin entering the tunnels at Fort McClary

Myself leaving the tunnels at Fort McClary

Myself and Justin at Fort McClary

Fort McClary must have had different building codes

Justin at Fort McClary

Myself at Fort McClary

Tuesday, June 6th was rainy and cool, but that didn't slow us down.  Adrienne had to teach an early class and left at the crack of dawn.  Justin, Ken, and I slept in.  I borrowed the washer and dryer to do laundry.  We picked up Adrienne at work and we checked out Ken and Adrienne's Pure Barre studio in Bedford, New Hampshire. All four of us went to Portsmouth, New Hampshire for lunch.  After some Asian vegan food at the Green Elephant, Adrienne and Ken took us for a tour of downtown Portsmouth, ending up at the Thirsty Moose Tap House, where we sampled local beers.  We finished the night by going out to a lovely dinner with Adrienne's parents, Fran and John Boss, at Common Man Restaurant in Windam, New Hampshire.

Adrienne and Ken's Pure Barre studio in Bedford

Ken got distracted by the trucks laying pavement

Justin, Ken, and Adrienne in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Justin in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

I can understand this sentiment

All four of us at the Thirsty Moose Tap House in Portsmouth

Common Man Restaurant in Windam, New Hampshire

Ken, Adrienne, John, Fran, Justin, and I at Common Man Restaurant

The following day was beautiful and sunny.  By the end of the day, we had seen lots of animals around the lake: rabbits, grey squirrels, chipmunks, woodchucks, turkeys, blue jays, robins, loons, blue herons, and Canadian geese.  We went out for breakfast at Mary Ann's Dinner.  Ken and Adrienne took Justin and I out on the family pontoon around Cobbetts Pond.  Afterwards, we took a drive around Windam, culminating with ice cream at Johnson's Farmstand.  Adrienne had to teach some classes, so Justin, Ken, and I went back out on the pontoon.  We ran into Fran and John Boss and chatted for a bit.  We ended the night with a bonfire at Ken and Adrienne's home.

I'm a little excited about the chocolate milkshake

Justin asked for some extra Hollandaise sauce

Ken, Adrienne, Myself, and Justin at Mary Ann's Dinner

Ken and Adrienne readying the pontoon

Adrienne and Ken on the pontoon on Cobbetts Lake

Justin and I on the pontoon on Cobbetts Lake

All four of us enjoying the pontoon

A blue heron on Ken and Adrienne's dock

Adrienne, Ken, Myself, and Justin at Cobbetts Pond

Johnson's Farmstand

Justin, Ken and Adrienne fooling around as we explore Windam

Justin and Ken checking out Windam

Justin and Ken enjoying Cobbetts Lake

Myself and Ken memorized by the flames

Myself, Ken, Adrienne, and Justin enjoying a bonfire

On June 8th, we went to Adrienne and Ken's Pure Barre studio in Nashua, New Hampshire.  Justin, Ken, and I took the 7:00 am class, which Adrienne taught.  Fran took the class as well.  Adrienne, Ken, Justin, Fran, and I had breakfast at Press Cafe after class.  Justin and I took Ken and Adrienne out on Just Dreamin from 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm.  We had another beautiful, sunny day.  We had 20 knots of wind and 8 ft of swell.  We sailed around the Isles of Shoals, sailing at every point of sail in the process.  We enjoyed a few beer and then I made tea to warm us up.  We ate lobster and seafood for dinner at the Lobster Pound Harbourside in Cape Neddick, Maine.  We then went to bed early.

Link to video of Ken and Adrienne tacking the boat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY1VFy7eBl0

Adrienne, Justin, Myself, and Ken after our Pure Barre workout

All four of us on Just Dreamin

Ken and Adrienne on Just Dreamin

Justin, Ken, and Adrienne as we head out of Pepperrell Cove

Ken at the helm

Adrienne, Ken, and I as we go around the Isles of Shoals

Ken mastering being helmsman

Adrienne unfurling the jib

Ken furling the jib

Adrienne getting her sea legs

Myself enjoying sailing in Maine

Dinner at the Lobster Pound

Adrienne and her feast

Justin at the Cape Neddick Lobster Pound

Ken and Adrienne had to work the next morning.   I used the morning to enjoy a bath, call my mom, and catch up on laundry.  Justin chilled and made us some breakfast and tea.  I helped Adrienne out by painting some hearts for a wedding shower.  In the afternoon,  Ken drove Justin and I out to Boston, and we took the Boston Duck tour around the city.  We had steak tacos for dinner back at the house with Adrienne, and then sat outside by the bonfire.

Myself painting some hearts to help Adrienne out

Back Bay area of Boston

Myself and Ken getting on the Boston Duck Tours

Our Boston Duck Tour

Downtown Boston

Location of where the Boston Tea Party initiated

Downtown Boston

Trinity church in Boston

Where everyone knows your name

Justin and I on the Boston Duck Tours

Ken, Adrienne, Myself, and Justin enjoying dinner at the McCarthy's residence

Adrienne finishing up crafts for a wedding shower while I caught up on the blog

Justin and Ken enjoying the dock on Cobbetts Pond

Adrienne and Ken enjoying the bonfire

On Saturday, June 10th, Justin and I said goodbye to Adrienne in the morning as she had to attend a wedding shower and then had to fly out to Colorado.  Ken got caught up with work in the morning.  During which time, Justin installed some door stops in the bathroom, and helped Ken fix the screen doors.  Ken made us some kale and spinach smoothies for breakfast.  Ken, Justin, and I did some running around in the afternoon.  We picked up some groceries for the last leg of our journey.  We also got some new pillows since the ones that Ken and Adrienne had on their guest bedroom were so comfortable.  We spent a few hours in the late afternoon on the pontoon.  I called family.  We had another bonfire and roasted steak on the bonfire.  We also grilled veggies on the barbecue.

Justin fixing the screen doors

Ken and Justin on Cobbetts Pond

Kayakers and tubing on Cobbetts Pond

Ken making us dinner

Justin and I slept in the following morning.  We sorted our stuff while Ken was at work.  I did a cardio workout.  Justin washed our guest sheets and towels.  Ken got back from work just after lunch.  He made us kale and spinach smoothies, and then he drove us out to our boat in Kittery Point, Maine in the afternoon.  Justin and I readied the boat and set out at 6:00 pm.  Homeward bound!

Justin and I getting one last look at Cobbetts Pond

Justin shuttling supplies back to the boat

Lazers racing at Pepperrell Cove