Newfoundland South Coast

So many wonderful places to visit.  Here are some pictures and memories from the south coast of Newfoundland heading west.  We did not choose to visit St. John's as the weather was windy and it would have been a challenge to get there .  When traveling the coast in summer you can expect wind, wind driven waves, and 40% of the days average some fog.  We felt we needed to use our days to head west and south toward the the Cabot Strait, by end of September.  Some places we visited by our 45 foot Island Packet Sea Star were

Seals on rocks,  and wildlife was seen on the tops of the hills above the fiords.

Hunting cabins seen up Grey River fiord.

Traps near MCcallom waiting for the correct season.   

Aquaculture is being tried.  The fish, cod and haddock etc. are few 

Motoring into a private anchorage.  Not many tourists or or cruising boats sail here.

Colorful docks are everywhere.

Stretch of ocean waters and pop into a wide fiord

I'm in full wet suit gear.   In the morning we often had to dry walls on the inside of boat from condensation and roll the dodger to improve visibility.

Beautifully painted fishing boat.

(below is out of sequence)

French ISLANDS PIERRE AND MIQUELON

We have sailed our first overnight cruise  and landed in France!  Well, islands with amazing beauty, prolific wildlife and incredible wines and cheeses that belong to France, residents speak French and consider themselves French in many ways.  Here we are tied to the dock.

Neat as a pin houses, shops and restaurants.

Boats are kept from being swept away by tieing with capsans

Dan and Kathy on a rock in "France."

  

Many friendly  villages to visit.

Hiking  right through the town of Francois

We see these blows off Miquelon about 20 miles from Grand Banks

  Next entry will bring us to the beginning of return trip.

Louisburg, NS- Louisburg Fort July 27,2008

     Dan and I had Dan's nephew Steven to crew with us from Provincetown, MA to Halifax, NS, a two overnight journey.

 I completed my first overnight crossing just as a couple, from Halifax to Louisburg, NS. We arrived in Louisburg in about 30 hours. Dan and I took turns watching the radar screen and the autopilot, but Dan rarely left the helm.

It was still foggy when we left Armdale at 6:00AM, but cleared as we left Halifax Harbor and made our course for Louisburg. There was little wind and so we motored more than we wanted, but we arrived in Louisburg in the afternoon of the second day, anchored solidly in the harbor, and went to sleep for a few hours.

The next day we toured the fort. To our surprise a 1200 person reinactment of the British and French fight over the fort in 1849 was scheduled and we had fun, on this warm and sunny day, watching the "fight" and touring the buildings of the fort. I especially liked the period costumes on the "guides" who showed how life at that time was lived; how and what they ate, the weaponry and the difference between the well to do and the poor.

Marching Reinactment

Louisburg Fort

In Louisburg we attended the playhouse production, The Spirit of the Island, where Cape Breton was highlighted in song, comedy and music. Wonderful!

We found the RV park people so kind and friendly. They offered and drove us to the fort and allowed use of their facilities and internet.

Crossing from MA to Halifax, NS

Whales but not sure what kind

We left Provincetown at 6:45 AM. About six hours into the crossing to Halifax, we sighted some blows first, and then the backs and fins of whales. We assumed they were Fin Back Whales. Further out into the Gulf of Maine we sighted blows again. This time the whales were a small group, maybe three of the endangered Right Whales.

Our crossing was relatively uneventful in 3 to 5 ft. seas and we motor sailed most of the time using our main sail. Our AIS receiver and radar kept us informed of the larger ships at night as it was foggy, and we passed some fishing boats closer than we might have liked; they drifting by like shadows. As we arrived at waypoint off Brazil Rock, fog started to set in and fog continued until we were well into Halifax Harbor. We appreciated the professionalism of the Halifax Harbor Authority and with Dan at the helm, we were able to find our way under radar to the Northwest Arm where finally we sighted some coastline through the fog.

Our eventual anchorage was mooring at Armdale Yacht Club- still in restricted visibility, but we were able to see the clubhouse, the dock for diesel, and the other boats on moorings. We met Knot-a-gan, another Island Packet sailboat.

The following day, after much needed rest, we enjoyed a night on the town in Halifax and we enjoyed talking to many Yacht Club members who wished us well in Nova Scotia and were very proud of their city and heritage.

We were able to rent a car to return our crew to Yarmouth, where Daniel and Steven caught the ferry to Portland and on to Boston.

Here are pics from Armdale Yacht Club and Halifax.

Captain Dan and the rest of us I might add, peering into pea soup fog entering Halifax Harbor

Armitage Yacht Club mooring- Sea Star on the right.

Exploring Halifax and the Maritime Museum

Street scene-Halifax, NS