Charlottetown to Halifax
Well last time we spoke we were in Summerside PEI, our next stop was in Charlottetown PEI. To get there we had to go under the confederation Bridge which spans from New Brunswick to PEI. The structure is quite impressive. It is so large you cannot get it in one picture. We took a video of it but I have not figured out how to put it on the blog yet. Where are you Donato. I will add a few pictures.
Well we got to Charlottetown without incident and we had a slip close to the marina office. We spent the next day checking out Charlottetown and doing the tourist thing. They have a very interesting downtown area with lots of good places to eat. At the marina, there were all sorts of tourist shops and the city also had various bands playing in a parkette right beside the marina, some of them were quite good.
As we are behind schedule we moved on to Ballantyne's Cove located in St. Georges Bay, Nova Scotia. Once again the wind was not in our favour and the motor is on again. It was a quiet little cove that said there was anchoring available but that has changed as they have installed slips and charge you $30.00 for the evening with no power. They have a fish and chip stand and that is all that was around. They were good and some people on motorcycles pulled up and said that the fish and chips were best in the area. So we watched the sun set and snugged down for the night. Once again we were the only ones on board for the night. This is mainly a commercial fishing port and we found out that it is one of the best areas in the world for tuna fishing.
The weather forecast on ugrib was to be fair with about 15 knots of wind. Environment Canada was stating that there were wind warnings. When we got up it was like glass with gentle rollers and we started off to the Canso Strait. Needless to say Environmental Canada won this day and the winds picked up and made for a very uncomfortable day with the pitching and rolling all day and mixed in some hazy patches. The seas were about 8 to 10 feet with winds from the north at 25-30 kts. After an hour we were committed to go to Canso rather than return to Ballantyne's Cove. It would have taken 4 to 5 hours to go back pounding into the wind and seas and 3 to 4 hours to carry on to Canso. We carried on.
On our port side we could see a tug pulling a barge behind it heading for the Canso Strait. To get through the strait you have to go through a lock and a swing bridge. Well it would not have been to bad except the tug got there first and we had to circle in the channel as there was no where to tie up and it was very rough. It took about an hour to get the tug and barge through the lock. While we were circling we saw a bottlenose dolphin. While we where pounding into the waves the engine started to overheat just as we were going into the lock, but everything turned out OK.
Once we were through the lock the wind died down and the seas were much calmer and we pulled into Port Hawkesbury at the Canso Straight YC. We had to tie up to a fixed dock with the stern hanging out about 15 feet. There was some people to help us tie up and they showed us how to secure the boat on a fixed pier with tidal fluctuations. Spring lines are the most important and the bow and stern lines are left slack.
We needed provisions and so off we go, just a short jaunt but it was uphill all the way. They had a small town with everything you need. Coming back to the boat was a breeze, all down hill. Well Jack made two more trips up that hill the next day. We also meet an American couple who are travelling up to Lake Erie. I definitely would not want to be going that direction. The wind and tides are against you for most of the day. We heard from Ce Sera Sera over the VHF radio and they were going to the Bras d' Ore lakes in Cape Breton. We'll see if we hook up with them later on.
Well we are now going to the serious part of Nova Scotia, where you really have to be on the ball as far as navigation goes. Charts are a definite advantage as well as a good chart plotter. The coast is rugged and rocky. You have to go ahead dead slow when entering coves and anchorages and watch for rock outcroppings. Leave lots of clearance just in case. We left Port Hawesbury and went to Andrew's Passage in a small bay called Portage Cove. The buoys were small and hard to pick up. We went into a bay that was unmarked after we left the channel but had good depth, 30 to 40 feet. We found depth of 12 feet but did not have enough swing room as when looking over the stern, the rocks were too close for comfort so we had to raise anchor and move. A local came out in his boat and showed us a good place to anchor in 30 feet of water.
We had good holding but it was windy for most of the night. Calm in the morning and once again off we go down the coast, our next planned stop was for Tor Bay. We decided to get some sailing in and went off the coast and of course the winds kept increasing and then when we tacked after about two hours the wind changed direction and once again we are heading into the wind. Waves were about 10 feet and the winds where up to about 25 knots. Well at least the angle was not bad for entering Tor Bay as the wind was coming from the west we thought we would be protected, but once again the cove had a depth of 30 feet plus and the wind was creating many whitecaps in the bay. We spent about an hour checking the anchor alarm to ensure we were not drifting. The wind was blowing so hard that when we wanted to drop the anchor the wind kept blowing us into deeper water. Another experience learn as the boat was being pushed back so hard the chain came flying out of the locker with no way to stop it. Now we know how to deal with another situation. The next day they forecast was for winds from the south at 25 to 30 kts, we stayed put for another night. FUN FUN FUN.
The next day we were off to Liscomb Harbour. Let me explain something about the way they name some of these places down here. Just because it's called Liscomb Harbour or Tangier Harbour, it's not what you have in mind as a harbour. There may be a small government wharf, but that's all and 4 or 5 houses, that's it, nothing else. You don't even bother to go ashore. We spent a good night in Liscomb and headed off to Owl's Head Cove. Once again fighting the wind our plans to go to Owl's Head Cove have been diverted to Tangiers Harbour. The centre of the channel is riddled with rocks which are buoyed if that is what you can call it. Jack decided to use the only area that had enough water without being side by side with the rocks. Getting out was a breeze as we just follow our track in as we got in okay so we should get out alright and we did.
We are bound for Halifax. Well it called for fog patches clearing by noon, guess what, we are in Nova Scotia. We started off in a light fog and once we cleared the channel and rounded the safe water buoy the fog gets thicker so on comes the radar.
We think that the fog will lift soon as we can see some sunny breaks coming through and as soon as they appeared they disappeared as quickly. For the next 30 miles we are in fog with visibility starting at 2 - 3 miles and then reducing to 1 mile then down to 200 yards when we entered Halifax Harbour. We expected the fog to disappear but no we never saw the coastline or Halifax as we sailed into the harbour.
The sound of fog horns from ships near by is a weird feeling. Jack would answer each call with the blast of our air horn. It is amazing that you can tell that the ship is moving away just by the sound. To my relief we crossed over to the northwest arm in Halifax where the ships do not go and we can look for a slip or anchorage. Finally when we get to Armdale YC and the fog disappears and it's sunny. All in a half a mile.
Well it is now Aug. 3, 2012 and we are still in Halifax. Several reasons, our daughter Colleen was down on a business trip, her husband Matt and our grandson Sam arrived on the Aug. 2, 2012. We also spent time with relatives and much needed down time. Jack has been busy doing upgrades and replacing batteries on the boat.
The weather looks promising over the next week with a few showers but who knows when you get up you check the weather visually and make your decision from there.
Well am going to let Jack add details to this blog and lighten up the mood. Nova Scotia from the seaside is not one of my favour places.
We will post the pictures in a few days when we get to Chester or Lunenburg.
Bye for now
Jack and Linda
