Alpha Crucis Nova Scotia

Click to enlarge
We have just checked the weather – looks like it will be ok to leave Monday. There is a storm developing here at present but moving North and hopefully the worst of it will be over in the next two days! Helene is heading for England so we are ok there. Anyway all going well should be Monday – fingers crossed!!
The weather is overcast today and predicting 50/60 knt winds so about to go and secure AC a little more!
Terry and I have continued being busy completing (almost) lots of jobs on the boat which has been satisfying.
Yesterday we decided to fuel up which started as a bit of a challenge as they don’t have a pump facility on the waterfront and will not deliver for anything under 300 gallons. However Laura (from Rudders)to the rescue, very kindly arranged for her friend who owns a Service Station to cart it for us – thank goodness. We also borrowed Laura’s car to top up our provisions.
On the social front had Karla and Laura for dinner last night which was fun plus a few other visitors!! And tonight we are going out tonight with Bonnie – she lives in an apartment opposite where we are tied up. She wandered over late yesterday to invite us out last night and also offer her car or any help we may need so as usual we have been well looked after!
Love Lois and Terry
____________________________________________________________________________________
19/09/06
Hi Tink
Once again have taken your and Murray's advice so many thanks for your time and effort.
We are in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia waiting to see what "Helene" intends to do. At the moment that is indeterminate. We have plotted her estimated track for the next 5 days and if she curves eastward like "Gordon" after 5 days we would be right in the wrong place if we left here now.
So we will stay put until she shows her hand or just passes us by.
Kind regards
Terry and Lois
___________________________________________________________________________________
18/09/06
The weather is very nice at the moment so decided yesterday to attack the varnishing in the cockpit. Did some sealing and today will do a top coat. We had arranged that it be done while we were in Washington State but the guy let us down at the last minute. So we were a little worried arriving in London for the winter and it really needed attention. So there we are another positive for our stopover!!
We met a friend of Laura's – the manager of Rudder’s Restaurant (our local), Carla, a couple of nights ago; she is a reporter for the local paper.
Anyway Karla interviewed us yesterday and going to write a little article on our adventure. Our few minutes of fame ah - gosh the New York Times missed their opportunity!!
The other night she showed us around the town and then took us out to Lighthouse point. It was going on sunset and very pretty countryside. She then took us to this place (beside the sea)for a lobster dinner - a sort of factory set up where they store lobster – 5 tanks in all and they hold 30,000 in each tank. It is owned by a very nice gentleman, Ernie. Ernie was actually going home when we arrived but was happy to linger for us! We picked the lobster from the tanks, and Ernie cooked them on a little gas stove outside. So there we were sitting on a few lobster pots outside enjoying the taste of fabulous fresh lobster with a bottle of wine we took – certainly not your usual restaurant atmosphere but what a treat! A beautiful evening, mild and no wind however the mosquitoes eventually drove us out!!
Carla has also invited us to her place for BBQ on Sunday - so you see we are entrenched in the community now!
Some of these ice hockey guys have just left to go out for lunch on a fishing boat – had a quick chat to some of them. Apparently one of them has just signed a contract for 67 mil – not bad money!!!
Keep you posted!
Love Lois and Terry
__________________________________________________________________________________
15/09/06
No unfortunately our phone doesn't work here but will try and get a phone card and ring over the next couple of days.
Nothing much to report other than we are tied up at the Marina - came in this morning after a waiting for a yacht to move from this spot. Guess what we watched Coronation St last night - managed to get a TV signal!! How exciting!!
We walked along the main street today - quite a cute little town - seems to have most things. The restaurant, Rudders, which owns this little marina (if you can call it that) is probably the best place in town in terms of a bar and restaurant and good value at that. The manager, Laura, is extremely nice person and cannot do enough for us. We can use the high speed access for our computer there too! However cannot seem to send but receive - Terry is working on that!!
We had a look at the weather - 96hr forecast - doesn't look like we will be moving for at least 4/5 days!
Got a message from Tink - thanks for that. Pretty much said the same.
So at this point we have everything we need apart from the weather!
Will keep you posted on our social activity etc etc. The New York Islanders (ice hockey) are in town today for training camp for a week and guess where they mostly hand out socially - the Rudders!!
Love Lois and Terry
___________________________________________________________________________________
14/09/06
Have just cleared customs at Yarmouth 43 47 N 66 08W.
No problems and very pleasant and helpful people. They mentioned there is another cyclone behind Gordan - gosh it's getting quite busy isn't it!!! Of course will check this out as you will.
Fortunately we have stepped ashore and found a place for us to tie up to - a restaurant on the waterfront owns a little marina - only takes about 6 boats and one big slip so that is now ours meantime!
The good news (Terry has a wonderful way of breaking bad news to me, typically at sea - the good news and the bad news stories - unfortunately when he starts with the good news I always know there is bad news coming) is we had somewhere to shelter, as don't fancy mixing it with those cyclones, and as we are now in Canada and it's costing us less for everything. The bad news is this stopover could be more days than expected to wait for our weather opportunity and has delayed our journey across the Atlantic. That's sailing!!!
So will probably go and have dinner out tonight and have a few drinks, silly if we don't!
Lots of Love The Jolly Rogers - still jolly!!
PS Water system now working. Fortunately we have two pumps in parallel. One was leaking badly and the other needed tightening. Blocked U/S pump circuit off. kWorking OK on one lung. Will repair or replace the other tomorrow...time for a drink!...T

____________________________________________________________________________________
13/09/06
We have just anchored in a little bay in Nova Scotia - Little River Harbour (43 36N 065 57W)
A short sector but were experiencing very rough seas on the rim of Cyclone Florence (it moved further North than forecast) and 30+ knt odd winds, most uncomfortable to say the least!
However it wasn't that particularly that made us take shelter - firstly the refrigeration wasn't working late last night (now fixed) and plus we have been loosing water - managed to empty two tanks since yesterday!! So thought it is a long crossing and we need both of these to be working!! Will work on water tomorrow.
Would appreciate your input on weather but we are thinking Thursday to head off - once again??
Looking forward to good night's sleep!
Love Terry and Lois