Today ends a major chapter in this saga and is the post title for this first exploration of Nova Scotia. Tomorrow, I will start sailing again in waters that are now familiar to me and I will have company on the boat for the next month, first my friend from Saint John back to his home and then my girlfriend for a couple weeks up in the river system.
Some of you are probably wondering, after all my talk about wild places, why I’ve spent more time in Halifax than anywhere else. Well, as a former commercial boat designer, urban maritime environments have a certain appeal for me and Halifax is one of the nicest I know. It’s very busy, I counted five large ship in sight and motion at once.
Halifax is also the most cruiser friendly city I have ever visited. There are well designed, daytime free, floats in just about every spot the can be placed and it would be a rare day you could not find a spot to tie up.
The floats are not particularly private. It’s sort of like staying in your RV on a busy city street but a nice change of pace. I was in the head when a mother and her young son came walking by. The little boy said loudly, “Mommy, there is a person in that boat. What’s he doing in there?” I leaned over to the porthole and said in a conspiratorial stage whisper, “I’m peeing.” The mother jumped about a foot in the air and dragged the boy away giggling as fast as his little legs could churn. There is on boy, I am sure, in whom the seeds of the romance of cruising and having your own little mobile residence are now firmly sown.
It’s been an enjoyable and relaxing time, alternating between doing city things and daysailing and exploring. The fuel and water tanks are full, the ice box loaded with ice and food. I added a foot of used books to the library shelf. I’m ready to head out tomorrow afternoon as soon as my crew arrives.
The view from my anchorage:
and 180 degrees the other way:
Some of you are probably wondering, after all my talk about wild places, why I’ve spent more time in Halifax than anywhere else. Well, as a former commercial boat designer, urban maritime environments have a certain appeal for me and Halifax is one of the nicest I know. It’s very busy, I counted five large ship in sight and motion at once.
Halifax is also the most cruiser friendly city I have ever visited. There are well designed, daytime free, floats in just about every spot the can be placed and it would be a rare day you could not find a spot to tie up.
The floats are not particularly private. It’s sort of like staying in your RV on a busy city street but a nice change of pace. I was in the head when a mother and her young son came walking by. The little boy said loudly, “Mommy, there is a person in that boat. What’s he doing in there?” I leaned over to the porthole and said in a conspiratorial stage whisper, “I’m peeing.” The mother jumped about a foot in the air and dragged the boy away giggling as fast as his little legs could churn. There is on boy, I am sure, in whom the seeds of the romance of cruising and having your own little mobile residence are now firmly sown.
It’s been an enjoyable and relaxing time, alternating between doing city things and daysailing and exploring. The fuel and water tanks are full, the ice box loaded with ice and food. I added a foot of used books to the library shelf. I’m ready to head out tomorrow afternoon as soon as my crew arrives.
The view from my anchorage:
and 180 degrees the other way: