Beaches, who knew?
We had a fantastic day of sailing when we left Shelburne. The seas were calm and we had a steady wind that allowed us to sail a beam reach all the way to Lockeport, N.S. We didn’t turn the engine on until we took the mainsail down just outside the breakwater of Lockeport’s harbor.
There are no moorings and no anchoring in Lockeport’s harbor so we spent the next two nights docked at the White Gull Marina and Restaurant. The White Gull Restaurant is a nice little place to grab a bite to eat. Apparently they fabulous fish and chips but we didn’t know that when we grabbed a bite to eat there. Next time!
Lockeport is a quiet little community surrounded by beaches. Summer had arrived in full force (but just for two days) and it was hot! We took a short walk to the town’s longest beach that is about a mile long with sand that is so fine it is difficult to get it off your feet! There were some people swimming and I wished I had worn my swim suit but it was refreshing to walk down the beach and wade in the cool water. As always we found a stick to throw into the water for Shamus! Being part lab retrieving sticks out of the water is one of his favorite games. This game of fetch was particularly fun since there were some small waves breaking on the beach. Shamus would bound over the waves to get to his stick and on his return swim to the beach he would end up body surfing back in. Tim and I couldn’t help but laugh watching a small wave roll into shore with our pups snoot and ears sticking out the front of it. Too bad we didn’t have the camera with us!
Lockeport is a working harbor with a good sized fishing fleet and a fish processing plant right next to the slips. We didn’t mind the fish processing plant as our view from the cockpit also had a nice view of the oldest houses in Lockeport and a nice little sand beach. If you need to re-provision this is a great place to do so. Lockeport has a great little food market located very close to the marina. It is definitely the best market we have been to in Nova Scotia so far.
There are no moorings and no anchoring in Lockeport’s harbor so we spent the next two nights docked at the White Gull Marina and Restaurant. The White Gull Restaurant is a nice little place to grab a bite to eat. Apparently they fabulous fish and chips but we didn’t know that when we grabbed a bite to eat there. Next time!
Lockeport is a quiet little community surrounded by beaches. Summer had arrived in full force (but just for two days) and it was hot! We took a short walk to the town’s longest beach that is about a mile long with sand that is so fine it is difficult to get it off your feet! There were some people swimming and I wished I had worn my swim suit but it was refreshing to walk down the beach and wade in the cool water. As always we found a stick to throw into the water for Shamus! Being part lab retrieving sticks out of the water is one of his favorite games. This game of fetch was particularly fun since there were some small waves breaking on the beach. Shamus would bound over the waves to get to his stick and on his return swim to the beach he would end up body surfing back in. Tim and I couldn’t help but laugh watching a small wave roll into shore with our pups snoot and ears sticking out the front of it. Too bad we didn’t have the camera with us!
Lockeport is a working harbor with a good sized fishing fleet and a fish processing plant right next to the slips. We didn’t mind the fish processing plant as our view from the cockpit also had a nice view of the oldest houses in Lockeport and a nice little sand beach. If you need to re-provision this is a great place to do so. Lockeport has a great little food market located very close to the marina. It is definitely the best market we have been to in Nova Scotia so far.
Lockeport Harbor
On June 11 we motor sailed from Lockeport and anchored off Carter’s Beach near Port Mouton. Carter’s Beach is another beautiful long sandy beach. The water is clear but very cold. A few minutes of wading and our ankles started to ache! Shamus had a blast! We played fetch with him until we tired of throwing the stick but he still had a ton of energy and spent the rest of the time on shore pouncing on his stick, dragging it through the sand and burying and digging it up again! He dug so many holes I actually worried someone walking along the beach would fall into one.
Tim and I expected the coast line of Nova Scotia to be rocky like the Maine Coast. We definitely weren’t expecting mile long beaches with soft white sand! I have mentioned in prior posts that Tim and I aren’t beach people. Our favorite beach is on Roque Island off the Maine Coast. Like Roque’s beach we find the beaches in Nova Scotia prettier than those we have visited in the Caribbean. The contrast of sandy white beaches, and grassy dunes surrounded by evergreen trees and rocks, and the clear sparkling water is just more aesthetically appealing to us. The water being too cold to swim in isn’t much of an issue. The sea breeze blowing onto the beaches is often cool and refreshing so don’t get overly hot while strolling down the beach. In certain places the water does warm up enough to take a swim and in the places it doesn’t a quick wade into the water will cool you down quickly! Aaaah!
Tim and I expected the coast line of Nova Scotia to be rocky like the Maine Coast. We definitely weren’t expecting mile long beaches with soft white sand! I have mentioned in prior posts that Tim and I aren’t beach people. Our favorite beach is on Roque Island off the Maine Coast. Like Roque’s beach we find the beaches in Nova Scotia prettier than those we have visited in the Caribbean. The contrast of sandy white beaches, and grassy dunes surrounded by evergreen trees and rocks, and the clear sparkling water is just more aesthetically appealing to us. The water being too cold to swim in isn’t much of an issue. The sea breeze blowing onto the beaches is often cool and refreshing so don’t get overly hot while strolling down the beach. In certain places the water does warm up enough to take a swim and in the places it doesn’t a quick wade into the water will cool you down quickly! Aaaah!
Carter's Beach
LaHave River
Strong winds and rain were forecasted to roll in over the next couple of days. It would be blowing from the southeast so we also were looking for a harbor that would provide protection from the weather and the resulting ocean swells. We headed for Brooklyn but found there were only a few moorings in the harbor that were located in an area too shallow for our comfort and that didn’t look strong enough to hold our boat. We also weren’t comfortable with the depth readings we were getting nearer to the yacht club’s docks so we decided to continue east and head up the LaHave River.
We docked at one of the slips owned by the LaHave Bakery around 8 PM. It is a great bakery and a convenient place to stop if you want any baked goods such as muffins, cookies, or fresh bread. We stayed on the bakery’s dock for one night and then moved a little further up the river and picked up a mooring at the LaHave River Yacht Club. That night was “sponsor night” at the club. Sponsor’s night is a weekly event where a local business sponsors dinner at the club. I know I sound like a broken record when talking about how friendly the people are here in Nova Scotia but once again we received a warm welcome by the club’s members especially Scott Young, and Fred and Heather Jeffers. We ended sponsor night with the three of them aboard Fred and Heather’s boat having a Goslings Rum night cap! Tim and I recovered just in time for them to join us the next evening on our boat! We look forward to having a rendezvous with them when we pass through the area on our way back to Maine.
We docked at one of the slips owned by the LaHave Bakery around 8 PM. It is a great bakery and a convenient place to stop if you want any baked goods such as muffins, cookies, or fresh bread. We stayed on the bakery’s dock for one night and then moved a little further up the river and picked up a mooring at the LaHave River Yacht Club. That night was “sponsor night” at the club. Sponsor’s night is a weekly event where a local business sponsors dinner at the club. I know I sound like a broken record when talking about how friendly the people are here in Nova Scotia but once again we received a warm welcome by the club’s members especially Scott Young, and Fred and Heather Jeffers. We ended sponsor night with the three of them aboard Fred and Heather’s boat having a Goslings Rum night cap! Tim and I recovered just in time for them to join us the next evening on our boat! We look forward to having a rendezvous with them when we pass through the area on our way back to Maine.
Lunenburg
On Sunday – Father’s Day – we sailed to Lunenburg and stayed until Thursday, June 19. We had a great time there! Lunenburg is still a working waterfront but the fishing industry has slowed considerably and tourism has become a large part of the town’s economy. There are plenty of restaurants and art galleries and little shops. The Fisheries Museum is a fabulous way to spend an afternoon.
We loved just walking around Lunenburg. There are signs posted throughout the town that tell you a lot about its history. Many of the homes and churches date back to the colonization of Lunenburg by the English and German settlers in the 1700’s. The buildings have been beautifully maintained by their current residents and many of them also have beautiful gardens.
We loved just walking around Lunenburg. There are signs posted throughout the town that tell you a lot about its history. Many of the homes and churches date back to the colonization of Lunenburg by the English and German settlers in the 1700’s. The buildings have been beautifully maintained by their current residents and many of them also have beautiful gardens.
Lunenburg Harbor
If you need to exercise just walking around Lunenburg is a good way to get some. It is built on a steep hillside and by the time you get to the top you will be feeling your legs! If you have bikes you can ride the old railroad bed for quite a distance. The rail bed splits just outside town and you can ride up the coast or walk or ride a shorter trail that loops around Lunenberg. We rode to up the coast and explored the town of Mahone Bay and then back to Lunenburg. A total of 19 miles round trip. Being a railroad bed it is flat but you still get a good ride.
Dory Shop
Prince Inlet and Mahone Bay
When we left Lunenburg Thursday we picked up a mooring around the point in Prince Inlet. By land Prince Inlet is a short distance from the mooring in Lunenburg’s Harbor but it took us a few hours by boat to round the point. We had a nice wind and sailed the entire way. Prince Inlet is a great little hurricane hole. The inlet is surrounded by houses so it is not the place to visit if you are looking for a remote spot and we have been told it gets crowded in the height of boating season. You can anchor in the inlet or alternatively pick up a mooring from the Lunenburg Yacht Club located near the entrance to the inlet.
Prince Inlet
Friday morning we motored from Prince Inlet over to the town of Mahone Bay. We spent an enjoyable evening on board Bruce and Diane Jardine’s Beneteau 445 named “Daybreak.” Bruce and Diane had reached out to us via our blog earlier in our trip and told us to look them up if we traveled to Mahone Bay. Well we didn’t have far to look as coincidentally we picked up the mooring right next to them!
Saturday we explored the mountain bike trails in the town of Mahone Bay. The trails twist through a beautiful forest. They are not technically difficult but they are fun! We need to thank Al and his wife who own the “Sweet Ride” bike shop in Mahone Bay for the information they shared about the trails. It is part bicycle shop part candy shop. An interesting concept for sure.
Saturday we explored the mountain bike trails in the town of Mahone Bay. The trails twist through a beautiful forest. They are not technically difficult but they are fun! We need to thank Al and his wife who own the “Sweet Ride” bike shop in Mahone Bay for the information they shared about the trails. It is part bicycle shop part candy shop. An interesting concept for sure.
Mahone Bay
Round Island, "A Christmas Story" in June!
Bruce and Diane were headed out to Round Island and invited us to join them. Round Island is about 5 nautical miles from Mahone Bay. We were able to sail there with just the genny and didn’t have to tack once. Bruce, Diane and a handful of good friends were having a deep fried turkey dinner that we were invited to attend.
We now know that Shamus is part lab and part “Bumpus Hound.” For those of you who have seen the classic movie “A Christmas Story” - the one where the little boy wants a BB gun for Christmas and everyone keeps saying “you’ll shoot your eye out kid!” then you will recall that Christmas is almost ruined when the Bumpus’ Hounds steal the Christmas turkey right off the table.
We now know that Shamus is part lab and part “Bumpus Hound.” For those of you who have seen the classic movie “A Christmas Story” - the one where the little boy wants a BB gun for Christmas and everyone keeps saying “you’ll shoot your eye out kid!” then you will recall that Christmas is almost ruined when the Bumpus’ Hounds steal the Christmas turkey right off the table.
When we came ashore for the turkey fry we warned everyone that Shamus would steal food right off the table or a plate for that matter. Tim and I thought we were keeping a close eye on him but in the midst of a conversation he snuck away. All of sudden we heard a ruckus and turned just in time to see the deep fried turkey falling from the table pulled off by guess who….. that’s right – Shamus! Needless to say Tim and I were horrified! Thank goodness that was the first turkey and had been mostly picked over and there was a second turkey in the deep fryer. Thank you again to everyone who was there for being so forgiving of the incident. In fact when I was taking Shamus back to the boat they insisted he stay and continued to give our little “Bumpus Hound” lots of attention and a little more turkey!
We had a great time at Round Island and headed back to Mahone Bay on Sunday night where Bruce and Diane Jardine invited us to raft up to their Beneteau rather than have us pay another mooring fee! They will be heading in the same direction as us when they leave for their summer cruise in a couple weeks. Hopefully, we will meet up with them again.
We had a great time at Round Island and headed back to Mahone Bay on Sunday night where Bruce and Diane Jardine invited us to raft up to their Beneteau rather than have us pay another mooring fee! They will be heading in the same direction as us when they leave for their summer cruise in a couple weeks. Hopefully, we will meet up with them again.
Turkey Fry
