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07-13
13:30 hrs. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN !!! Been retired three years today! And what a place to celebrate. Wish Georgette were here. Awoke at ten this morning and, it being a special day, got up at eleven! Eh! I'm retired, remember? There was a very strong northwest wind howling earlier this morning but I was very secure in my southeast cove, riding in four fathoms with a rode of more than seven to one. That's the beauty of having a whole lake-like lagoon to yourself!
For some reason, I felt like working on the book, soon after I had made breakfast. So, I did. For about two hours solid. It may turn out to be my best chapter yet, given the inspirational aspect of the place!
My only visitors this morning was a flock of sparrows. Well, at least, birds that looked and gurgled the way sparrows do. And, as they say, if it looks like a sparrow, gargles like a sparrow then, it's gotta be a sparrow! And my big eagle (or was it a huge owl?) was still perched high up on that same tree. Who cares what birds they are, they're beautiful. Last night, there was a full moon, bright and shiny. When I first hit the sack, it was dark as all heck. Then, about half an hour later, I could see bright lights coming through the portholes. At first, I thought it might have been another boat but that was impossible as the tide had been ebbing for two hours or more and those rapids were taking on the shape of a raging fall by now.
Queen Elisabeth II leaving Halifax Harbour Taken from Y-Knot (1980?)
I took a peek through the forward hatch and, lo and behold, there it was, right behind me, rising through the clearing at the very end of the cove. That sight, coupled with the gurgling, boiling sound of the surrounding water was too hard to resist. I put on the woolen white sweater (not that it was cold but it was a little damp) and, after installing the cooler as a seat and propping up a cushion (for my ever-sore back), I just sat there and admired the scene for over an hour.
Pavane, by Faure Seg by Michael Petri
All this time, I had the Hawaiian tape on, very low. For the second turn at the hatch, I put on the waltz tape. It was just absolutely way out, the type of 'scene' you can't even see in the movies and the real reason why, once again last night, I turned right around and came back to what I now rightly or wrongly consider 'my lagoon'.
The wind rose a little and I decided, to repeat my sailing experience of two nights ago but this time, with the wind. No motor! It was nice to sail at two in the morning, all alone on my own lake so, up went the sails and I put on the old Blue Danube. It was just fantastic. All sails out, the wind was just perfect to take me to the other end of the lagoon. It was just way, out.... Just in case there was the odd people enjoying a last drink on their boat, I turned on the spotlights on the sails and let her go. If there was anyone out there watching, it must have been some scene to see those sails glide by, up above them, in the distance. And that Danube Waltz! Wow! Priceless. Made two passes and went back watching the stars.
As I write this (13:30 hrs), the wind has died down and I have gone back to total 'sun-tanning'. To think there are over sixty boats right down those falls (I can hear them from my cove) and here I am, sun-tanning!
But, as all good things must end, I have to get out and stay out, tonight. The tidal conditions would allow me to stay another two or three days longer but, as the high tide occurs much later every succeeding night, it would be much too dark to safely navigate the rapids (then at slack) and waive my way through the dozens of boats clogging the entrance to the falls (the exit, in my case). So, tonight has to be the night. Besides, I do need some provisioning and I would like to call Georgette as it is possible to do so only from the Squirrel Cove store.
Voodoo on a pedestal What is this doing here? My 'last' project before retiring!
Today, I also made a graphic chart of the weather, throughout my sailing trips. I also annotated the day's event (whether sailing, at anchor etc). In this way, I can, at a glance, find out any particular
day and relive my cruise. As if I will ever forget it. But its nice to have statistics especially if I ever want to publish this for the children to read at leisure.
Un Canadien Errant or, loosely translated: The Wandering Canuk!
20:30 hrs. Waiting in front of the rapids for the slack, which I expect will not be for another two hours yet. It will be dark when I get out. Tomorrow would be worse yet which is why I stay out tonight, although, reluctantly.
Another fantastic day at anchor in 'my lagoon'. I did not sail today (last night was enough to last me for a while). But I kept very busy working on 'the book', sun-tanning, and applying another coat of varnish to all woodwork. It now looks fantastic.
And I also saw my first 'wild' animal. It was a big cat, whatever it was. Brown in color and big! I wish I knew what it was. Well, in second thought, maybe I don't want to know!
There are still many people jumping the rapids tonight but there doesn't happen to be as many boats in the cove tonight. It is quite windy, as has been all day, and more of it is expected for tonight. I might drop both a bow and stern anchor tucked behind the small island in the north-east corner of Squirrel. I'll play it by ear.
Went out at 22:20 hrs. I had to raise the keel some more midway although the rudder didn't kick-up. Dropped the hook, with all line paid out, in the middle of the bay in front of the rapids. Strong northwest winds are expected overnight. Wish I was back in the safety and quiet of my lagoon. Too many boats where I had to drop anchor. Ate some more mints and hit the sack at 23:00 hrs.
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