The Baddeck Bubble

I keep waiting for some long evening around internet access to update the blog. It's still not happening but I'm taking a few minutes.

Ben Craig, Russ' nephew helped us sail from the Vineyard to Nova Scotia. What a great trip! Ben kept wanting some rougher weather but it was fine with me ~ a LOT of motoring on the way to Halifax but we were accompanied by whales and dolphins! The finback whales were feeding and we could see them on their side using their flippers to corral the food. Then a right whale wandered over to grab a bite. Such amazing creatures. During our last night watch, you could hear them come up and exhale by the boat. We were either on the whale super highway or it was the same pod that kept circling to check us out.

Halifax is a beautiful city but we didn't linger long. The Maritime Museum's dock was under construction so we weren't able to tie up there. The Armdale Yacht Club was our home for 2 nights. Our first experience with a "yacht club" and it was very nice. No blue blazers in sight but hot showers and a cookout for the Thursday night races.

We convinced Ben to stay with us for another offshore leg to the Bras d'Or Lakes on Cape Breton Island. His arm's only a little sore from that. Andante creeped out of Halifax in peasoup thick fog. Ben on the bow listening and watching the harbor seals. Russ down below on the radar and me at the helm. Nice to get off-shore and away from land hazards.

A night tied up at the St. Peter's Canal gave us a chance to stretch legs and me a great early morning yoga session on the wharf. During my practice I was aware of a car puling up. A man would get out walk around to his trunk, get out a fishing rod, cast 3 or 4 times, put the rod back in the trunk and drive off. This happened with 4 or 5 different car/man combinations. I heard one man mutter, "If they don't bite in the first 2 casts, they're just not bitin'."

Cape Breton is beautiful and you hear a Scottish brogue in the local accents. We sailed here with the kids and Russ' Mom and sister made a land visit 11 years ago. We probably bored Ben with all the "remember when" comments. We made a blitz up the lakes with Ben navigating. Passed the cove where Carolyn broke her toe on a rope swing 11 years ago and put the hook down in Baddeck.

We've started calling this the Baddeck Bubble. It's been warm and beautiful blue skies all week. I think it's cold, foggy and wet outside of the bubble. Better, serendipity stepped in and we're here during the Silver Dart celebration.

The Silver Dart was Canada's first flight. Alexander Graham Bell lived here and did a lot of his experiments here including the Silver Dart. We've enjoyed a star party on the Alexander Graham Bell Museum's roof. A local member of the Royal Astronomical Society brought his 12.5 inch telescope to the roof and we watched the stars "pop" as it got darker. The getting darker takes a while up here. Sunset is around 9pm I think and it's twilight for an hour after that. Not fully dark until around 11pm. We saw double stars, double galaxies with one on it's side and one flat, the rings of Saturn and so much more. It makes you feel small and insignificant and at the same time awed by the vastness of it all and the possibilities.


Wednesday was the big day with an airshow, street concert and fireworks. We ended up sitting next to the parents of the pilot of a C-130 surveillance plane. After he'd finished demonstrating the capabilities of his aircraft, he flew off to the west. Both parents stood staring after the plane and the look on their faces . . . so proud and happy. I wish I'd taken a picture of them at that moment.

The Canadian Coast Guard and this big Air Force helicopter demonstrated how they work together. The helo can work in winds of 50 knots+. Hoping this is the only time I'll see them in action.



Getting close to leaving the bubble. More to come . . .