Wednesday, and we're still enjoying the hospitality of the Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club.

In true Nova Scotia fashion, we have discovered the usual two degrees of separation here. Turns out that one of the fellas we were chatting to at the club, Scott, is married to Christine, a good friend of my cousin who lives in Guelph, and they are good friends of a guy who has a villa in France -- my sister's family stayed there a few years ago, and Randy and his son visited them there. I sometimes feel that if we took the time to speak with everyone we run across that we'd find connections like these all over the place. Small world. Anyway, we were invited to Scott and Christine's last night for supper and had a great time.

Randy has been watching and listening to the weather reports from various sources, and it looks like tomorrow we'll start across the bay. This feels like the real beginning of the voyage -- leaving Nova Scotia -- and I am feeling various sorts of pangs. Mostly about my inexperience. The rest of the crew is up to the challenge, and I'll take care of the soup and the tea and the novel experience of standing watch. I'm told that I'll probably like sailing at night. I woke up night before last and went on deck to see the full moon, and it was beautiful.

The part for the furnace arrived and hey, presto, we have heat. It was touch and go for a bit -- the courier took it to the Yarmouth Yacht Club first -- but realized his mistake and it arrived yesterday afternoon. Two more leaks have been plugged, so we continue to gain in the comfort and joy department. We've had lots of visitors this week: Randy's mum and Edythe, Jaqueline and Bill, Auntie Mary, David and Joseph, and my dad. More goodbyes. Beat dad at cribbage. Sorry about that, Big Dad.

Next post will be coming to you from the US of A. We'll be leaving Shelburne midday tomorrow, in company with a boat from Montreal, and heading for Plymouth, Massachusetts, and we expect it will take between 36-46 hours, depending on the weather. Forecast is for NW - a fair wind, so think of us on the bounding main on our way once again.

(photo by Edythe)