We're away.

Finally let go the docklines last Thursday morning (October 6) at about 9:30, and motored around the corner to the gas dock to top up. Said goodbye to the DYC fellas, and headed down the harbour. An emotional moment after all these months. Gene the yard manager said "Put a smile on your face, woman!" but it was all I could do to keep the chin from wobbling out of control. Anyway, Gene, I was really happy, we all were.

Waved goodbye to Lynne and Heather on the Dartmouth shore about 20 minutes later, and 20 minutes after that, we slowed going by the Maritime Museum dock and shouted goodbyes to Lisa, Marion and Marie from the NSBS. More tears. One more goodbye: Kim, Don, Lorraine and Greg were standing outside the former harbourmaster's office, waving and hollering, and we waved goodbye. And we headed out the harbour. Into the fog.

Long sail to Lunenburg in the fog, with just a bit of rain. We kept readjusting the layers and the head and foot gear until we all looked a bit like arctic travellers blown off course. The crew wasn't seasick at all, which was a very nice surprise -- and in a few interesting moments, we learned quite a lot about the radar and the other instruments when we started reading very very shallow water. Made it past that ledge with everything intact, and motored into Lunenburg before it got really dark. Ate homemade pizza snug in our boat at about 8 pm and opened a bottle of Chianti provided by Wayne and Deb and celebrated our first day as cruisers. Tom was the first to hit the bunk at about 8:20. Rest of the crew followed 10 minutes later.

Nice long visit in Lunenburg, thank you. Weather was consistent, and the exterior (and much of the interior) is sufficiently sluiced with fresh water that we consider ourselves content with this washing period, and would be very pleased if we could progress to the drying cycle. Several new leaks have made themselves known (and felt, particularly the one seeping in from the anchor locker and sogging the bottom foot of our bunk). Our nameboard (once gold) is now green. Obviously not real gold leaf as advertised. Another job to add to the list when we get south and get so damn bored that we can't bear another coat of nail polish on the toenails.

The wee furnace has been a constant source of f-ing irritation for the captain. It works, or doesn't work, on a completely random set of rules. We are puzzled as to whether it's the damp, the fuses, the fuel, the filters, the glow-plug, the air intake, or the fairies. We are consulting the stars in hopes of finding some guidance. If none shows, we'll try some professional sort of poltergeister/small engine wizard in Shelburne.

We rested comfortably at Brooklyn Marina on Tuesday night, a great little stop just outside of Liverpool. We had an excellent sail from Lunenburg, in spite of the continued rinse cycle. We are dressed for it. If you get tired of pictures of us in these outfits, go right ahead and pray for a change in the weather, cause I ain't taking these babies off until I'm guaranteed something other than WET. I gave the fellas a break on Tuesday -- they'd been steering all morning -- and I just lucked into the following sea/strong wind coming round the corner, and maxed her out at 9.2 knots. Rock on. I'll be retiring shortly with a hot water bottle on my shoulders, but hey, the glory, the glory. Average speed today was 7.2.

We laughed over our post-Thanksgiving turkey tetrazzini about the many miles we've covered: "You've been off work for two months, and only left the dock 5 days ago, and you've gone how far? 97 miles?" Everybody stand up and do the wave! Okay. Okay. It doesn't sound like much, but this is major movement, folks.

Thursday morning and we made Shelburne last night after a long day in 25-30 knot winds with some heavy gusting. Big seas -- 3 m swell behind us and on the quarter with just the genoa up -- and most of our motion was up, down or sideways rather than forward, but after several millennia, we made it to Shelburne Yacht Club, safe, if rather salty. The crew wasn't sick -- too much movement to figure out where to upchuck. When we got into calmer waters, we cleaned up the cabin. We thought we'd stowed things pretty well, but stuff was everywhere, including the basket of lunch that early on had pitched off the cabin top where it was tucked under the dodger, and hit the cabin sole about six feet below. Tom ate everything that was still edible. One can of ginger ale was holed and drained into the refrigerator (Capt is cleaning as I do this update). Books in the forward cabin were all over the bunk, but otherwise, nothing damaged. We treated ourselves to dinner at the pub next door, then rum, then to bed. Probably about 8:30. Go ahead and laugh.

We may be in Shelburne several days (with luck, enjoying the dry cycle), until we get a perfect weather window for crossing the big bay. The yacht club is really nice, so we're happily doing laundry and cleaning the boat, and we'll see Randy's mum and friends tomorrow, and my dad is coming on Saturday. Auntie Mary stopped for a quick visit on her way to Halifax today. More goodbyes.

Also we should get parts for the furnace via courier while we're in Shelburne, so all hands are buoyed up with happy expectancy regarding dry heat in the cabin. All that and clean, dry towels and showers ashore. Life is good.

(photo of our departure is courtesy of the delightful Lisa Neily)