TANCOOK

TANCOOK

On the other side of the Aspotogan Peninsula to the East of us, just around the corner from St-Margaret’s Bay is Mahone Bay another expansive sailing ground dotted with 365 islands.  How cool is that to have an island for every day of the year?  The largest, a 50 minute ferry ride, is Big Tancook. Literally meaning, facing the sea.

Chester Basin

You can read a bit more about Tancook Island by clicking here if you wish, along with a few answered questions about life on the island here.   A curious tid bit I learned today was that this year the elementary school has just one student.  Lucky student.  Lucky teacher.

As we were watching lumber being load onto the ferry, obviously for someone’s building project. we both were thinking ‘hope they didn’t forget the screws’.  Wouldn’t you hate to have forgotton an essential tool or other bits and pieces?

Boarding the William G. Ernst

At first Luke said no way when he saw the boat but with a bit of encouragement he boarded.

Making Friends

Once underway it didn’t take him long to feel much more comfortable and start making friends.  Nickie seemed to be his favourite but fist bumps were freely given out to all who passed.

As with so many sea-side communities Tancook was no exception to brightly coloured well-kept homes.  Where else would you see yellow, red and purple on one property and have it look this great?

Historic Home

Onward to finding lunch and filling our bellies….

Motivated for a Good Lunch

There is a story behind todays’ lunch.  Why things like this should surprise me I’m not sure but this tops my ever-expanding list of welcome to Nova Scotia tales.  Planning the trip, I thought it would be fun to have lunch on the island.  I found information in Tancook Island tourist forum about a restaurant that served things that Luke would like…and beer….we two dusty travellers would need a cold brew to quench our thirst as well.  It seemed the place was closed on Mondays (today) so I called the listed number to make sure.  Here is how the conversation went…

Patrick the owner: “When were you planning on coming?”

Me: “I wanted to bring my son over Monday but it looks like you’re closed Mondays”

Patrick: “Come along. I’ll open for you”

Me: taking a minute to recover from the shock…”Are you sure?”

Patrick: “Sure! No problem.  What’s your name so I can expect you?”

Our Gracious Host

So here’s how it played out.  We were invited into the owner’s home.  Welcomed with all the charm and chatty conversation we have come to expect and served a very tasty lunch…cold brew and all…

Fresh Paninni

When the owner’s wife asked how everything was, Luke responded:’Wonderful”. ‘Well’, she said,  ‘I guess it doesn’t get any better than that!”

Guys at the Beach

Since we had an hour to kill before the ferry left to take us back to Chester on the mainland we did a bit of beaching.

A Good Start

Francois made a good start on our beach glass collection.

Pitching Rocks

…and Luke waded in knee-deep to cool off.

The Ferry Awaits

Fifty minute return, more fist bumps and friends made, a small pod of porpoises frolicking in the wake of the ferry, cool breeze to refresh and we were back on land before we knew it.

Post Script: french translation is automated and not always perfect. Sorry!

CONDENSATION

CONDENSATION

It’s not the water outside the boat that creates the problem but the water within, or in our case the moisture.  Well, yes there was a case(s) last year where we left the forward hatch open, crossed the wake of a very large cruiser which thoroughly soaked our bed.  Our fault. We forgot.  We learned.  We dried out…eventually.

This year though we faced another moisture challenge.  Cold meeting warm.  When the frigid temperatures of the Saint Lawrence River (1 °C – 7 °C)  met the warm-ish ambient temperatures inside R.E.D.’s cabin condensation resulted.  And evil mildew ensued.

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R.E.D. isn’t built for such conditions and now that we are back from this summer’s adventure we have to address fixing the issues.

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After scrubbing away the mildew, Francois put a substantial coating of a product that is supposed to control mold and mildew.  Well if the famous Mike Holmes endorses it, it must be good, right? Worth a try anyway.

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Our Froli bed system and cushions were removed from the V-berth. The floatation material was also removed and the bilge lined with mylar insulation…the same used to make the blanket for our cooler (story here)

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Mylar Liner

Have you ever taken a piece of equipment apart and when putting it back together had something leftover?…

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Where Does This Go?

…This was one of those cases.

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Mylar Lined Bilge Cover

We are, for the moment at least, mold and mildew free.  V-berth cushions and bedding has been returned.  The rear bilges have been cleaned and pretty well sanitized.  The one big issue remains that will have to be addressed (if I have anything to do with it)…all that carpet on the walls of the cabin MUST GO.  Replacing the covering on the dagger board well turned out to be a great solution – however difficult – it was worth the effort (story here).  We have discussed options.  Francois has thoughts. I have thoughts and as with any good team, somewhere in the middle, we will reach a solution.  More to come on that in the near future. For now we will enjoy sailing on our little lake for the rest of the season mold-free.

 

CAPTAIN’S BIRTHDAY MODIFICTIONS

CAPTAIN’S BIRTHDAY MODIFICTIONS

Captain Francois’ birthday gift has arrived.

Maybe not the ‘sexiest’ gift but we have read so many great reviews

about this system being great for

sleeping comfort and

mattress ventilation…

Froli Bed Systems

(German engineering at its best)

It’s like leggo or a mechano set,
and what ‘kid’ doesn’t enjoy putting together puzzles?
…second box with custom parts…
…easy to follow instructions…
(Captain always reads the instructions)
…base layer a snap to install…
(pun very much intended)
…lighter blue springs at shoulder area…
…red lumbar supports installed…
…easy to lift and access storage below…