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1945 Sunday, August 13, 2023
Extra photos below today.
That's me above, smiling due to 60 stunning miles of sailing today. As days on this coast go, today was a winner. We were up at 0500, knowing we had a long run ahead of us. It was still basically dark; the days are getting shorter quickly as we move south; declining latitude is stealing back the nights that never fully darkened.
In short order, we cast off lines and found ourselves heading out of La Scie accompanied by numerous small boats with outboards. It is on Saturday, Sunday and Monday during the months of the food fishery when each and every Newfoundlander is allowed to catch up to five cod. As we turned right outside the harbor we could see small boats in close to the cliffs, perched in their favorite fishing spot.
For JJ and I, we continued out and rounded Cape St. John as the orange glow of daybreak graced the headland. Our main and jib were both set and we were making better than six knots. After the Cape we passed the north, middle and south "bills" of the cape, each more spectacular than the one before. The last with what looked like an Egyptian pyramid in the early, morning light.
The dark clouds of dawn were breaking up and orange/yellow beams gave a sense of an unearthly aura. After rounding the cape we had a 35 mile run under sail across Notre Dame Bay. JJ seemed to enjoy the sunlight, warmth and fair breeze. As we approached the other side of the bay we passed a lighthouse as we entered the myriad forested islands that felt like a labyrinth for the next 20 miles to Lewisporte at the head of the bay.
As we were part way in the bay, we spied something in the distance which I have not seen in well over a month - another boat under sail! It seems hard to believe that we had been sailing in waters so seldom visited by cruising boats.
Tonight we are in the marina at Lewisporte, which feels like a metropolis after the remote areas we have been visiting. It is also the weekend of the local Mussel Bed Festival, complete with outdoor concerts and fireworks A re-entry into civilization. Tomorrow, JJ will be departing Tazzarin and Annie will be taking his place aboard. I am really looking forward to cruising with Annie as we make our way south through fishing outports to St. J. Also, JJ's wife, Becky, is meeting JJ here for a short driving vacation of a few days before they will fly home.
Tomorrow will be a day of boat work and provisioning. Today we did 60 miles of sailing in about two hours. Tazzarin and I were in our element today, sailing miles on a blue sea.
Bill
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