Shelburne is another cruisers delight. The yacht club welcomes visitors with open arms, showers and bar. Nothing is too much trouble for them. The town is steeped in history with buildings to match. Settled in 1783 by British Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution it was ironically named Shelburne after the Prime Minister of England who caved in to the revolutionaries. Many of the oldest buildings have been restored and in 1993 was further restored so that it could be used as a location for the movie "Scarlet Letter".
The very first people we met said "You must have a meal at "Charlotte Lane" restaurant, the food is superb." We had similar recommendations from everyone else we met that day. It was Sunday and we attended worship at the United Church, with yet another female minister and wonderful music including a hand bell offertory. Then we set off for "Charlotte Lane" only to discover that it is closed on Sunday and Monday, the only two days we felt we could afford to spend in Shelburne. Expressing our disappointment out loud to a local woman we were invited next door to her home. She and her husband moved to Shelburne a few years ago and have set up a workshop where Forbes makes the most beautifully crafted wooden flutes we have ever seen. On their recommendation we headed for the local bakery to enjoy our first "Reuben", (grilled rye bread with Pastrami, sour kraut and Swiss cheese). Bonnie liked it so much that she is determined to add it to her culinary creations. Dinner guests beware.
We loved Shelburne and were tempted to stay longer than two days but the weather pattern was good and we were running out of warm sunny days. Several other boats were leaving to sail to Maine and as one was leaving the dock Bonnie and I sang them off with our Farewell Sea Shanty.
We now faced another formidable passage requiring us to sail overnight around the foot of Nova Scotia, noted for its strong currents, and across the Bay of Fundy where the biggest tidal range in the world occurs. One tidal station records rises exceeding 16 metres several times a year. We needed to get it right.
1 comment:
Bonnie and Bruce,
How do you do it!!
I hadn't visited your blog for some time and was pleased to know that you were mobile again. It must have been a wonderful enforced stay.
My daughter Bronwyn and family have just moved from Virginia to Michigan and I have booked my fare to visit them in January. That will be half way between Christmas and her 40th birthday so should be a happy time. I think winter in Michigan may just be a bit colder than winter here in Adelaide.
Am I right in thinking that you may be on your way down to the Panama Canal to head off across the Pacific and back to Australia or have you renegotiated your travel plans?
Anyhow, it sounds like you are having a great time of it all, in spite of the breakdowns and delays.
God bless and smooth sailing,
Tom
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