Police and Friends
Tuesday begins another warm and sunny day. We slip our lines and motor east through the tickle, before turning north and then west around The Brandies. (This is a popular name for any long-reaching shoal area. This is the third set of “Brandies” we have travelled around.)
The wind is about thirteen knots and coming from the west southwest. The sea state is about four feet. Not the most comfortable especially because we are travelling west so we have the mainsail up to help stabilize the ride but it isn’t much help with the wind. We could go further north and tack our way back toward our destination of Moreton’s Harbour but we are getting lazy and after passing Twillingate decide we just want to get to our next harbour. The sky is darkening and we have passed our Plan B.
We do see another sailboat, which appears to have left western Fogo Island. It could be Packet Inn, our dock neighbours in Lewisporte. We were told they were in Joe Batt’s Arm and might be heading to Change Islands. Terry and Raelene left before we arrived in Newfoundland, with the plan to travel the south shore. There is also an ice berg, the first we’ve seen this summer, just behind them, far out on the horizon.
It is 25’C and we are cruising along in jeans and t-shirts. We did not bring enough lightweight clothes for yet another warm week ahead. The breeze is steady but warm.
Just rounding North Twillingate Island and the Long Point Lighthouse, I see a black boat which appears to be coming straight for us. As it nears I see it is actually a zodiac which comes behind and then very close to our starboard side. It is the RCMP! This is a first for us and comes only second to the visit we had from the Cormorant rescue helicopter in Bonavista Bay.
We are asked to slow down - clearly not because we are speeding but they want to “interview” us. One officer steers along beside, about ten feet away. One asks the questions and the third officer appears to be videotaping the exchange. “Where did we travel from? Where are we going? Where do we live? How many onboard?”. The final question is asking our names. Seems odd that is the last question but I expect they have already researched our registration number and know the answer. I guess they just want to make sure it is really us!
They never asked to board us or to see required safety equipment but perhaps seeing our life jackets being worn, radar, rescue throw device and my InReach beacon on my life jacket might have been enough to realize we are not taking any chances.
An hour later we are settled in Moreton’s Harbour, out of the wind and the waves. Two hours later we see a mast coming through the entrance to the cove. It is Packet Inn, as we suspected. They anchor nearby and we have a short exchange. Nice to have company and someone we know.
Harald barbecues hamburgers for a very early supper, we hang blankets in the enclosure to keep the sun out and spend the rest of the day just reading and napping. There are some nice walks on shore, but I’m afraid neither of us relishes leaving the boat.
Seems all the sailors in Moreton’s Harbour have an early bedtime. We settle in after a lovely sunset and plans to stay another day.
The sky is bright with stars when I look through the hatch at 3:00am. They seem so large, so close. Word is there might be Northern Lights visible this week but nothing I can see from here.
The rain begins at 5:00am and Packet Inn leaves at 8:30, assuming heading back to Lewisporte in coming days.
It’s French Toast for breakfast, which we are just finishing when Bricolanto appears at the narrows coming into the harbour. They have travelled ten nautical miles from Intricate Harbour, just south of us on the same peninsula. We have been following each other through our Garmin devices and Instagram posts - no secrets here!
Colleen is working and Brian is filling the day in the cockpit - like us. I paint and work on this blog, prepare meals and just stare out at the shoreline and the passing cars.
Harald fills the diesel from the jerry cans, checks the oil and belts and cleans the “Big Orange” - the filter that usually eliminates odours from our holding tank. Nothing wrong with the filter so the search for the smell continues. Fortunately, it seems to only be a problem after pumping out.
The rain stops long enough for Brian and Colleen to come by for a short chat before heading to shore to stretch their legs. Having a swim platform on your stern certainly looks easier for dinghy access.
They depart in the sunshine the next morning, with several more planned stops before their final destination of the Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club in Conception Bay South. We will stay in touch and hope to get together over the winter, as our homes are only an hour apart.
We are just 45 minutes behind them, after Harald’s struggle to remove the very large, broadleaf kelp from the anchor. Our destination is west as we still have four weeks to enjoy Notre Dame Bay before our final stop in Lewisporte.
Fair winds, Bricolanto.