On The Rock
We arrive in Port aux Basque, on schedule, aboard the MV Blue Puttees. We both slept well, listening to the fog horn for a few hours as we departed and as we neared the Newfoundland southwest shore. Day is just beginning and the fog is now lifting. We hunt down coffee and breakfast sandwiches and then start the two and a quarter hour drive north to Corner Brook, where will spend two nights with Jef. We are so grateful for his hospitality, his comfortable home and our conversations. Staying with him has now become our regular tendency - a habit hard to give up. We are sorry we missed seeing the boys this time. (And thank you for the loan of the Bernie Howgate books. Our current bedtime reading.)
The Codroy Valley is stunning in the sunlight, but we are soon enveloped in Newfoundland fog - moose alert is now on high alert.
Our two days in Corner Brook are spent sleeping in, grocery shopping and visiting friends. Adam has “Park West” totally renovated now, with the help of our friends Cheryl and Carolyn. We enjoy a delicious lunch and a short catch-up with them on the deck. The restaurant is incredibly beautiful, with all the renovations. The menu is exceptional!
Our Goose Cove friend, Eddie, is also available for a visit, as he is currently at his home in Corner Brook. We sit on his back deck with coffee and sweets from the local bakery. It is sunny and warm. We could linger longer, chatting about life in Goose Cove and our plans for the summer. He continues to encourage us to make the trek back up to Hare Bay for the Garden Party in mid-August. It is certainly in our plans but have to remind him, everything depends on needed boat repairs and weather. We do plan to travel east this year, to Bonavista Bay. If all goes well and we are still in “sailing mode”, we promise to make the trip northwest as we too enjoyed the festivities and the company last year.
The time has come to continue to Lewisporte, where we expect to find Seabiscuit in excellent condition and ready for us to start cleaning and repairing - the centreboard has been repaired, under the management of Jim our faithful mechanic, but still needs to be installed. We anticipate having to cut a hole in the back of the aft cabin to repair our autohelm, so tasks await.
Our usual rental cottage at Embree is not available but we move in to a convenient three-bedroom unit, just three minutes from the marina. It has a large kitchen and dining area, comfortable living-room and laundry facilities. We are pleased. (And able to offer a bedroom to Mike and Ann when they arrive later in the week.)
We begin the next day with the necessary “hellos” to the Lewisporte Marina staff and any fellow sailors working on their boats or lingering in the clubhouse. Ah….Lewisporte life…we remember it well and are happy to be in its midst again.
There is not much mildew on the wood but any plastic surface requires special attention - even the can opener. (It was not a cold winter here. More on climate change later). Lots of cleaning, sorting, window leaks to repair, new starting battery to install, more anchor chain to be added to the existing and of course those previously mentioned, rather daunting tasks.
We have arrived in time for the first social gathering of the Lewisporte Yacht Club - a potluck supper, the raising of the flags and a fundraiser for our very well-liked friend and marina “guy” who has suffered through some traumatic recent health issues. Everyone wants to help during his recovery. The food was wonderful and the conversation lively, with 55 people in attendance. There is just a wonderful feeling of friendship and partnership in the room. Again, we are thankful for having landed in this place, called Lewisporte.
