Hi Everybody,

 

Yes, I know, I said that my last blog was....well...my last, but everyone else is sending “goodbye blogs”, so I thought “why not me?”. So here we go, but just a short one, I promise.

 

As you know, we stopped at Nain yesterday, mid way down the coast of Labrador. Nain is a small fishing community, with a mostly Innuk population. Way further south of course than Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay, so a little more organised and modern. This made it less appealing to me, as I am attracted to wild and somewhat chaotic places.

 

Which reminds me. Soon after our arrival I was on the quay tidying up the ropes, and chatting to a local fisherman. I asked him, more in hope than expectation, if there was a bar in the hamlet. To my amazement, he said yes, and it opens at 6pm and closes at around midnight. You must realise that we had not been in a bar for almost 2 months. At this stage I should tell you that it was the skipper’s stated intention to leave immediately, to be on our way again. Anyway, I felt it was my duty to pass on this information concerning the bar. On hearing this news, a thoughtful look came across the skipper’s face, and he said: “You know, we have been pushing quite hard, and we are a little tired, I think maybe we should stay here tonight, and leave at dawn tomorrow.”

 

A short time later, Dai was also on the quay. I noticed a manic glint in his eye as he was talking to the fisherman, and I heard him ask: “This bar, is it good? Is there fighting, loud music and wild women?” The fisherman looked at Dai, a puzzled frown on his face as he answered: “No, it’s rather quiet actually.” I sensed the deep disappointment in the skipper’s voice as he replied “Oh good.”

 

So later that evening, with great anticipation, we three remaining stalwarts headed through the quiet main street (actually the only street) in search of our El Dorado. It did not take long to find it, locked, and with all the lights out. I think, under the circumstances, a wise decision by the owner.

 

On the way back to the boat, we stopped and chatted to some local teenagers. As always in these settlements, I found the young people to be extremely open and friendly, polite, and interested in talking and hearing about other people and places.This interaction with with the local people has been, for me, one of the highlights of this trip, which will remain with me for a very very long time.

 

And so ended our short stay in Nain. At first light the next day, we were indeed on our way again.

 

The winds have turned against us as, for the next few days, the forecast calls for winds of 25 – 35 knots from the SW. We want to go SE. BUT – there is an inland passage for a large part of the trip, at least for the next couple of days. As I write this, sitting on deck, we are sailing on a flat sea, sheltered by beautiful island all around us, zig-zagging between them to make our way south. The scenery really is spectacular. The sun is shining and our spirits are high.

 

Not succeeding in making a transit of the NW Passage was indeed a disappointment. But if we had done so, then we would not have discovered this magical cruising ground among the islands of the Labrador coast. So overall, we do not feel disheartened. Rather it has been a terrific experience, which will keep me going until....well....the next time?

 

Thank you for reading my humble blog.

All the Best and Take Care

Pete