When Rose and Emmett left, we decided to go slow and let the wind tell us our direction. The goal would be to have a nice sail if possible, and then have time to explore where we landed. This area of Nova Scotia is well suited to this approach because there are many quaint towns, anchorages and harbors in every direction.
Before leaving Chester, we took a ride on the ferry to Tancook Island, a nearby island for a wander and exploration. Since COVID, the ferries in Nova Scotia do not charge a fare. It was nice to get a free ride!
After that, the wind was forecast to come from the south in a few days, so we worked our way south to set up a nice sail north for later in the week. Along the way, we had a chance to explore a couple remote anchorages and then wound up in a little town called LaHave. LaHave had a bakery which also hosted a bookstore, craft store, coffee shop and grocery store. Nearby, there were several artists studios and showrooms, including pottery, jewelry, photography, and painting.
The wind made its turn and we decided to go north, stopping on the north side of Lunenburg at the excellent Lunenburg Yacht Club, and in Mahone Bay Town.
The next day was the last day of Chester Race Week, an annual regatta that draws boats from Canada and the United States. It’s one of the biggest events of the year in the area, and we knew we had to see some of it for ourselves. We made our way an anchorage across the bay from Chester, and then took the dinghy to a nearby island that had a commanding view of the races. We hiked up to the summit of the island, and could see everything, but it was so far away we couldn’t understand much, except to see the boats racing their courses. After that realization, we decided to return to Tilia. Upon our return, we were pleased to discover that we happened to be anchored in the perfect spot to see some of the boats cross the finish line, and to also see many other boats out for an afternoon sail.
From there, we made our way back and forth across Mahone Bay to the Southern shore of Nova Scotia, just west of Halifax. These anchorages have been largely peaceful, protected and remote. We’re frequently amazed by the surroundings we find ourselves enjoying.
Over these last two weeks we have cruised a 30 nm stretch of coastline. We have always had something new to explore or see, and we have not exhausted the wonder of this small slice of Nova Scotia.