This is the belly of the boat where we spent all our awake time when not on deck sailing.  You have to admit it looks cozy right?   Some wondered how it felt to be confined to such close quarters – it felt cozy!   Not everyone likes camping, but if you do, you’d love the belly of the boat, especially at night, relaxing to some music, perhaps sipping some fine wine.  Who needs TV !

Problem is, the world and the space around us seems so huge now.  Not nearly as cozy.   One of us had a recurring dream throughout childhood, and sometimes even now at 50+.  She is very tiny in a very big world where everything is big – even the cups and saucers.  After experiencing the expanse of the ocean that surrounds us from a small vessel and being “cramped” in the cozy quarters of a 30 foot boat for 3 weeks, living “on the hard” immediately brought back memories of that recurring dream.

It is humbling.  We are very important to a few people for a few reasons – but we are very tiny in a very big world nonetheless.

Someone wondered how you eat aboard a boat for 21 days.

Someone imagined army rations – dehydrated packages of grub that couldn’t spoil and made for easy and quick preparation.   Ha – anything but.  (Although Rob’s case of Ramen noodles was close).

We did some fine dining, and not just at the ports of call.  Equipped with 2 stovetop burners, an oven, a BBQ and a wonderful set of nesting ceramic pots and pans, we had everything needed to cook up a storm.

Our daily routine consisted of an alternating breakfast of either bran, berries and yogurt (the healthy and quick choice) or bacon, eggs, fish cakes, beans, toast (the not so healthy and not so quick choice).  But there are shortcuts to everything – Kirkland’s precooked bacon, Janes’ frozen fish cakes, Bushs’ canned beans…….. No need to start from scratch.

We also made lunch every morning so as to minimize going below throughout the day.  No need to risk anyone joining the chum club when the boat was arockin’!  This was almost always a wrap of some sort – meat and cheese and some veggies for crunch – spread first with hummus for added protein, and because anyone who knows the first mate, knows she don’t do mayonnaise right?  The Cap’n, after 21 days, was overheard saying,  in true NL style, “if I never sees anudder friggin’ wrap again, I won’t be sad”.

But the real treat came after a long day at sea and docking safely – there’s something so satisfying and rewarding in a hearty and leisurely evening meal to unwind to.  On board we had the likes of homemade spaghetti and meatballs, fresh bread baked in the oven, homemade lasagna, homemade baked beans, pea soup, chilli, chicken stew, bbq’d steaks, salads, rice, quinoa, veggies.  But again, there are shortcuts to preparing these fine meals aboard a small boat – in our case, many were precooked and frozen and ready for simply reheating.  (Thank you Mavis and Rob, Mama and Gordie)

All this, combined with the fabulous meals we had on land at several ports of call, is why, contrary to the expectation of many, not only did we not starve, but did not lose any weight – not one friggin’ pound 😕.

Sin Jawns does not own the market on colourful buildings!

These vibrant colours could be found everywhere Come What May docked – some more prevalent than others.

Ramea and Francois had their share for sure.  But St. Pierre was the prettiest, hands down.  And Scott’s Cove in Port aux Basques Is so cute.

So delightful, especially after a long sail on a grey foggy day.

Never ceases to amaze us – how beautiful things sometimes reflect off water – mainly when it is still.

Sometimes a perfect mirror image.

Some people never take notice – but it is all around.  Some people just don’t get what the big deal is about “water”.

70% of our oxygen comes from the ocean.

71% of the Earth’s surface is water covered and 97% of Earth’s water is from the oceans – so not suitable for drinking.

We know it impacts the weather, temperatures, life……..

Less than 5% of the ocean has been explored to date.  Does that mean that what we don’t know exceeds what we do know about the ocean and its impact on our lives?

It is not a big deal.  It is Colossal – Mammoth – Gargantuan !!

So would it surprise you to learn that even when it’s bright and sunny and warm on land, it is a tad chilly out on the open North Atlantic?  We learned right from Day Two that ’tis better to overdress in many layers and start stripping once you got too warm (a rare event) cuz if you got chilled from the start, it was not nice.  Thermal underwear, wool, and a good set of coastal marine sail pants and coat are a must.

Now some would say, why not just go down below to warm up?  Well, with 10 foot waves only 3 seconds apart, even the heartiest of sailors with their lifelong sea legs know being confined below is not wise.  Also, it’s nice for the cap’n to have company…… So an excellent alternative is simply to hang out in the companionway!   The first mate did a lot of sitting in the companionway facing the cap’n and under the protection of the dodger which was lovely.   But even better, to warm up even faster, she found that sitting front on got half her body in the cabin, the other half under the dodger, and some reprieve from the view from behind.

And of course, nothing beats a good old fashioned cup of Lipton chicken noodle soup to warm the innards.   It became a daily ritual, served in a thermal travel mug, an excellent simple and inexpensive addition to our equipment this trip (unlike most of the equipment upgrades).  Whether or not there is any actual science to the hot soup method of warming up, we don’t know, but it sure seems to have a warm and cozy kind of impact.

Here’s a brief video of some of the wildlife we encountered. Enjoy!

Looking over the so many pics captured during the more than 200 hours spent sailing 2000 kms of ocean, we reflect on all there is to share with those interested in our adventure! Different strokes for different folks of course. Some are interested in the ocean life we encountered, some in the boat itself and associated mechanics, some in the geography of the places visited, some in the amenities available at each port, some in the interpersonal challenges of sharing a tiny space with others, some in the fashion standards aboard a 30 foot vessel in the middle of the cold Atlantic Ocean. Some in what exactly happened to our Halifax crew….
So for our most loyal followers, we’re pulling some things together to fill in some of the blanks left in our blog. So many different themes to be considered. Some simple – like the many faces of the ocean – a dozen different colours……. Some more complicated.  For now, just a few for your viewing pleasure.

P.S.  “Would we do it again?” seems the most common question today.   What do you think?

 

                                      
    
   

Our story started simply enough; four friends moving a boat to its new home . . . 

What happened was an epic adventure. Epic because it galvanized many new skills, emotions, self-discoveries, tests of endurance, appreciations for people, for places and the bonds of friendship. Epic.

And, it was a true adventure. Never knowing what each day would bring; the discoveries, the challenges, the new beginnings. And the weather; friend mostly, but quick to turn to hostile foe.

Sea adventures are unique for their unfolding in such a foreign place. Not a city, not a country, but a completely different environment that drives a deep appreciation for the uniqueness of it. The ocean; a part of our world that’s dark, foreboding, and mysterious but also teeming with a life that thrives there, not dies. We are the true foreigners. Death at our doorstep in every moment; a misjudgement, a wrong move, a bad decision, pride, peer pressure, fatigue; any could result in the ultimate end. But it does not feel foreign underfoot after a few days at sea. It has a rhythm, a fluid motion that fills your senses and fuels your interest. Another world that somehow emotes feelings of belonging. “Sea legs” is a cute expression, it’s also an adaptation to something once known. It’s a place once rediscovered, you feel empty upon leaving.

That’s how we feel today. Day one back “on the hard”. We miss it already. We yearn for it. But this adventure has an end, and a new beginning; because it started as four friends moving a boat, it ended with two people, partners, who will be drawn back . . . over and over again.

   
 

Grey River was by far the most narrow harbour entrance we squeezed through. It required concentratiuon on the cap’n’s part – the cap’n by the way has become quite adept at hiding any sign of doubt/anxiety/nervousness etc. until AFTER the feat causing any such emotion has been successfully executed. A good skill for a Captain.

Once inside the narrow passageway, Grey River’s majestic beauty immediately calms you. Several arms to this Fiord – the walls rising up to touch the clouds, the origins of its mysterious cracks and crevices never to be known for sure to man. Its waterfalls scanty this year due to lack of rain?