August 27                          Goldboro, Nova Scotia, Canada

The fuel truck arrived on time and with a fast pump, we had taken on more than 500 gallons of fuel in less than ten minutes.  We left the dock before 8:00 AM on a beautiful sunny day with little wind.  Weather reports had indicated the wind would increase so we were expecting choppy waves when we entered the Atlantic. 

Our destination was a recommended marina at Liscombe.  This would be a journey of about eight hours.  Communication with Liscombe was not encouraging.  They had no space for us and mooring was questionable.  At 18 meters, our boat is too large for many small docks and we are reluctant to anchor.  Liscombe promised to call us later in the day to give us updated information. 

Before exiting Chedabucto Bay and entering the Atlantic, we experienced a marked increase in the wind and waves.  This continued without pause and we were battered as the bow of the boat was lifted high into the air and then dropped with considerable force.  We had “battened down the hatches” but furniture was moved, books thrown from the shelves, and a cabinet door in the galley shaken loose.  We were confined most of the day to the helm as it was too dangerous to go below.

We were hopeful the waves would diminish as the hours passed but this did not happen.  We both agreed we had experienced our worst day ever on a boat.  Shortly after 4:00 PM, I finally found a nearby place to stop.  We had not been contacted by Liscombe and were reluctant to continue another two hours to an uncertain destination.  Goldboro offered a public wharf in an easily accessible location.  Quickly changing our course, we entered a lovely protected bay and proceeded the short distance to a small dock.  We pulled into the one available space and our lines were secured by one of the fishermen on the dock.

Goldboro, an idyllic community of lovely homes and churches tucked into the lush forests surrounding the bay, had an impressive community center on the wharf.  Ladies inside were selling ice cream and snacks to the many wharf visitors.  Goldboro has only 35 residents but it is a popular local destination.  We were delighted to find this refuge from the storm.  Our dock fee was $29.00.  We would recommend Goldboro to other mariners as a great stop on the way to Halifax because of its easy accessibility (no shoals and only 2.5 nm inland) and natural beauty.