September 26                             Shelburne, Nova Scotia

We departed Lunenburg only minutes after 8:00 AM.  The bay was completely calm and flags on the dock were barely moving.  We were hoping this would continue when we reached the open sea.  To our amazement and delight, the sea was smooth as glass all the way to Shelburne, a journey of approximately 85 nm.  Cruising away from shore to avoid any shoals, we could still view the natural beauty of Nova Scotia with its rocky shores, sandy beaches, and thick forests of tall evergreens.

The approach to Shelburne is straightforward with few hazards, all clearly marked.  The town was settled by British Loyalists who left the future United States after the Revolutionary War.  It became a shipbuilding and fishing center.  The population today is about 2,000 residents and empty storefronts are indicative of a struggling economy.  The small historical area with a few homes and buildings from the early nineteenth century is well-maintained and worth a visit. Shelburne residents seem to be proud of their Loyalist heritage.  Pubs and houses displayed British flags and one home had a wooden statue of a British soldier prominently positioned in the front yard.

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We docked at the Shelburne Yacht Club and Marina and received a warm welcome from Mary, the assistant manager.  We were invited to the club’s weekly social event that evening.  After a long walk through the town to experience its history and architectural beauty of its many old homes, we decided to attend the yacht club party. 

The club’s main room was on the second floor of the marina office with a breathtakingly beautiful view of the bay from the deck.  A vaulted ceiling with dark wooden beams was decorated with numerous burgees from other yacht clubs.  It was very pretty and festive.  There was a bar and numerous tables and chairs, all filled with club members and guests enjoying drinks and food.  The menu of the evening was southern fried chicken with bacon cornbread, mashed potatoes, and buttered carrots.  One would have thought Paula Deen was in the kitchen!  Obviously, the menu was a hit for we ordered just as they ran out of food.  No problem.  We enjoyed the ambiance and the warm greetings of the members.

Dinner was on the boat as David re-read the instructions for installation and operation of the macerator/waste pump.  Although it seemed to work after being fitted with a new hose, it again would not pump out waste.  As many marinas in this area do not have pump out facilities, this was creating a problem for us.