11.9 Knots

Quite the weekend past, spurred on by the last minute decision to hit Rogue's Roost from Halifax on a fine Northwesterly breeze.  Arrival at the goal about 5 and a half hours later, following a beautiful sunset on the horizon line, and navigation and anchorage in the cove in the dark proving to be within your capabilities after all.  Thankfully no other boats in the lower arm.  An early morning sunrise, and then drifting back to sleep to find a slight drift toward Snow's plaque.  But all well, at least until the aft rope tied itself up around the motor, requiring a quick raising of the sail and trip all the way to Prospect to find the right buoy to tie onto and solve the problem.  How crucial experience proves in relation to the surrounding areas, even more than one year on.

Issue sorted, thanks to a random rope splice at the very last opportunity, then out and back again, into the rolling waves of the broad North Atlantic and heavy, heavy winds.  Should most definitely have been wearing a lifejacket, but the tense ride kept you in one place as the hours ticked by and the Sambro channel was successfully navigated.  Only one accidental jibe throughout and the relaxation when you turned for home around Chebucto Head was palpable, despite the Halifax traffic heading out the shipping lanes.  In all, a 28 hour return trip that offered far more in experience on the open water than most of the other trips thus far this year.  When it is cold this year, and you long for the sea, remember the sun on your face and the pounding of the waves and the salt water that splashed all over your face and pants and jacket as you longed for the restful comfort of home.  A grand "big sail" to suck the most out of everything before the coming of winter.

What else?  Salsa lessons continuing ahead of the trip to TO, and a potential Moncton/camping trip this weekend.  The likely unsuccessful application under draft, and still no answer from our friends at the utility regarding the long-sought after draft findings and compilation of data.  Off for a sail now, the possibility of George's tonight looms in the background, but perhaps best saved for another time.  More pleasurable in the mind, no doubt, but still worth pondering. 

And at the back of your mind, the idea of a move out of town, closer to Rogue's perhaps (ha!), and what impact that might have on work here, conversations of partnership and the like and etc.  But first things first, I guess.  See how things unfold over the next few months on a variety of fronts, and where your head is at in March/April.  Think about it while cruising, how about that.  I see another year of decent work ahead at least.  But 2016?  That could be a whole other story.