It all started when we knew we needed to get Banyan's bottom painted. Its been two years now since Banyan left the Great White North (aka Canada) with her freshly done bottom, and we have to admit, things were looking, well, not that pretty anymore.
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So we made some arrangements to have her hauled at Spice Island Marina,
and although it's never a gut-or heart-happy feeling to see your home away from home dangling in mid-air, we watched the Marina Staff respectfully, conscientiously and carefully treat
Banyan like one of their own.
And since we had to find somewhere to live while this was being done, we figured that a quick trip back home to visit family was just what the doctor ordered.
And then our To Do list spiralled out of control. Given it was going to be fall and Brrrr COLD when we got there, we first had to find our
winter clothes that were packed in vacum-sealed bags, completely hidden under our mattress.
Then we needed to tackle a whole bunch of boat issues. Sails needed to be taken down for inspection, and cleaning arranged. Ditto for the dodger/bimini. The WaterMaker needed pickling. Batteries double-checking, and the Prop greased.
I tackled the insides, wiping them down with vinegar water, packing any and all foodstuffs away in Ziplock Baggies. And So On.
The list of things To Do, whether you leave the boat for three weeks or three months, pretty much amounts to the same amount of work. Skip forward a few days of constant chores in HOT HOT heat, and we finally tackled the last task, which was to release a Bug Bomb "just in case". With that, we locked
Banyan up, and walked away, with just a few backward glances (smile).
Our three week trip back home was short and Focused on Family and Buying a Few Things, all while driving through 4 Provinces,
which were erupting in full splendour of breath-taking Fall Colours.
Stops in Quebec City by Chateau Frontenac,
overlooking the St Lawrence River.
The gorgeous Pastoral Lands of Ile d'Orleans,
that led to a stop at the Pumpkin Patch Festival
with Fields
and Mazes to walk through,
of Corn Maize.
and some pretty impressive creatures grown in Shediac, New Brunswick!!
The meandering walks (not to be confused with Grenadian Hashes) on one of our favourite Trail Paths in Nova Scotia,
to the rugged Nova Scotia Coast
battered by Atlantic Ocean at Lawrencetown Beach.
The Feasting of Fine Food was certainly gargantuan in epic proprotions this year, from Fine Dining with Friends, who made this amazing Supper for us as we stopped through to visit. Home-made "Hot-Dog" Buns, overflowing with Fresh Lobster Salad along with perfectly grilled BBQ Steak and lots of conversation and laughs.
Fine Dining with Great Friends, to the (in)famous Poutines in Québec
Originating from Québec, poutines can described like this: a fast-food type of dish (best when ordered from small local casse-croûtes) and consist of french fries, topped with cheese-curds and gravy ladled all over. Historically, the tale tells of a restaurateur who described the dish by saying "ça va faire une maudite poutine" ("it will make a damn mess").
Can't forget the Pogos and Onion Rings at Festivals,
to Clams at John's Lunch in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
and of course the Stuffing of The Turkey to celebrate our Canadian Thanksgiving
to Birthday Wishes and Celebrations,
and impromptu stops at a local micro-brewery that offered up guess what ? The best Duck Poutine. Ever!
It was a sobering time as we walked through the halls of information shaped by some very dramatic architecture at the Canadian War Museum,
Especially interesting was the Memorial Hall, where the sun somehow strategically shines through a small window and on November 11th, at 11 a.m., and will directly illuminate the Headstone of the Unknown Soldier.
And where Dave was surprised to come across "his" VDS (Variable Depth Sonar)
that was one of the ones that he launched, and recovered, during his early years with the Navy, sitting in the relic room of the War Museum!
And of course, the Capt'N being a SENS fan, the trip to Ottawa wouldn't have been complete
without a good ole Hockey Game !!
Three weeks of great family type moments and memories, all while Banyan's being flossed and glossed. And so ends Banyan's Second Season "Somewhere South of Somewhere".