Air temp 17C, wind SE@12-15 kts, cloudy with sunny breaks... all in all, not great!
Estelle at the Oromocto Boat Club guest dock
After a quiet night in Colwell Creek, we headed in to Washdamoak Lake and in the calm airs motored up nine miles to Cambridge Narrows, for us, the limit of navigation. Somebody decided to install a bridge with 35' clearance, blocking the upper 5 miles from cruisers like us.
Like many other communities, Cambridge Narrows is a small fraction of its former self. Now there is a closed restaurant and store, one small church, a few houses and cottages and the community library in the former school. For us it was the free WiFi and a chance to re-connect with the world that attracted us.
But it also seems to be a community hub as there were more than a few hushed conversations going on, incl our conversation with a local cottage and boat owner we met last year. Like many conversations in the Maritimes it focused on the incredible winter and mountains of snow.
WiFi completed, we took a short walk on the quiet country roads and decided on another night in Colwell Creek where we sat quietly out of the freshening winds and occasional thunderstorms. We had company as three motorboats arrived in late afternoon, loaded with children and tied to the wharf for the night. Lots of running, yelling and splashing meant lots of fun.
On Thursday we started a cool breezy day with scrambled eggs, back bacon and english muffins. After a slow start and a couple of boat jobs, we headed out to the main river and motored up to the village of Gagetown. Here we began to see our first sign of other cruisers. Ashore we walked the quiet streets, checked out a few shops and had an excellent lunch at The Creekview Restaurant. Jeannie had fishcakes served with home-made relish and I had liver and onions, something never served at home and a favorite of mine All served with fresh cornbread and local new vegetables. Too full for dessert, we ordered a coconut cream pie to take with us for supper, and walked it off through the afternoon.
By mid-afternoon we were ready to head off, but found ourselves locked out of the boat with a combination lock that wouldn't open. Fifteen minutes later we were in, thanks to a substantial set of bolt cutters borrowed from the marina attendant. Heading up Gagetown Creek back to the main river, we passed tiny Mount Creek where we saw a fleet of over 20 boats tightly packed in for the night. It is the annual summer cruise of one of the local clubs.
Our anchorage for the night was a tiny channel behind Ram Island. We crept slowly in and found a spot to anchor with 8' of water and a width of no more than two boat lengths. Luckily the current was strong enough to keep us in mid-stream. A nice dinghy cruise up Swan creek and it was time for dinner... BBQ steak with fresh vegetables, a nice Cabernet-merlot, and for dessert, coconut cream pie!
Ram Island Anchorage
Then, in the morning, we carefully reversed our course and crept out of the very snug anchorage. Off up the river, we passed through a few shallow areas, but by careful navigation, we found ourselves off the Oromocto Boat Club where we had reserved a berth for Estelle for an extended stay.
In the mean time, we will head to PEI for a few days then off to BC for a family wedding, then back to cruising... stay tuned!