We waited for a day following the devasting rain storm before heading over to Chester to explore this historic town. There's a very protected anchorage in what is known as back harbour with great dinghy access to town. The town's war memorial sits atop a small hill affording great views of the harbour and the surrounding islands in Mahone Bay. It was a gorgeous summer afternoon as we wandered around town admiring the beautifully restored historic homes, many of which we built in the 1700 and 1800s. Evidence of the heavy rains was everywhere as we walked through gravel from washed out driveways and tip toed through sump pump runoffs. We had seen a poster advertising a blues band that was to play that evening in the local hotel, sadly the basement of the hotel had flooded forcing them to close for at least a week or two. The Nova Scotia warm hospitality is on display everywhere, later as we kayaked around the harbour one fellow said we could land on his dock anytime if we wanted to get ashore.

There is so much to see in the area so it was time to up anchor and check out another spot before heading back to Lunenburg for the open air waterfront Ceilidh on Wednesday. With diesel costing $2.05 a litre we are choosing our destination according to the daily conditions. We departed Chester in a beautiful light breeze and spent 2 relaxing hours searching out a new spot to spend the next couple of days. Once the anchor was down it was once again time to explore the area by kayak. Over the next couple of days we kayaked, relaxed, swam, that's right swam, the water in the shallow bays is near 80 F. As the big day approached for the Ceilidh it was time to head back to Lunenburg and had a rather sporty up wind sail in 20+knots before turning the corner for the run into the harbour.

The Boxwood Festival is a very well known annual music festival with daily workshops and concerts each night in one of the historic churches. However, the waterfront Ceilidh is a free concert that always attracts a big crowd. The music is great but what makes it special is there's an emcee who teaches everyone who wants to dance the popular Celtic dances. Everyone had a great time as we stumbled our way through, promenading, reproaching and various other manouvres. A moonlight dinghy ride across the harbour capped off yet another perfect day.

Today's picture is of a beautifully restored sloop out for an evening cruise in Lunenburg.