The WakaNahannis at Sea: Halifax

Since arriving in Halifax, we have been hopping. While trying to prepare for our next adventure, we are enjoying this place immensely! Here are the first two weeks of living the life of a Haligonian...

"The people here are so nice!" We say this at least twice a day. Since our arrival in Halifax on October 7th, we have been on the receiving end of some exceptional Maritime hospitality.

Nahanni V in Purcell's Cove

John and I spent a year refitting Spartina from 2000-2001 in Purcell's Cove, a small community in the Halifax Regional Municipality. We returned again in 2002, after visiting the Caribbean the first time. The Cove is a special place, full of characters and colourful tales. It is located in the Halifax Harbour, at the entrance to the Northwest Arm. Removed from big city noise, it is surrounded by forest; some of which is protected by the Nature Trust. There is a network of trails and an inland pond, which is great for swimming. In the Cove, you have a perfect view of the comings and goings of ships in the harbour; smaller boats bob cheerfully at moorings. There is a small cooperative marina now called The North Star Yacht Club, where Captain Ed's Marina once sheltered Spartina for a year.

We have lots of good reasons for coming to Halifax. There are lots of people here we really like. Our family connections include my sister Susanne and John's cousins Nancy and Janice.

Susanne hiking on East Coast Trail, Newfoundland

Janice and Nancy

Ben and Lana are intrepid offshore sailors we met while preparing for our first offshore passage in 2000. Their family is complete with Seamus, Miranda and Samantha.

Ben aboard Antares

Lana and daughter Miranda docking Antares

John with Wavey, Seamus, Miranda, Sam, and Simon

Our friend George (who once loaned us his basement to sew a sail for 3 months), is forever curious, knowledgeable and kind.

Hanging out with George and Helen for dinner

George's friend Helen (who makes awesome cookies!)

There are still so many other friends that we have not yet caught up with and new friends we have made. It feels like home in many ways.

Upon arrival to Halifax, we were invited by Ben and Lana to stay at the private dock they share with fellow sailors and friends Julien and Nina. Julien and Nina are also avid sailors who own a beautiful ketch, Andromède. The dock is attached to a boathouse (or "the shed") that they built a few years ago. The neighbouring boathouse is owned by Kim and Paul, whom we met in our Spartina years.

The Shed

Neighbours Kim and Paul's boathouse

Once we were tied up and reacquainted, Ben and Lana whisked us away to their home overlooking the harbour. There, we found soup, showers, and friendship. Simon and Wavey were warmly welcomed by the energetic trio of Miranda, Seamus and Samantha. We were soon to meet Julien and Nina's delightful duo, Nolwen and Leo.

Simon and Wavey with Leo and Nolwen

It was very appropriate that we arrived in Halifax prior to Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for. It was an honour to be invited to Ben and Lana's for Thanksgiving Dinner. They set up their living room with tables to fit all twenty-five guests in comfortably. The food was divine (all gluten free!!) and the guests were delightful. The kids were in their glory with heaps of other kids to roam around with; many of them sailing kids. We returned to Nahanni V after this feast of Thanksgiving, oozing with good feelings.

Lana, Ben and Sam

Setting for wonderful Thanksgiving dinner

Julien carving Lana's beautiful turkey

Art!

On the Thanksgiving Monday, it was not wise to remain at the dock when the remnants of Hurricane Matthew blew through. We were grateful when Julien and Nina offered us their mooring to ride out the 45 knots of wind. Julien and Ben assisted us to bring the boat to the mooring in high winds. Supplied with sleeping bags and air mattresses, we hunkered down in their boathouse for the night, and watched the boats pitch around on their moorings.We felt extremely lucky that we had not experienced the destruction that Matthew had brought to so many areas south and north of us.

It wasn't long before we started to explore the city. The kids were amazed with the generous offers of vehicles to use. Ben and Lana handed us the keys several times and my sister Susanne offered us her car while she was off hiking in Newfoundland. We wasted no time getting to the farmer's market, checking out the local libraries, and finding some new places to eat. Kim from next door even arranged for a trip around the Cove on her son Steven's working boat.

Simon and Wavey getting a ride on Steven's boat

We managed to get into a bit of routine in Bomeschool activities during our first two weeks in Halifax. On some days we worked at the boat, but discovered more options including the boathouse, Susanne's home, the library, the forest, and the beach to hold school. We also discovered these great Eco Packs at the Spryfield Library. These backpacks come complete with the materials to explore and learn about a local ecosystem in regions close to the boat. We signed out the Ocean Shore pack and spent three days learning, including one beach day.

Wavey at the new Central Library right after we got our Halifax library card!

Bomeschool at Spryfield Library

Doing math at Spryfield Library

Eco Pack from Library

Exploring the beach

School at Crystal Crescent Beach

Exploring sea life

Back at the lab...(my sister Susanne's dining room table)

Forest Bomeschool

Checking out the composition of stream foam

Recording findings

Ben and Lana have been generous in providing opportunities for family outings. This family knows how to play. (I think they should start a family adventure and wilderness program.) One day, they loaded their truck up with borrowed bikes for us and their daughter Sam. We spent an afternoon riding on the Rails to Trail in Tantallon (http://www.halifax.ca/trails/StMargaretsBayRailsToTrails.php).

Cycling on Rails to Trail

John, Simon and Sam having a snack on cycling afternoon

More snacks at end of Rails to Trail

Another day we went hiking in Truro, and climbed up a waterfall. After that, we watched The Happy Prince, a wonderful ballet performance by Miranda and her ballet school.

Simon and the waterfall

Starting to cross the stream

Kathryn's boots were almost tall enough to cross the stream

At the top!

Ben and Lana also have great ideas for fun stuff to do, like sailing downtown to the dock at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, and spending the night. While there, we attended Nocturne -- "An annual evening of art at night in the heart of Halifax." http://nocturnehalifax.ca).