Fond farewell to Portland

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Trying not to reflect too heavily as we get ready to make the last crossing of our cruise. Nostalgia is best saved for winter evenings when I'm finally going through the 10,000 photos.

Portland has been a perfectly delightful place to linger and meet some of the most amazing folks, while waiting for fair west winds and pancake seas. Do I hear the old salts guffawing? Yeah, I know. Pancakes are for breakfast but not for describing the Gulf of Maine.

What a wonderful experience to meet Debbie and John Howe. Their passion and expertise for global concerns and solar solutions at Howe Engineering has been very useful. On top of that, Debbie, as a competition Speed Walker, has treated me to my first offfical lesson and a new skill to add to the repertoire of exercises like biking, snorkelling and sprinting for groceries, that the sailing life has included.

Meeting seasoned cruisers Mark and Sue on Macushla was another honourable experience. We will be diligently practising our 'Banangrams' until we meet again! By the way, here's a challenge for you two. We have added a new twist to the game. If you have a few extra minutes after the game, try using all the words in one of two giant sentences. We use a few extra connective words to make it work. Whoever finishes first shouts "Compost".

Enough of the wrapping up. Time to split.

The seas look reasonable for our purpose with the winds are promising a bit of a sail. So after a final weather check and dockside chores, we're off.

Very exciting to be heading 'home', especially as we are venturing to new destinations in Nova Scotia.

Looking forward...

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Photos

Colourful recycling
Hand painted box had a recycling song.

John and Debbie
'Howe' lucky to meet these conscientious folks.

Cruisers Noshing
Stephan, Sue and Mark on Macushala

No Sort Recycling System
Wet/dry together

History is alive in Portland
Small scale train rides and funtional old buildings.

Graffitti and Sculpture
urban partners

Sunday morning Punk Walker
Young people speed walk without trying!

Shipyard Brewery tour
Good idea!

Well dressed parking garage
Lots of parking space in this town

Directing the docking
Some people know they are important

Nice Hotel - Converted Armoury
Many great transitions here

Spirit of Massachusetts
Neat boat full of young career sailors

Contrasts
Cruise ships as prevalent as lobster boats

Now I get a real camera!
Watch out Halifax.

Comments

[Gord]

Karsh wanabe
What kind/make etc. of camera is it. Your smile makes me think of something expensive. :-)

[Kathryn]

Safe sailing...homeward bound!
As you and Frank complete the circle, I'll be thinking of you and hoping for fair seas. Looking forward to the landing...or is that docking?

[Elizabeth]

Nearly home
So do you guys plan to make Nova Scotia your new home? I think you might have been talking about that at some point... I hope we see you in Ontario still sometimes! I guess Robert and I will have a good reason to visit the east coast. He has never been there except in the truck one time. We picked up a load of potatoes in Newfoundland. Mostly these days we drive back and forth across the prairies so not seing much of Charlotte either. Wishing you a wonderful crossing! Love you, Elizabeth xxoo