 Chris and Joan were set to head to Halifax shortly after lunch. The weather did not look too bad and the forecast for the rest of the day was encouraging. Perhaps I would be able to make it to Liscombe Mills. I set up the backup computer and checked it out for running the TIKI navigation software. It ran the software just fine but the power inverter would not keep the computer’s battery charging and it was obvious that this particular setup would not be reliable. I was running the risk of getting out on the ocean and losing my navigation computer after 3 or 4 hours—not a situation that I was willing to take a chance on. I considered my options of going with Chris and Joan to Halifax and buying a proper inverter there—but that return trip was about 650 kilometers (over land) and would take an entire day. I talked to our new friend Les Harris (who lived in a house across the road from the wharf) and he told me there was a Home Hardware in Guysborough where I might be able to buy an inverter and he was willing to drive me if I wanted to go. I called the store and they had two in stock so I asked them to hold them until I got there. Guysborough is about a 100 kilometer round trip from White Head—so I could be back by noon and still have time to get to Liscombe Mills before dark. |
| Chris and Joan and I said our goodbyes in case I did not get back from Guysborough in time to see them off. It was sad to see them go and we were all disappointed that we did not make it to Halifax together—but what an adventure we had had over the past 3 weeks. Enough memories to last a lifetime and lots of fun and laughter too! |
| While I was in Guysborough for the inverter I also bought two jerry cans of diesel fuel for Ananda. When I got back to the boat Chris and Joan were already gone. I hooked up the inverter and was astonished to discover that it would not work! A closer investigation revealed that someone else had tried to use it before me and somehow fried the electronics. I threw myself at the mercy of Les and he loaned me his car again to drive back to Guysborough to return the defective inverter and to buy the very last one (in the entire town) from the Home Hardware. Thank goodness for the kindness and trust bestowed upon me by Les and his wife Carol. |
| While I was in Guysborough for the second time that day, I bought another two jerry cans of diesel. I figured that I might as well have as much fuel as possible to get me to my next destination. This time I tried the inverter before I left the Home Hardware parking lot. It worked fine, so off I went back to White Head. Once I got back I added the extra fuel to my starboard tank and then hooked up the new inverter. It worked fine. Hoooray! By this time it was too late in the afternoon so I prepared to spend another night in White Head. |
| Les came over to the boat to see me after supper. We chatted for a while and then he invited me back to his house for some tea and to visit with him and his wife Carol. Les showed me his father’s and grandfather’s old general store—which was attached to the house and we looked at several old nautical charts of the area that his grandfather had. One chart was dated mid 1860’s. During the time it was open, Les’ family’s store was a focal point in the community. It was fun to chat with Les and Carol about life in White Head and to imagine what it must have been like back when the store was new and in its prime! Today White Head is a pretty quiet place, well off the beaten path but it is truly a beautiful spot and I hope that I can return to it again sometime for another visit. In the meantime I will always remember the beauty of the area and Les and Carol Harris’ kindness and generosity. |