Second Annual Labour Day trip to Grand Manan

With the weatherman’s promise of a sunny day we set off in the fog (way too early for my taste) for Black’s Harbour and the ferry for Grand Manan. Comet, ever vigilant to our every move, wasn’t entirely certain he was to accompany us. When he was certain, he loudly proclaimed his jubilation with barks, squeaks, and howls. We arrived in plenty of time for the Grand Manan Ferry. Oddly enough, as we approached Black’s Harbour the fog disappeared and the promise of a beautiful day manifested itself.

On the water by nine-thirty, we took Comet up to the upper deck where dogs are permitted and I’m sure he believes is a much better place than sitting in the vehicle area. It was cool and breezy, but a nice ride. We spotted a minke whale, one of the small species. Halfway across the Captain pulled a surprise fire drill for the crew and when that was done a lifeboat stations drill. We slowed down and suddenly there were two zodiacs dancing around the ship. I inquired of a crewman if these were the crew who had screwed up, but he assured me that messing around in zodiacs was ‘a helluva lot of fun’. The zodiacs followed us, and sometimes led us into Grand Manan.

We headed to the northern tip of the island where we went bird and sea mammal watching at The Whistle for a while. Of note were a flock of immature eider ducks and a Gray seal. We drove to the bakery and got some great bread and treats. We stopped at the Anchorage Provincial Park for lunch and discovered we’d forgotten cheese and butter for the bread. We blamed each other and ate what lunch we had anyway. Wendy threw a stick on the beach for Comet and took him for a walk on the “wheelchair accessible” bog trail at Great Pond, where they got their feet wet and muddy.

We visited Southern Head and peered cautiously over the cliffs there, watched birds and the other tourists, went for a little walk and headed back to the north end of the island. We took a side trip to Dark Harbour, which may be the only harbour on the West side of the island, and stopped at Castilia Marsh to check out the birds.

The shadows were getting long by then and there was a feeling of peace and of the day ending. As I watched a work boat work its way back to port the opening lines of Gray’s “Elegy in a Country Churchyard’ flitted through my mind.

The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,
The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea,
The ploughman homeward plods his weary way,
And leaves the world to darkness and to me.

I could have spent the rest of the evening there, watching this corner of the world slip into night. However, home beckoned and we finished our break and got back into the car. We had some shopping to do. Wendy never passes up recycled books or clothes.

On the trip home we sat on the deck again with Comet. He seemed uncertain and sat beside me on the bench snuggling. Every kid on the ship, save two, came up, asked if they could pet Comet and then proceeded to make a big fuss over him. He, of course, ate it up. Then women started stopping by and petting him, telling him how smart, cute, and perfectly adorable he was. Wow! I think I have found the perfect way to meet attractive women. We had great chats with several women from Toronto who thought Comet was the ideal dog, and I’m sure would have stolen him if I didn’t have him on a leash. He even had his picture taken twice.

We watched the full moon coming up as we headed home, early enough to have a supper of bread and cheese, feed Comet and the cats, check our email and head off to bed.

Truly a great day, thanks to sister Joyce for this birthday present for Wendy.

Harvey