The last day… Monday May 25,2009

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Today was very busy, which figures given that it was my last day and all.
Had a nice breakfast at a little bakery/cafe up from the ship and then went aboard for the grand,
traditional, “Crew Photo”.

The crew of the Picton Castle May 25, 2009

 Then we went aloft and loosed all sails so they could dry after yesterdays rain.

Once that was done we started unloading the ship’s “cargo” of tropical wood that will be used for two
new schooners that will be built at the Dory Shop here.

Once the smaller pieces were unloaded we spent about two hours rigging up heavy lines, tackles and
blocks so that we could swing the big pieces over the side.

After lunch we started to haul and heave and slowly maneuvered these massive chunks of wood. First we
had to pull each block forward from it’s position in the port breezeway until it was alongside the hatch.
Then we connected three different tackles and lines to it. There were two yard tackles one on the Fore
Yard and one on the Main and a heavy synthetic line run from the main topgallant mast down through a
block and then forward to the capstan on the foredeck.

There was complete silence enforced on deck so that commands could be clearly heard as we inched each
timber up to the level of the rail and then using the yard tackles and lots of pushing we swung each block
over the side and then down slowly into the water.

Once in the water the blocks were towed over to the Dory Shop using the rescue boat.

While we were doing this a scallop dragger on the other side of our dock was using a noisy diesel powered
crane to hoist bits and pieces of chain and stuff on and off their deck. The contrast was amazing
We then cleaned up the decks and furled the sails.

We mustered midships and the Captain thanked us for our hard work and discussed the “Sea Time”
documents that each of us received. These documents are legal documents that confirm the sea time and
duties we had on board the ship during it’s voyage. Each day and portion of a day at sea is counted and
recorded. In order to qualify for an official seamans designation you must have a minimum of 6 months of
sea time. For higher qualifications the requirements are longer so recording each day is important.

Then came the tough part for me… Saying Good Bye!

The last six months have been a fantastic adventure. At times exhilarating, frightening, awe inspiring,
boring, hot, cold, wet, head knocking, toe stubbing, arms aching, back breaking, calming, moving,
hilarious, sad and any other adjective you could think of frankly.

To have to say good bye to such great shipmates, friends, mentors and companions in adventure was really
tough.

This picture, taken by David on my camera as my daughter and I were climbing into the cab to head to the
airport, is of the ship reflected in the rear window of the cab… Sigh.

Looking back...

Thanks for reading.
KJ

Photos of my last day are here.

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Ashore in Lunenberg May 24,09

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

Today was the first day ashore since I returned to Grenada that wasn’t going to be followed shortly by
going back to the ship. That is a bit strange to me.

Last night the Dory Shop hosted a BBQ and party that went on to the wee hours :-)  The highlight for me
was the live entertainment. There were initially 2 fiddlers, a standing Bass player, a banjo player and a
mandolin player. Eventually they were joined by the fiddler that played at the party a year ago! The
resulting 4 hour jam session was fantastic!

The B&B that my daughter is staying at is very nice and quiet and my bed was soft and actually “big
enough to roll over in” :-)  I got a very nice relaxing and calm sleep, once I got back there about 3:00am
This morning after a fine breakfast of waffles, fresh fruit and coffee, I walked over to the ship and started
packing all my gear. I ended up using my new sea bag because it was bigger than my second duffel bag.
It was cloudy and rainy today, more typical of Lunenberg at this time of year I think.

This evening was the official end of the trip with an “awards” ceremony that started at 7:00pm at the Ice
House bar which is attached to the Fisheries Museum here.

John has created a 2 hour slide show of pictures from the whole trip which was really cool. The Captain
gave a speech and Bruce read out his carefuly collected statistics. Everything from from how far we
traveled, 17,756 nautical miles if I remember correctly, to how many sheets of toilet paper we used , a
number I have mercifully forgotten.

The “awards” were carefully setup for each person which was really neat. I got the award for the “most
sailor looking” of the crew. Heh.

Each member of the crew also received a print of a painting of the Picton castle done by William
Gilkerson.

Tomorrow at 9:00am there will be a group crew photo on the deck of the ship followed by getting the lines
and tackles rigged to move the wood from Grenada over the side.

My Daughter and I leave for Halifax to fly back to Calgary at 4:30pm tomorrow. Then the fun starts.

I think…

Thanks for reading.
KJ

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A “Salty Dog”

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

This picture was taken the first evening it got cold on our passage North to Lunenberg.
Nate,the assistant engineer, has a “Pea Jacket”, a heavy duffel coat, which Lynsey suggested I wear and
this shot was the result.

I couldn’t resist doing a little antiquing for effect.

KJ
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Arrival in Lunenberg May 23,09

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

I was woken up for my anchor watch at 7:00am this morning.

It was a beautiful sunny Nova Scotia spring morning. Bright Sun and calm crisp air.

We up anchored for the last time and motored out of the bay at La Have. Once outside we set all sails
and then motorsailed to the North towards Lunenberg.

As I write this we are approaching Battery Point and have had one cannon salute already

This will be my last post underway with the Atlantic passing under our keel and all sails set above.

Sigh.

Thanks for reading.
KJ

P.S. We have arrived to a tumultuous welcome which included cannons and cheers and ships horns etc.
All of which we had to ignore while we took in sail, launched our boats and ran dock lines to tie up this
fine ship to the dock.

My daughter was waving from the pier head and I’m now safely ensconced in the Grand Banker
restaurant having dinner with her and David.

Thanks for reading.
KJ

P.P.S
The article I was interviewed for has come out. It’s actually pretty good   Check it out here.

P.P.P.S (?)
Photos from the last leg and our arrival are here.

The Home Stretch, Bermuda to Lunenberg May 22 '09

Thursday May 22,09

This morning dawned bright and clear and cold!

After breakfast we hoisted the anchor and siled off the hook i9n a stiff westerly wind.

We had a fabulous sail NE up the coast of Nova Scotia, bright Sun and clear cold air.

About 4:00 we sailed into a deep bay just South of Lunenberg and anchored. We never even started the
engine “just in case” :-)

The weather is bright and very warm, surprisingly warm actually. For a while this afternoon David, Robert and I were working in the galley, digging into the nooks and crannies to clean and we were happy to be
there as it was warm. Now it is warmer outside than in!

We are planning to pass battery Point just outside Lunenberg at 2:00pm tomorrow. Lunenberg is 14 sea
miles (4 land miles) away.

I got a text message from my daughter saying she is almost in Lunenberg so I know she will be at the
dock.

So tomorrow this grand adventure will be over. We will be tied up to the land for the last time and
suddenly the “real world” will get it’s hooks into me again. And even though it will be great to be back
with my family again it is going to take some time to decompress from this amazing experience.

More later…

Had a great dinner of BBQ chicken, BBQ ribs and roast beef, stuffed potatoes and roasted pumpkin, very
yummy indeed.

The mood on board is very different from last night. We are a subdued lot tonight. I think the looming end
to the voyage is weighing on everyone this evening. Even though there are many people who will be
joining the ship for her summer voyage doing the East Coast Tall Ships festivals this crew will be split up.
The watches will be dissolved and only the memories and photos (and my blog too) will remain.
Tomorrow we will up anchor for the last time, set sail and head out into the Atlantic to head towards
Lunenberg Nova Scotia.

Thanks for reading.
KJ

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