Waiting for the Tide

Yesterday was a lot of fun. I upped anchor and headed in as soon as the current went slack.  In hindsight it probably would have been sensible to wait for the water to come up a bit, but I had assumed that there would be a river channel visible at low tide.  Not really.  I ended up grounding a couple of times trying to get into the Bay.  No big deal, as the tide was rising by something like 5 ft/hr. 

Wolfville was barely visible over the marsh when I came by.  After that it was clearly a river.   Smooth sailing up to Port Williams.  I had a very strong tail current going under the bridge, and kept going on the twisty river.

Things got a little weird after that.  I’ve been replaying the events, and I think I drove down the front of a tidal bore.  I was maintaining 4-5 mph boat speed for steerage, but speed over ground was increasing, and I could see the water dropping ahead of me.  Just when I was getting concerned I grounded in the mud.  Nothing dramatic, but a full stop, with the stream coming from astern.

I lowered the anchor, and within minutes the boat lifted and swung around.  I took a look at my maps and decided I had come far enough, and headed back down river against the current. 

When I got to Wolfville the entrance channel had ten feet of depth, so I followed it in to the town.  That was delightful.  I anchored in the basin and dinghied into the dock for a meal out and groceries.

From Wolfville I came out and around to the Avon River, and anchored here last night.  This morning I was up early and went for a tour almost up to Windsor, then back out on a falling tide.  Not much to see.

I’m anchored here as I write this, waiting for the tide to change.  Today I’m heading into the basin, with a plan to anchor in Maitland for a day or two to explore the Salmon and Shubenacadie rivers.

Weather continues to be very cooperative. Most of the province is under severe drought conditions, and there is a large wildfire nearby that’s been burning most of the summer.  I saw lots of smoke from it for the first time yesterday.

Pics from yesterday, in order.