Last night was a hoot! With the beer flowing and a friend of Dorothy and Floyd Lawless visiting, hilarious laughter filled their cozy home. I heard stories about mummering, a Christmas tradition kept alive here in the smaller communities, where singers visit from home to home in costume. And with the pouring rain, I bedded down in their trailer under homemade quilts. The lull of the pattering of rain on the roof sent me into blissful sleep. I slept in quite late, listening to the rain tapping the trailer, and when I awoke, I discovered calm water. I dashed for the kayak, and with assistance from Dorothy and Floyd, who is my "corrosion specialist" having fixed my corroded tripod and tent poles, I had a large number of folks from Eddie's Cove West watch me depart.

I paddled westwards under a hazy sky in calm conditions. Just a light breeze stirred, from the southwest, not the northwest as predicted. The water was clear and various shades of turquoise and green. Low limestone flat rocks and cobble beaches lined the shore. I cut across bays and headed for Point Richie. I could see Port Au Choix, but declined to visit. Passing Port Au Choix Harbour, several fishing boats sped out. A cool mist hit my face. I drank ample fluids as it felt quite humid. As I was approaching Point Richie, I passed a group of archaeologists at work in the Port Au Choix National Historic Park.

The lighthouse stood in a light fog. Swells from the southwest rolled against the low layers of limestone and bounced off creating lively water, and this was a calm day! Rounding Point Richie easily, I now entered a foggy world. I'd seen the shoreline to the south of Spirity Cove and took a compass bearing. I was headed to River of Ponds and would cross Ingornachoix Bay, a 12 kilometer crossing. Side swells rocked the kayak. I paddled vigorously as this was a fair sized crossing, and the winds keep making me a bit nervous. About a third of the way across, the wind kicked in a notch, and the fog shrouded the world so all I could see was watery horizons 360 degrees around me. I saw only water and fog for about an hour.

I quicky decided that I would let the swells and waves push me to Port Saunders rather than risk another battle into building headwinds. I was relieved to have rounded Point Richie but too anxious to aim for River of Ponds.

At Port Saunders, I landed on a rough, miniscule rock beach and am now camped on the lawn of Gloria and Wayne House. How wonderful to have a shower following my sweaty paddle and to share a cup of tea with Gloria, also a school teacher like myself. Thank you to Wayne and Gloria House.

And now, I'm at Bill and Ilene Lowe's home thanks to their daughter Shaunda Lowe, using their computer. Thank you kindly to the Lowe family.