I’m writing this from an old fisherman’s house in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland where I try not to bang my head on the very low ceilings. Yes, our new boat is still being built… at least that’s what they’re telling us.

New Boat early construction photo, Ismir, Turkey

Departing Ontario: A High Note

July 2026: Engineering contract is complete. We found kind people to take our nearly new-ish furniture to their own home and donated the other not-to-be-missed. Kitchen table, chairs, couch, dressers, bed(s), kitchen goods, etc. Gone. We cleaned (ok, Kelly cleaned) the apartment, and I jam-packed the car with anything remaining (phew the bicycles fit!). Well, ok we shipped a couple small boxes, but it took some anxiety from wondering if it would all fit into the poor car, already dragging it’s tail on the pavement.

I received a heart-felt “bon-voyage” retirement send-off barbeque (and cake!) from my thoughtful Canadian colleagues. Corporate office pettiness and politics aside (stateside location, of course), this place of business, and the people making it, is the best place I’ve worked in my entire 40+ year career. (and not just because I remember it ;-)) Sure, we had our challenges, overcame most, but I feel good to have departed on a high note. I’ll miss the work, but will really miss friends there!

Sidebar about staying in Canada: Kelly and I like to stay for extended lengths of time to gain a fully-immersive cultural experience - this time has been more than a year. Yes, they speak English in Ontario, but here's also an incredible melting pot of diverse culture. In any place attitudes are always a bell-curve, and most notable here is that the vast majority is generally satisfied. I had a unique experience working with happy-to-be-here people, not like anywhere else. People resist complaining, and realize how well they have it. Folks wish you good morning, and then have a good day when departing the elevator! Drivers are more courteous and follow the traffic laws. Quite striking to experience.

You Never Know Where We’ll Be Next

Our next phase: First the road back to “home” base – essentially New Hampshire, where we meet up again with long-time friends, family and our storage locker. Time to re-shuffle. Oh oh, with all the boat stuff “stuffed” to the gills, it’s getting a bit tight. No, we’re not expanding to another unit! We just need to persevere until the new boat allows us to move useful items back-aboard.

02 July – road trip back to NH: Uneventful border crossing with packed car.

We have an entire week to recombobulate, catch up with family, friends, and do dentist, doctor and car service appointments. Then on 11 July we start a road trip: 7 Beds in 7 Nights:

Atkinson, New Hampshire
Cumberland, Maine
Moncton, New Brunswick
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Ferry to Newfoundland!
Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland
Gros Morne, Newfoundland
Bay Roberts, Newfoundland

Now we “settle” in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland. An utterly different variation of Canadian Culture! Cod tongue, moose meat, toutons and Jiggs dinner, all local fare we are dying to try!

Back to the new boat: Promised early October, but after Newfoundland we have another crazy itinerary planned. More on that in the next post. A few pics from our road trip follows.

Enjoy your summer!

Windy morning on the shore trail near our fisherman’s home.

Clockwise from top-left:.

Baddeck, Cape Breton Island, NS
Downtown Moncton, NB.
Sydney, NS art: Kelly’s Moose N. Boots
Captain Cook Memorial – His maps of this area in late 18th century are still in use!
View from St. Christopher’s Hotel, Port Aux Basques, NL
Woody Point, Gros Morne National Park, NL
Proof we were on the ferry!