We left Charlottetown around 8PM and arrived back in Halifax around 1AM. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to sleep in: we were expected at Tom Gallant’s schooner Avenger. It was a wonderful day with plenty of wind: at one point we had a speed of 9 knots. The next day we were late at arriving at the Lunenburg Yacht Club, but on time to see the start of the race. Krista and I ate the chicken wings we got for the race (can’t let them go to waste, eh?) before driving back to Mahone Bay, where I spent the afternoon being a total tourist. I walked up and down Main St and treated myself to two scoops of dairy free ice cream at Caféhaus. There were three flavors I can safely enjoy, and one of them is my favorite: lemon. The owner warned me it’s really “sour” because he made the ice cream with real lemons, and I assured him that that’s the way I like it. It was tangy, and it was lovely! I recognized his German accent and asked him about it. I ended up talking about emigrating to Canada, finding a job, 9/11, Germany, the Netherlands (he even spoke some Dutch)…
Krista and I headed to the yacht club after the race was over to drop off the food. We hung around for a little while before driving back to Halifax, where we did some grocery shopping for the next day (hamburgers!). I tried a donair; it wasn’t bad, but definitely not something I’d eat regularly. (I would add some garlic sauce/paste for more flavor.)
We arrived in time for the races on Tuesday. There were a few new faces in Tom's crew. All interesting people, and all nice. Some of them have traveled the world more extensively than I have, and have interesting and hilarious stories to tell. I noticed one of the female crew members being in a bit of awe of one of the guys in the crew, Lennie. I didn't get it. Anyway, we sucked at that day's races: lack of wind doesn't do a schooner much good. Lennie graciously indulged us and sung a few songs, hoping to win over the wind gods... Tom even reenacted his VHF play for me: Pink Pirate and his closeted red neck lover Raging Bull were brought back. It cracked up the entire crew. Krista provided everybody with delicious burgers, and sometime after 7PM Tom called it a day. We took the sails down and motored back to the yacht club.
The more people I meet who have relocated to Canada, the more stories I hear about them meeting their loves of their lives and marrying them. I don't know if that is for me.
Krista was pretty hammered, so I was that night's designated driver home. That was when she asked me if I had any idea who Lennie Gallant is. (Despite having the same last name Tom and Lennie are not related.) I confessed I had no clue, so my friend clued me in. I felt like a turd: I could have talked about music - or something, if I had known!
It was raining on Wednesday morning and Krista didn't feel like driving down to Lunenburg, so way stayed home. My allergies happened to pick that morning to start acting up badly, so I popped a Benadryl and napped. We had salads at A Mano at Bishop's Landing; mine was a tasty chicken salad, Krista had a tasty one with caramelized onions. I got a chocolate rum cake and a whiskey cake (I know my mom and brother would enjoy) at Rum Runners around the corner, and a bubble tea at Mu Lan Tea House across the street from A Mano. I was supposed to hear from my friend Nancy, but when I didn't I accepted my friend Amanda's dinner invite. To make a long story short: Amanda did not lock herself out, but something in the doorknob broke, so we couldn't get in. Good thing she didn't start the stove or anything - although her cat Sage didn't understand why we weren't coming in. Amanda's friend Sarah helped us out with delicious cinnamon rolls (we were getting hungry). We ended up having pasta salad and sushi on the lawn outside, while we waiting for the locksmith to show up. He arrived two hours later (after we played several rounds of 20 Questions in the hallway), and needed 45 minutes to drill through the doorknob. It was around 11PM when Amanda was able to finally go back into her apartment. Yay!
The next morning Krista drove me to Kannon Boardshop in Lawrencetown, NS. I met up with my instructor Alex, and we set out to surf. Just check out the post below. When we got back Krista packed for Lunenburg, I packed to crash at Amanda's for a night. (Still close enough to feed Saffron.) ... Aaand... Take 2! Amanda made some delicious vegetarian patties (oatmeal, onions, egg and cream of shroom), and we had those burgers with bagels. After dinner we rode the bus downtown to the Busker's Festival. We caught one entire performance and it was quite entertaining.
We slept in on Friday morning; I let Amanda take advantage of the fact she managed to get an extended weekend off to visit her family on PEI. After a late breakfast we stroll around downtown. I popped in at the HMV to see if I could find any of Lennie's albums. I did. (There was an entire section on local music and music from Eastern Canada.)
My friend Nancy picked me up in her truck the next morning to do brunch. (No weather to ride a motorcycle.) We drove to Moustache and got a table (with shade) on their patio. Nancy gets the Sunshine Salad, while I order the Chinese Chicken Salad. We catch up and enjoy the food. I forgot about her sense of humor. Heh. Unfortunately, she has other plans for the afternoon, so we don't get to play. She promises we'll get to play the next time. Nancy drops me off at the apartment, and hopes I'll get into a bit of trouble before I leave Halifax *snicker* The way things are going right now I won't be getting any Haligonian tail. I decide to get a haircut. I walk over to First Choice Haircutters at the Forum, and I emerge with a shorter 'do twenty minutes later. At home I wash out the hair products, and notice that the junior hairdresser didn't do a fantastic job. It's less than MEH. The upside of having short hair is that you won't notice it anymore in a week or two.
Lunch with my friend Kelly is postponed: we'll have dinner the next evening instead. I watch some TV and catch an episode of Degrassi. Unfortunately, this is not one where they handled the transgender storyline. Time flies this Summer: I'll be flying out in a couple of days - aaaargh!
No comments:
Post a Comment