TEXAS RANGER: Bras d'Or to Halifax, NS August 1--6

     We stayed on the wall outside the lock at St. Peter in order to get an early start, traveling across Chedabucto Bay and passing the easternmost point of land on the North American mainland about 0800. We had a fairly long day, with no pictures because we ran in fog and mist until after lunchtime, but we arrived at Liscomb Island and entered the bays behind it to find an anchorage about 1600. We were up at first light the next morning after a beautifully clear night with millions of stars visible, and were off to Halifax. We passed numerous seals, some dolphins, and a few pilot whales, and entered the Halifax Ship Channel about 1530. It is a busy place, and we navigated our way partially up to the harbor before turning off into a tributary called the Northwest Arm. We arrived at our dock, the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, about 1630.
     RNSYS is the oldest established yacht club in North America, and the second-oldest of the seven Royal Squadrons in the world.  Its beginnings go back to 1837, and its first clubhouse was built in 1860.  Edward II, the then Prince of Wales, visited and presented the club with its most valued trophy--the Prince of Wales Cup. It was created by the same silversmith that created the America's Cup.  The Prince encouraged Queen Victoria to grant the title "Royal" to the club, which was done in 1861. This has been one of the most welcoming clubs we have ever visited, and we have made many new friends. They have assisted us with information, transportation, and just wonderful hospitality. We have thoroughly enjoyed the acquaintance of Terry & Denise, Bill & Janice, George, Wayne, and Bill from Houston.
     We spent some time touring this largest city in Nova Scotia, and celebrating with them Natal Day. For the first time in months, we were actually in a real shopping mall, but the special attractions were downtown--The Citadel and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The city was founded by the British in the 1750s as a location for a fort and staging harbor for attacks on the French Fort Louisburg on Cape Breton Island. Throughout its history, its large, deep and very protected harbor has played a major role in North American naval history. During the World Wars it was a major staging port for convoys and military ships going to the war zone in Europe. One of its greatest tragedies occurred when a Belgian relief ship and a French munitions ship collided in the harbor in December, 1917. Though the collision was minor, sparks created as the metal ships scraped each other ignited the munitions ship, and soon it exploded, killing over 1600 people and wounding 6000. It completely leveled a great deal of the town. Relief supplies came from all over the world, but perhaps the most generous were the people of Massachusetts. Every year since, in gratitude, Nova Scotia sends the largest Christmas tree it can find to Boston!