17. to Southport

Southport is a gem, a quaint village with a small town basin which is lined on one side with what look like shacks from the water. These tuned out to be buildings that looked right out of a movie set and indeed we found that several movies had been filmed there and that this was the location of the T.V. series Dawson’s Creek. We arrived mid afternoon and found the free docks at the Provision Company Docks which had just closed for the season. Boaters were welcome to dock there with no hydro or water but there were toilets! I have to learn to say electricity and not hydro. When I say hydro I am usually met with a blank expression. The tides rise and fall about 6 feet here and when they are low we have to climb up the ladder to get to the top.

It was Sunday when we arrived and we decided to walk about the town. Southport has a really nice main street with picturesque little shops but everything was closed. It was hard to believe that this shop was all decorated for Christmas ans it was warm outside and no snow. We found a church and said a quick prayer. When we walked to the Visitor Information Centre, which is in a charming old house, we asked if there was a marina close by where we could have a shower. We were feeling pretty grungy! One of the volunteers, Shirley, was a wonderful human being with a heart of gold. After finding out that the local marina did not allow transient showers, she offered her own home to us. She said that she had a big house with only herself and her husband at home. Having boated herself, she knew what it was like. We were overwhelmed with her generosity. After a great dinner at a local restaurant overlooking the water, we went over to Shirley’s with a bottle of wine. Shirley and her husband, Woody, welcomed us like long lost friends and after showering in their guest bathroom, we spent the evening talking and getting to know each other. They live in a beautiful home (late 1800’s) overlooking the town bay. They have made extensive renovations while maintaining the charm and character of their home. Shirley and Woody have two boys and four grandchildren, have lived in Europe (Woody was in the army) and in different parts of the United States. They chose to retire in Southport five years ago and have never regretted it. We have met many people that have lived in many parts of the United States. It seems to us that people move about the country more readily in the U.S. than in Canada. Certainly many retire in warmer climates.

We enjoyed Southport so much that we ended spending a few days there. I tried to get internet on the boat with our WIFI antenna but the reception was very poor and I kept losing the connection., We finally gave up and went to an internet cafe in town. Roman bought three pounds of gigantic shrimp from the fish market located right on the harbour. There were large shrimp boats in the harbour that came in late at night after we had gone to bed. One was docked just next to us. This was a great year for shrimp we were told. I have never seen such huge shrimp and the taste was just heavenly. My mouth waters just thinking about them!






















Shoaling is a constant problem. Often what is in the charts is not what really is. After leaving Southport, sure enough, although we were exactly between the two markers in the centre of the channel, we hit another shoal. It was a beautiful sunny day in the 60’s and we were aground. Roman’s nature is such that it is very difficult for him to sit still and wait. He tried and tried to get us off to no avail. Again we had to call Boat US. Tugboat John came from Southport to pull us off the shoal. He knew Woody and Shirley and we passed on our greetings. John was a really pleasant young man who really loved our boat and said it was a boat that made sense! He stayed to make sure that Roman’s rudder was O.K. This time it was. Next time….but that’s another story.