In May 2011, after four years of life on McNutt's Island, we moved to Montreal. This blog remains, though, as a (sort of) daily record of our time on the island, and a winding path for anyone who would like to meander about among its magical places. For additional perspectives and insights I recommend Greg's book, Island Year: Finding Nova Scotia (2010), and my Bowl of Light (2012). I'll continue to post once in a while. If you do want to read this blog, one option would be to begin at the beginning of it (which is, as we all know, in blog-world, at the end), and read forward, concluding with the most recent entry. It's a journal, really, so it does makes more sense if you read it that way. But, you know, read it any way you like.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Dramatic rescue at sea

I'm not hearing Skipper's motor, Greg told me. Skipper had taken off from the island in his little outboard, Miss McNutt, to run across the western channel. It's a ten-minute jaunt, the way he goes, to the sandy beach at Carleton Village, just opposite the island. From there it's just a hop, skip and a jump to home.Now he was adrift out there: we could see him motionless and silent from where we stood near the shed.

It was possible that a rescue was called for. Greg went down to the water's edge where he and Skipper conducted a ship-to-shore communication that required no technology whatsoever. Although Miss McNutt's motor had conked out, Skipper assured Greg that he would just drift over to Carleton Village, since the current was going in the right direction.

But then Greg wouldn't have had any fun.
The mighty Chopper steamed out into the treacherous waters of the False Passage. As you can see, it was exceptionally dangerous this evening. But Chopper was up to the challenge.
Skipper has rescued us so many times that I can't even count them all. Tonight was a chance to return the favour.