Halifax, my daily route
One particularly foggy morning when the air was still and the mist lingered over the water well into mid-morning, I began my usual promenade down Morris Street and onto the Harbour Boardwalk when I saw faintly appearing out of the fog that hugged the estuary the shape of one of those magnificent Tall Ships. I defy all but the most cold hearted not to be at least a little caught up with the romance of the sea when seeing one of these ships in the flesh. Even if you get seasick on the jetty, even if you know that the lives of the seafarers was hard and cruel, yet even then I believe the sight of one of these ships will stir the imagination in all but the coldest heart, well it did mine, that much is obvious.
Consider then my delight that on approaching the quay where this phantasmal ship was berthed, the misty curtain parted and revealed yet another Tall Ship a little further down the Boardwalk, a pair of Tall Ships, how cool was that? A slight breeze drifted through the misty curtain, now thinning it, now making it thicker. As it thinned at one point, half of the Boardwalk length came into view. Not just a pair of Tall Ships berthed, a whole flotilla! The following photographs illustrate what I saw, but not the joyful emotions they conjured up in me.
As I walked on through the misty morning, seeing the sights like a time-traveller transported back a hundred years in time, my mind kept playing the old whaling song 'Blow Ye Winds Hi-Ho.'
'Tis advertised in Boston, New York and Buffalo,
Five hundred brave Americans a-whaling for to go.
And it's blow ye winds in the morning, blow ye winds hi-ho!
Clear away our running gear and blow, blow, blow.
They tell you of the clipper ships a-runnin' in and out.
They say you'll take five hundred sperm before you're six months out.
And it's blow ye winds in the morning, blow ye winds hi-ho!
Clear away our running gear and blow, blow, blow.
The skipper's on the after deck a-squintin' at the sails.
When up above the lookout spots a mighty school of whales.
And it's blow ye winds in the morning, blow ye winds hi-ho!
And it's blow ye winds in the morning, blow ye winds hi-ho!
Clear away our running gear and blow, blow, blow.
Then lower down the boats, my boys, and after him we'll travel
But if you get too near his tail, he'll kick you to the devil.
And it's blow ye winds in the morning, blow ye winds hi-ho!
Clear away our running gear and blow, blow, blow.
When we get home, our ship made fast, and we get through our sailin'.
A brimmin' glass around we'll pass and damn this blubber whalin'.
And it's blow ye winds in the morning, blow ye winds hi-ho!
Clear away our running gear and blow, blow, blow.
I had a particularly lively chat with the Master-at-Arms of the American Privateer 'Pride of Boston II', where, both knowing of what we speak, we took up opposing views of the War of 1812; but, I may say, in a most convivial way.
Pride of Baltimore II under sail.
The noonday sun dispersed the fog and the estuary tourist traffic off the Boardwalk was soon once more in full swing. I stopped for fish and chips in a busy restaurant inside a marquee erected just alongside a tented market where I bought Eeyore a skull and crossbones pirate flag for him to wave as we rode along, that is if my 'bike ever arrived. I would check the website when I got back for a progress report on the vehicle ferry 'Ortello', as I always did anyway.
Pleasure craft doing their thing, in the background is the town of Devonport.
Eeyore looking ecstatic with his new flag, while keeping lookout for the good ship 'Ortello'
Good news! The 'Ortello' should dock tomorrow over at Shearwater, I wondered if I would be able to see it from my dorm window?
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