July 8, 2004 - We're in Makkovik, Labrador, 1,500 miles from Portland, Maine. The village of Makkovik is one of our favorite stops along the Labrador. We tie up to the fish wharf and the plant has showers, laundry and a phone available for us to use. It's our last opportunity for provisions and last minute business before jumping off the edge. (Provisions are available in Nain but the kids hang out at the dock and can be, need I say, annoying.) Randy and Lori run the Inn in Makkovik and are a good source of useful information and gossip for the area.

The weather has been very cooperative with only a few lay days. I don't think our good fortune will last much longer. Unlike two years ago, we've had no encounters with pack ice, though we've seen numerous ice bergs. Reviewing the log books, this is the earliest date we've been this far north. Should be a good year to reach Baffin Island, although the pack ice remains from Hudson Straits to the north. With luck things will begin to clear by the time we make those next 500 miles.

For those who like to follow our progress:

We cleared customs in Shelborne, Nova Scotia, the proceeded to St. Peter's Canal, the southern entrance into the Bras D'Or, Cape Breton. We hauled Tamara out in Dundee to clean and paint her bottom and we were on our way again in 2 days. There is a bridge at Iona that we needed to pass under, and would require to be opened for us to pass through, that had been under repair and was to reopen on June 15th. We were ready to pass through on June 16th but the repairs were still not complete. So we spent 2 days waiting and exploring new anchorages in the soother Bras D'Or. Friday, June 18th, the bridge opened and we were on our way once again. The weather was good for crossing Cabot Straits so we chose not to visit our friends at St. Ann's and headed straight for Newfoundland. Four days in the Bay of Islands, 2 days in Port aux Choix and then on to Labrador; Red Bay and Battle Harbor, Labrador on June 28th.

Tamara required a new part which we ordered in Port aux Choix to be delivered to Battle Harbour. The part arrived on June 30th and we left Battle Harbour July 1st, Canada Day. Cape Bluff, The Punchbowl, Curlew Harbour, Emily Harbour, and Makkovik were our next stops.

Unless we get an opportunity to check mail in Nain, we won't be able to email again until our return in August.

Best Regards,
Mark, Nancy, Tamara