Pictou 4, Nova Scotia
Wednsday July 20, 2011
Pictou docks -- the real docks, not the tourist marina
About once a week during the journey we have to stop for an afternoon -- maintenence day-- to tend to any repairs, Laundry, un=ordinary supplies, ect...
While doing the laundry, waiting on the washing machines, finished up some of the daily journal, wrote a couple postcards back to friends.
Then waiting on the dryers... all caught up... T-bird goes to take some pics of the town warf, churches,ect...
I do what I do best... head out towards the seedy, run down looking part of town ; I want to see the real culture here. See and talk with the real people of Pictou. I'll leave the quaint shopping district next to the non - fishing / working marina to the tourists.
In short order wander to the Pictou docks... the real Pictou docks... with my guys; the working docks and shipyard on the west side of the harbor.
I love ships. As a 17 year old teenager working in the shipyards of Mobile, Alabama... ADDSCO Alabama DryDocks and shipbuilding company on Pinto Island.... I learned and came to love ships.
Working w/ the Cajuns.... worked as a Boilermaker / Ironworker putting on keel plates on ships in drydock. The humidity on Mobile bay approched 95 % some days - ungodly, and sweat where you'd see the salt in your shirts after work. It was an experience; a defining life moment... the whole summer! Became friends w/ the Cajuns... Willis, Sommervile, James, Boudrou, Jesse.... the hardest working guys I've ever seen. and when work was over.... buddy, they knew how to live. From the Cajuns... I observed / learned a rare taught life lesson; how to live in the moment! And I can tell you one of lifes great treats is to go out onto the causeway ,... drink pitchers of beer and have a seafood dinner at "The Blue Gill" . As they say in the South "It just don't git no better".
The guys said the mackerel were starting to run but was early season and it was spotty on catching-- nothing biting now. maybe tomorrow before heading to PEI will try to fish for mackerel.
There was about a 200' freighter loading fishmeal ... feed for atlantic salmon farming up in Newfoundland. Dock worker said salmon farming supplements the off season- wild - fishing income. ... interesting! Ship looked squared away ; I've seen many where they never spend a dime on maintence and the eventually become un- seaworthy.
The old railroad station is now a museum of the fishing industry in the region --- was closed. Above ... up on the hill could hear a bagpipe playing.
Interesting wander.
MARNE 31 # 204
Pictou 4, Nova Scotia
Wednsday July 20, 2011
Pictou docks -- the real docks, not the tourist marina
About once a week during the journey we have to stop for an afternoon -- maintenence day-- to tend to any repairs, Laundry, un=ordinary supplies, ect...
While doing the laundry, waiting on the washing machines, finished up some of the daily journal, wrote a couple postcards back to friends.
Then waiting on the dryers... all caught up... T-bird goes to take some pics of the town warf, churches,ect...
I do what I do best... head out towards the seedy, run down looking part of town ; I want to see the real culture here. See and talk with the real people of Pictou. I'll leave the quaint shopping district next to the non - fishing / working marina to the tourists.
In short order wander to the Pictou docks... the real Pictou docks... with my guys; the working docks and shipyard on the west side of the harbor.
I love ships. As a 17 year old teenager working in the shipyards of Mobile, Alabama... ADDSCO Alabama DryDocks and shipbuilding company on Pinto Island.... I learned and came to love ships.
Working w/ the Cajuns.... worked as a Boilermaker / Ironworker putting on keel plates on ships in drydock. The humidity on Mobile bay approched 95 % some days - ungodly, and sweat where you'd see the salt in your shirts after work. It was an experience; a defining life moment... the whole summer! Became friends w/ the Cajuns... Willis, Sommervile, James, Boudrou, Jesse.... the hardest working guys I've ever seen. and when work was over.... buddy, they knew how to live. From the Cajuns... I observed / learned a rare taught life lesson; how to live in the moment! And I can tell you one of lifes great treats is to go out onto the causeway ,... drink pitchers of beer and have a seafood dinner at "The Blue Gill" . As they say in the South "It just don't git no better".
The guys said the mackerel were starting to run but was early season and it was spotty on catching-- nothing biting now. maybe tomorrow before heading to PEI will try to fish for mackerel.
There was about a 200' freighter loading fishmeal ... feed for atlantic salmon farming up in Newfoundland. Dock worker said salmon farming supplements the off season- wild - fishing income. ... interesting! Ship looked squared away ; I've seen many where they never spend a dime on maintence and the eventually become un- seaworthy.
The old railroad station is now a museum of the fishing industry in the region --- was closed. Above ... up on the hill could hear a bagpipe playing.
Interesting wander.
