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We were taken aback when we arrived in St. Peter’s and were greeted by a crew of biking pirate sceletons, with flags and banners adorning the village. Initially, we thought it might be an early start to Halloween festivities, but as it turned out, we were fashionably late for the Pirate Festival, which coincidentally coincided with the arrival of Hurricane Lee.

Now, you might be wondering, why pirates? Well, it appears that pirates had quite a lucrative career in these waters, pillaging Nova Scotia until the mid-19th century. They struck terror into the hearts of both the maritime fleet and local fishermen.

The “Golden Age of Piracy” occurred from 1690 to 1730 when Nova Scotia, was largely unsettled by Europeans, making it a possible location for pirates to hide-out or refit. The governor of Fortress Louisbourg in the mid -1720s was so afraid of pirate attacks in Cape Breton that he asked for extra naval protection. One of the nastiest pirates of the “Golden Age”, Ned Low, raided fishing fleets who used Nova Scotian harbours as shelters and fishing stations. Low terrorized a New England fleet in Shelburne in 1720. Some have suggested that he hid treasure in Nova Scotia.

It seems the pirate spirit still lingers in the air, even without the Jolly Roger fluttering above.

As is our tradition, we unfolded our trusty bikes and embarked on a sightseeing adventure. St. Peter’s stands as one of Nova Scotia’s time-honoured settlements, steeped in history. The Portuguese explorers were here back in the 1500s, affectionately naming it Sant-Pedro. Fast forward to the 1650s, and the French decided to set up shop nearby, christening it Saint-Pierre. This region, home to a traditional Mi’kmaq portage route bridging the Atlantic Ocean and Bras d’Or Lakes, witnessed the ebb and flow of a French trading post, a bustling settlement, and a British hilltop fort.

Our expedition took us to the renowned National Historic Site, St. Peter’s Canal, where the mighty Atlantic Ocean converges with the glistening Bras d’Or Lake. Soon, the lock gates of this historic waterway will swing open, granting us passage like a secret door to another world. And if that wasn’t enough, we also ventured into the enchanting Battery Park, where wooden pathways unveiled breathtaking ocean vistas and led us to the St. Peter’s Lighthouse. It was like discovering a hidden treasure trove of natural beauty and history.

Some marinas are like a warm, welcoming home away from home, and St. Peter’s Lions Marina is undoubtedly one of them. From the moment we glided toward the dock, Gerry, the marina manager, was our wind-whispering guardian. He skillfully orchestrated our docking maneuver even in the face of the stubborn, gusty winds. Then, with the finesse of a seasoned host, he simply uttered, ‘Well, now, relax and unwind.’

As we tackled the paperwork, Gerry, with the curiosity of a detective, unearthed all our sailing woes – both with the sail and the rigging. Without missing a beat, he extended a helping hand, offering to connect us with experts in the field. Gerry, we salute you! Your marina isn’t just top-notch in terms of amenities and maintenance (seriously, everything was shipshape!), but it also exudes a genuine sense of belonging, attentiveness, and care.

Moreover, we were pleasantly surprised that our neighbours on the dock from the SV Summerdim, Jonathan and Dawn, had a sewing machine and were glad to offer their help with sewing the sail. After a night of drying our sail in the marina’s wardroom (which felt like a cozy den), the following day, under Jon’s direction, we stitched our jib back together, using an entire spool of thread and addressed every weak point it had. A big shoutout to Jon, Dawn, and their trusty canine companion, Milly, who was the real captain of the socializing ship!

And then, there was Adrian, a seasoned yachtsman with a strong British accent. He had found his harbour haven after a lifetime of overseas voyages. Adrian, also a coach for local yachtsmen, came to our rescue with rigging wisdom. Armed with a strain gauge, he meticulously measured cable tensions and restored balance to our rigging. Adrian, you’re a true seafaring saviour!

In the end, it was not just the stunning views of the marina but the camaraderie and the willingness to help that made our stay at St. Peter’s Lions Marina an unforgettable chapter of our nautical journey.