my email had changed

it is now drpeterloveridge@gmail.com

there will be further updates coming shortly

 My site was hacked by some malevolent creature. It is now unhacked, thanks to the assistance of my friend John Harries, author of the Norwegian Cruising Guide. Some developments are coming, watch this space

 Nova Scotia is still under a state of emergency and the border is closed to all non-essential travel. This applies to boat as well as vehicles, and Halifax (YHZ) has no international and limited domestic flights. Nova Scotia has been very successful with public health measures and outside a single nursing home there have been only 12 deaths from Covid19. We have had no deaths since May 2020. However, I doubt if anyone will be able to visit until spring 2022. As a frontline healthcare worker, I can tell you there has been an enormous stress on healthcare workers and this is not likely to improve soon. I am close to finishing the revisions for the third edition of my book. More to follow

ports of entry and the border services agency

theoretically, Nova Scotia is closed to non-essential marine traffic. Ports of entry are restricted to Digby, Yarmouth, and Halifax. Entry into Shelburne is currently not allowed, we are trying to get this reviewed. You can clear in any marina in the Halifax Regional municipality, but then you have to be in quarantine for 14 day. Days at sea getting here don't count. This is enforced by the Canadian Border Services Agency. They love to give people a hard time, don't upset them, it will ruin your day. The Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club is re-opening and you can get fuel, and today the bar is open, with restrictions for social distancing. I will try and keep this updated

updates, including Covid-19

        I haven't been active on my blog for a while, my day job has been too demanding. Now , more than ever , we are dealing with the most serious public health crisis since the 1918 pandemic flu. Our health care system, overstressed at the best of times, has had to cope with this. As of today, we have about 120 cases and zero deaths. This is to be contrasted with New York City, which today has had 38000 cases and nearly 800 deaths. In our system, as a physician, unless you are a dermatologist or ophthalmologist, you will never be rich. If you are a pediatrician, rural generalist of psychiatrist, you could make more money driving a truck. The endless waits for investigations and specialist appointments, drive us to distraction. Americans experiencing this ( at least the ones with decent insurance) could well be thinking of another rebellion.  But , there is a bright side to this. We have a functioning public health system that has identified cases, traced contacts, and limited the spread. If you end up in the ICU it won't cost you a cent.
       But there is a price. Currently all Nova Scotia borders are closed to all except essential services . You cannot come here by boat. Schools are closed. Most stores are closed. All provincial and municipal parks and beaches are closed. You cannot meet in groups bigger than 5, and even this is discouraged. You are encouraged not to leave your home except for groceries and medical appointments. We have no idea when this will be lifted, but I don't think it will be before July. You should review your plans.
      In other news nearer to home, in May 2019. a fire broke out in the kitchen of the Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club. The fire department extinguished it within 15 minutes, and there was no visible damage to the building. But, at the end of the day, there was half a million dollars worth of smoke damage. This was devastating to the club, but it was rectified by the beginning of this month, only to be closed due to the epidemic a week later. I will try and keep you informed
      On a brighter note, I have been trying to finish the third edition of my book, and I think it will be available come the fall, I will post details later

Bridgewater

I haven't been right up the Lahave river  for many years, but I did it this year. There is now a very pleasant marina just north of the commercial dock.  Frank Bemben is the manager , you can reach him at 902 818 7988. There is a pumpout that works, water, electricity and internet for the overnight price of $45 + tax. A large grocery store and the liquor commission is a 10 minute walk to the north. You at almost immune to bad weather here. In the unlike event there is no berth, there is plenty of room to anchor just north of the marina. You could be troubled by the wakes of small power boats, the marina is better for this.The town has put out a floating dock just below the first bridge If you draw 6 feet or less , and its not dead low water on a big tide, you should be able to get there be keeping just to port of the middle of the channel going up. It would be quite noisy and I'm not sure about staying overnight

Port Medway

The village of Port Medway ( on the western side of the harbor) has been undergoing somewhat of a renaissance. About six hundred yards from the wharf, there is a new establishment, The Port Grocer. There is a small restaurant and they have live music on Friday nights. It is very pleasant. Port Medway itself is a very pretty harbor, and its a handy stop, especially beating to windward form Lahave or Lunenburg. I plan to stop there more often. bear in mind that outside the main channels, there are hundreds of unmarked rocks, and the survey dates from 1860