We're back from our month long Nova Scotia sailing trip. It was my first time back there since 2006, and Sally's first ever sail there. I was pleased to see how little had changed.

We had every anchorage to ourselves except Shelburne, Lunenburg, Baddeck and Maskell's. Many still have no house or road in sight, populated mainly by curious gray seals. There are so many spectacular anchorages we never repeated, without trying to do so, a night in the same place on the way back that we were in on the way headed east'

In Lunenburg, the Scotia Trawler complex, under new owners, looks the same. The Yacht Shop is still there, though with a new name. The blacksmith shop is now a distillery. One of the buildings on the waterfront has been repainted. I didn't notice any other changes.

In Baddeck, the Highwheeler Cafe is still there and still making those rhubarb streusels that a worth sailing a month just for a taste. The Blue Hero still sells liquid detergent by the capful for their laundromat out back. The YC kids still scream with delight while sailing their collection of dinghies, prams and 420s around the harbor.

The bald eagles still predominate in the Bras d'Or lakes. The Barra Straits bridge still opens without being asked. The St. Peters Canal lock is still free. (As far as I know, locks everywhere are still free but how much longer will that continue?) And most important, there are still no lobster pots in Nova Scotia during the summer months.

My bride had a fabulous time on her first "long" cruise. She doesn't learn by listening to explanations. She'll spend a week or two watching how I do something until she can predict what I'll do when and how. Then she'll try it herself and quickly become proficient. I do love her so. And we'll be sailing south together in a few weeks - off to the Bahamas again.