Almost like a repeat of last Monday, the forecast today was for 20 to 25 kt winds from the east. I figured I could at least paddle the more sheltered waters, even if it was too bad out on the open sea. So I left the campground going against the wind on the Pokemouche River and Inkerman Lake until the bridge at Inkerman. It was a little surprising how many houses there were on the banks. I made pretty good progress against the wind, but it was a struggle. I figured there was no sense even trying to go out of Pokemouche Gully into Northumberland Strait. As I was waiting for Kevin to pick me up, I asked some fishermen at the wharf if they knew what it was like out there. They said they’d just come in after dealing with 10 foot seas. That definitely confirmed my decision! We took a quick look at the Green Point beach to see what it looked like, and the view was pretty violent.
After a lunch break back at the campground, Kevin took me out to Poulette Point to begin paddling on Tracadie Bay. Although much more sheltered than the sea, the wind was still roaring along at 20 to 30 kt and whipping up a lot of whitecaps. At least I had the wind partly at my back, but it was still a wet and messy crossing to the first major point. One extra concern was the need to be careful around the aquaculture plots (for oysters). When I was unable to completely avoid them, I at least made sure to pull up the rudder to avoid entanglement. It was a shorter distance from this point to Pointe a Chaudron, where I came into the houses and cottages of Tracadie. Again, the raging wind and rain seemed a fitting symbol of the spiritual battle. It also occurred to me that I was really at peace in spite of being tossed around in the waves, and yet so many people have no real peace even on the most beautiful calm day.
It felt kind of different and profound coming in through Tracadie, since all other towns I’ve paddled by instead of through. It was an easy and relaxing paddle up the Little Tracadie River, to find where the Losier family had offered to put us up for the night. Soaked from rain and spray, it was nice to have a friendly place to dry out for the night and to enjoy some Christian fellowship. It was good to see the Vances building connections and learning more about ministry in Acadian New Brunswick. The adventure of their first encounter with eating lobster was a great ice breaker for everyone. Of course we ended the evening with a time of prayer for the region.
Partner churches: Eglise Evangelique de la Pentecote, Eglise Chretienne Evangelique Baptiste de Tracadie
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