
Ice on the water’s edge on Mahone Bay


I tasted the ice that had formed at the water’s edge on a small beach, as I said I would. As predicted, it was indeed fresh, not salty. A good survival tip, should you ever find yourself shipwrecked on a desert island in winter.
Hatfield encounters a sticky oil spill
Canada’s Derek Hatfield hit an oilslick at 16 knots today, and it washed over the boat making a big mess. Now he has to clean up while still trying to make up for time he lost at the beginning of the race due to equipment problems. At least he’s not dead last anymore in the Vendée Globe round the world solo yacht race. But imagine the hazard of a slimy, slippery deck when you’re already pushing the limits.
Rooting for Derek Hatfield
We should all be wildly cheering on Derek Hatfield in his Algimouss Spirit of Canada, 60 foot speed machine, who is sailing alone around the world in the Vendée Globe race. He’s been running a bootstrap operation without the advantages of staff and money that a major sponsor would provide, but with the support of thousands of Canadians. Why isn’t there a daily update in a box on the front page of the Halifax Herald? Check out his site at SpiritOfCanada.net and the Vendée Globe site.
Ice on salt water

People are sometimes surprised to learn that ocean water can freeze (but think about it: we’re worried about the melting polar ice cap). Two winters out of the last four, we’ve been able to skate on Mahone Bay after a really cold snap. Salt water freezes at a lower temperature than fresh water, and the saltier it is, the colder it has to be to freeze. I’ve found that it has a softer quality than freshwater ice, perhaps because of the impurities it would contain. But I’m sure it’s just as unforgiving if you crack your head on it!
I’ve always found crystals fascinating. In my days as a lab chemist I enjoyed doing crystallization, which is done in the lab as a means of purifying a substance. That’s because a crystal is formed when the molecules of a substance lock together in a close pattern. There isn’t much room for anything else in there, between the molecules. Separate the crystals from the rest, and you’ve got a pretty pure product.
Of course, these ice crystals I saw this morning melted during the day.
Watching the changes in the ice on the bay is one of the joys of living in Nova Scotia in winter.
If you want to read more about the science of seawater freezing, see the Water Encyclopedia.
Ducks eating on marsh at high tide
Solar powered snow removal

It was a joke in the editorial cartoon of the Herald – a comment on the slowness of HRM to remove snow from the streets, but it sure worked in our neighbourhood. The foot of dense heavy snow that fell on the weekend disappeared in a couple of days. High winds early in the week helped a lot too. The Annapolis Valley had at least twice as much snow to go. There were flood warnings in some areas.
It feels like spring! 🙂
Ducks
Lobster season starts in southwest Nova Scotia
After what will surely be remembered as the great November snowstorm of 2008, I went for a walk this morning in crystalline -8 degrees(C). From Crandall Point I looked out on the still waters of Mahone Bay, the open ocean behind, and counted six boats between Oak Island and Tancook. I thought of our sailboat, now snug and dry, and marveled at the fishermen who brave such cold. But it’s the first day of lobster season, too important a day to stay home if you have traps to set.