The year was 1993. My husband David and I planned a trip to Nova Scotia. I had read about the beautiful scenery and friendly people of the area and was extremely excited to see the area. Little did I know that this trip was the beginning of a friendship that continued for more than 15 years. We took the ferry over from Portland, Maine to Yarmouth. The awesome beauty of Yarmouth as we came into the bay the next morning took our breath away. We had put our car on the ferry and after eating breakfast in Yarmouth we began our driving tour.
I had made reservations with a bed and breakfast located in a place called Mahone Bay. I planned to stop there to see the famous three churches across the bay and to visit Lunenburg, home of the Blue Nose. As we turned the corner to go up to the bed and breakfast, we spotted a very unusual sight. There, floating in the bay was a miniature schooner, full sails and beautifully catching the setting sun’s rays. Nothing else but to stop and see more of the replica ships offered for sale.
As soon as we stopped, out came a gentleman in a wheelchair to greet us. He was the warmest and friendliest person I think I have ever met. Later, I learned that he was from Newfoundland and that this is just the way those people are. He showed us his shop behind the house where he worked to build his replicas. He had schooners and fishing boats made to extreme detail. We knew we could get only one and we were not sure how to even get one home. It was very hard picking out just one. We settled on a beautiful schooner. See the enclosed photo.
We went on to spend the night at the bed and breakfast, but something kept bringing us back to visit with Roy and his wife Margie during our couple of days in Mahone Bay. Roy was suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease that he had contracted during his years in service. It had affected his ability to walk, but he could still use his hands and what detail work he could not do on the boats, Margie helped him. Margie made the sails and small items such as chains and lines whereas Roy built the wooden parts.
When it came time for us to leave Mahone Bay, Roy said that if we were ever back that way, be sure and stop in. Little did he know that his invitation would be heartily accepted. Roy and Margie lived in a beautiful captain’s house that Margie inherited from her parents, alongside of beautiful Mahone Bay.
Over the years, Roy and my husband David built a very tight friendship. Roy invited David to come and spend time with him during the long winter months while Roy taught David how to work on the ships. Dave would fly into Halifax, sometimes in not so great weather, and Margie’s son would always come and pick him up and get him back to the airport. Roy was always so glad to see Dave and always so sad to see him leave. Dave felt the same way. Margie would always treat Dave warmly and open her home to him. Dave still can remember warmly the cups of tea he and Roy shared in Roy’s shop as they were working, and the carrot cake that Margie would always bake. And Roy was never short on tales of his adventures as a sea captain and while he was in the merchant marines and serving in the Royal Canadian Navy.
David and I visited Roy and Margie several times over the years. Margie always opened her home to us and offered the upstairs bedroom to us anytime we came. I loved the old house with the creaking staircase and the beautiful view out the front door of Mahone Bay. But, most of all, we thoroughly enjoyed Roy and Margie Boutcher and their Newfie hospitality.
  Submitted By: Teresa Ashby