Hi-Tech Abandons Ship
Running Aground in Halifax
They made a smooth run to Port Bickerton and leaving
rested, they headed for Marie Joseph. Along the way they discovered Hi-Tech
had jumped ship while they'd been in port. For now they would have to continue.
(They later returned and although they offered a reward, the cat was never found) 
Their 4 hour jaunt turned into 9 hours. Once in port, Millar called his son Danny and at 2 am he (Danny) arrived to act as navigator once again.
Morning saw them set out again for Owl's Head. When they arrived at the abandoned wharf
there was no fuel to but a kind fisherman drove Danny 10 miles in for gas. Now refueled
they decide to "make a run for Halifax"
As dusk descended, and just outside Halifax, they had to make a choice. Enter the port of
Halifax or take a shortcut through Eastern Passage. Having had invested several hundred
dollars in marine maps before starting out on their journey, they didn't have one for this
particular area. Nevertheless they forged ahead. Steering in the centre of the
entrance and on calm waters their excitement mounted as they saw the city lights and the
Halifax Dartmouth bridge ahead.
Jubilant that they were almost at the end of the journey and had weathered the worst, their joy turned sour when the boat came to a sudden dead stop. Not knowing the waters they made a terrible mistake by taking the shortcut and hitting a long shoal of rocks.
The impact had torn a 6 inch slice from the bottom of the engine and crumpled the
propeller. Now, with the engine barely running, the Sea Cat limped into a
mooring at the Chinatown Restaurant.
"We were relieved, happy and totally disappointed. After all that trauma. 300
miles and never hitting a rock and we go aground in the damn Halifax harbour. It nearly
took all the wind out of my sails" said Millar.
The Last Leg of the
Journey