Off-Grid Christmas in the North Atlantic | Ice-Breaking to Launch Cape Millie’s Boat Parade

Christmas off-grid in the North Atlantic starts with ice, boats, and a mission at sunrise.Then it turns into lights, friends, fireworks, and a quiet morning back home on the island. We opened the week to a beautiful winter morning — blue skies, fresh snow, and the island completely still. Before anything else, we headed down to the wharf to shovel out the speed boat and make a run to the lower harbour, where our big boat, Cape Millie, sits at anchor for the winter. With freshwater streams flowing into the harbour, the cold had started to lock everything up with ice. Using the speed boat, we broke a path through, letting the tide carry it out and keeping her free and safe. Back on the island, we fired up the 6x6 and headed out to groom the trails with our homemade rig. Keeping the paths open in winter is key to getting around out here, especially once the snow really settles in. With the ice cleared and the trails opened, it was time to get Cape Millie ready for one of our favourite traditions — the Christmas boat parade. We strung up the lights, and Kelly set out a big spread of food on the back deck. Then we headed into town, picked up a few friends, and joined the rest of the boats, steaming along the coast to nearby communities, fireworks lighting up the winter sky at every stop. Before we knew it, we were back home on the island, and it was Christmas morning. We shared our turkey dinner preparations, opened a few gifts — including some thoughtful surprises sent in by you, and soaked in the quiet. We wrapped it all up the way we like to, sitting down together for a cup of tea and a Christmas Q&A, reflecting on the year and what life off-grid in the North Atlantic has given us. Thank you for being here with us.