The Storm Hit Our Off-Grid Island Home

The North Atlantic hit harder than we’ve seen all year. Three boats, high tides, and nowhere to hide from the storm. The storm that hit this week was one of the worst we’ve seen out here. We thought Hurricane Melissa was bad, but this North Atlantic system was something else entirely. With three boats in the water, the first job was getting them to safety. We used old-time methods — ropes, block and tackle — to haul one boat up on shore and anchor another off safely before the wind picked up. When the storm rolled in, it came hard. The tides surged higher than we’ve ever seen, trails washed out, and equipment started shifting toward the ocean. Trees came down, the rain didn’t stop, and at the height of it all, the wind nearly blew the south-side windows in. In the dark of night, we had to go help pull our neighbour’s boat up to safety. By the next morning, the wind was still howling, and the rain showed no signs of letting up. It wasn’t until the third day that the weather finally gave us a short break — just enough time to finish the foundation of the floor for the new bathroom addition before the next wave of rain hit. Once it did, we moved inside to start the stonework and build a new chimney for Kelly’s old-time wood stove oven. By the end of the week, we lit our first fire in the new kitchen. After days of cold, rain, and wind, that warmth felt like the best reward we could ask for. We wrapped up the week — tired, thankful, and proud to call this little off-grid island home. Thanks for being here with us.