Precious Days

Sometimes we have the wish to preserve the days for ever. That is when we are exceedingly happy and content. It is just that what I would like to do right now. A great big peace seems to have settled in me. Walks through the beautiful forests of the Roosevelt Park, views across the wide waters of the Bay of Fundy, the splash of waves rolling ashore, a last songbird singing his melody. Bea’s garden is still showing flowers and we are indulging in a rich fish stew, prepared from garden vegetables topped with sour cream, completed with a California white wine…. Most of the summer visitors have left this blessed island, but friends are dropping by to say hello. What a great pleasure to see everyone healthy and well. God, what great love I feel towards this place. I was surprised that I slept until 8:30am today. That is not me on a normal day, but the quiet Saturday morning and a grey sky might have been contributing. Yes, we had a drizzle which subsided throughout the day. But that’s part of coastal living, and it makes me appreciate the sunny days even more. You may say “you appreciate all this because you are now at the age of 62”, but I have to tell you that I always have appreciated and preferred a quiet country life versus the huzzle-buzzle of any big city. I think I was born like that. You may offer any world-class entertainment in a big city, and I would thank you no and trade that against a walk in a beautiful natural area – like Campobello. But I’m bragging…..you gotta come yourself and see.

I Am One Big Happy

Do you remember how you felt as a kid at Christmas? That’s about how I felt today when I woke up to the bluest of all Canadian skies. It took a while until my brain realized I WAS HOME. There was the ultimate quiet outside. No big-city hum and not trucks thundering over any overpass. Admittedly I had slept almost 12 hours and I needed that moment of realization that indeed I was NOT in my trailer. Molly had already walked down the stairs and was waiting in front of the kitchen door to be let out for her morning business. A nice breakfast and I was ready to “break the bank”.  First enjoyment of the day was a walk-about with Molly. Ah…here it was - unpolluted  fresh air from the ocean. Shortly before lunch we went through the border to pick up some groceries in Lubec, ME and a bread from Martha’s Home Bakery. I hadn’t seen Martha since last summer and she was due to receive a big hug from me. What a delight to see her again and buy her delicious bakery products. But before we could go there we had to kill half an hour as Martha doesn’t open her door before 11 EDT. So we went to the INN AT THE WHARF and ordered a super delicious fish chowder made from haddock and real cream. I was in heaven! When we finally got back home again we just enjoyed the afternoon sun which was just so nice. In fact it got so warm that long pants became too warm.   And since the weather is gonna change tomorrow, I had myself another walk with Molly along the famous (and deserted) Herring Cove Beach. Was I feeling like a Happy Guy? You bet I did!   I think it is a healthy experience to spend time in a totally different place before one comes home again. I can sure re-appreciate my beautiful home place.                                          The last rose Thanks for coming by!

Landed

After almost 12 hrs. travel time and a total of 24 hrs. awake I am feeling bushed. I am in a turboprop and the drone of the propellers is changing as the plane descends towards the Bay of Fundy and Saint John.  Bright sunlight makes me squint my eyes as I try to get my bearing. The Trans Canada Highway # 1 is clearly visible as it runs along the coast in a northern direction. Well an hour south of here is St.Stephen and the International border. And a bit out east and south is an island I cannot see: Campobello Island. By now the plane is running along the tarmac towards the small airport building. Not much of any activity here. It’s not like in Edmonton or Toronto where thousands are milling about regardless of the time of the day. It’s my kind of place. When we step down the stairway I notice the difference in the air. No petro-industry stench out here, just the salty smell of the near-by Atlantic Ocean.  And it is mild and unseasonably warm. I break a sweat as my leather jacket is way too heavy. Short sleeves are much better. Within a few minutes our baggage is appearing on the conveyor belt. The little crowd is thinning out and all-of-a-sudden I stand alone here. Bea is still at home or on her way by now. I have to wait 2 1/2hrs. Following a thought I ask one of the car rental agencies whether they have an office in St.Stephen. I could rent a car to St.Stephen and cut short the wait for Bea, but they shake their heads. No car rentals can survive in the border town. Actually the town is struggling to survive. No bus line is connecting the town with the rest of the province either. It’s a loosing proposition. So I sit down in the waiting area, grab my laptop and start this posting. Yes, they do have a fast internet connection here, and it is free. What a blessing.

October 01 And I Am Soo Excited

With September behind me, I am now looking forward to 2 weeks off the job and traveling east to where my heart is and will always be: Bea, Molly and Campobello Island. After 6 months out west I long to see the salty waters of the Bay of Fundy and I don’t mind if the weather might be cloudy. I will ENJOY home like never before. But first I have to clear up ship here. Tomorrow I will be starting with getting the laundry done. Then I will dump the trailer and winterize, as it might get frosty before we are here again in the middle of the month. I will have to pack my suitcase and print out my flight itinerary. My flight goes at 9pm from Edmonton and I will touch down at St.John Airport at around 11:30am next day. Yup, it’s a night flight. Since Bea has booked a doctors appointment that morning, I will have to wait until she makes it out to the city.  Unfortunately, our house rental deal went down the drain as the owner decided to sell the house instead. Too bad….but I might have found an alternative housing. Just not quite sure yet. I have never seen a housing market as hot as in Edmonton. Of course the prices are there after. It’s called the “Alberta advantage”.  For what you pay for a rental over 3 years you can buy a house many other places. Anyway, I just made my last 760kms for the next 2 weeks and I’m bushed.   Nighty….!