After 31 Years….We Met Again.

One of the last things Alain did for me was helping me change an engine on a 1967 FORD Station Wagon. It was November and the year 1985. After that we exchanged a few emails every year, and I never thought I’d see the fellow again. But 2 years ago I suggested to come and visit us on Campobello Island. And he made true of it. Yesterday Alain came riding up from New York with his wife and the youngest of 2 daughters. When the phone rang yesterday afternoon I knew it was them. They had already checked into their motel and I drove up to bring them to our house. What followed was an endless catching-up conversation. You just don’t cover 31 years in a few sentences or even hours. And today we continued talking. I showed them Head Harbour Lightstation and after lunch we simply went to the beach. The pictures will tell the story but for new readers I would like to mention that the beach is at the Bay of Fundy and that the water may have 10C (50F) and that it feels very, very cold on your feet f you step out into the water. Indeed, you have the feeling your feet are gonna fall off. But that did not scare our French visitors of doing just that. As you can see the weather couldn’t have been more gorgeous. So what we found out of each other is that none of us has changed. we are still having the same type of lively conversations as we had 31 years ago. Of course our looks have changed, and yet I would have recognized Alain on the sidewalk. What an amazing experience!  I would love to have them here a whole week or…..hell as permanent neighbours. These folks are just so nice. Thanks for stopping by!

Oh It’s Saturday And Time To Turn On The Old Radio

Every Saturday evening I turn on our old transistor radio. I don’t have to seek for the station, it’s always tuned right on to CBC French Channel. Of course I don’t understand a word of what they are saying, but the music they play on Saturdays are my kind of music, like old-time show melodies, big band and oldies from long gone days and famous American Songbook titles.             Once found at a church yard sale for 5 Bucks Then I sit down in my IKEA Poäng-chair, and just swim away in a journey to the days when I was a little boy and my parents were doing just the same – listening to the radio. Our old 50’s radio from Germany, still functional with the right voltage (240V) That was before they got a black/white TV. The TV set changed our lives in a way I never would have expected. Conversations died, and we got commercials into our living room. At the time we didn’t notice the subtle changes, well – I think mother did, cause she didn’t like it one bit when we kids threw a fit when we wanted to see a program and weren’t allowed. Maybe that’s why we don’t have a TV today. I can listen to my music from the old transistor radio or turn on my computer to watch a movie or short video. That’s enough of entertainment for me.

What’s A Summer Without Rain?

In spite of the east coast’s reputation that summers are wet and cold it has been incredible dry and warm over the last couple of weeks – way too dry for the vegetables in our garden. So when clouds were moving in yesterday evening and rain was showing up in the forecast, it was welcome.  Temperatures dropped to the half of the previous day and I lit up a fire on our stove this morning to get the morning chill out of the house. And it stayed drizzly and windy for most of the day. I had done my last tour bus of a string of eight 2 days ago and they all had a great experience on Campobello. 2 private tours followed yesterday and today we had a break from touring the island. Also, we were host to an Aussie couple arriving in a Class C motor home for an overnight stay on their way to Newfoundland. They were from “Canoona” Queensland, Australia and the season’s first Boondockers on our property. Wal and Mary turned out to be real interesting fellow campers. When they pulled in we had the usual customary get-to-know-talk on the lawn, and it hit me that campers are having no problems in finding common ground, even though they are from a different continent. Wal and Mary are having plans to make it from Newfoundland all the way to Alaska.  We wished them a safe journey when they pulled out the next morning.   Having an evening in front of the warming wood stove is a change in the long row of sun-warm evenings we have had and it is pouring down outside. We are already looking forward to our next visitors, this time from France. After 31 years it’s gonna be the first time I will see my friend Alain again. He was visiting me on my Norwegian farm back in 1985. I will report about his visit after July 10.

Busy But Beautiful Days

Canada Day came and went with the most beautiful weather I could imagine. It was GREAT. At 12 noon a tour bus with 41 passengers from Connecticut and Massachusetts rolled in. They were all eager to see the island and I was their tour guide. Yahoohie that was so much fun. We went to Herring Cove Beach and I could tell them the story about Pres. Roosevelt sitting on his bum on the beach with New Brunswick officials and wife Eleanor at his side. Rules for Presidents must have been different 80 years ago. Then we went to one of our wonderful and lovingly restored lighthouses and ended the tour with another highlight, the viewing of the Roosevelt Summer Residence. Now, on board was a female Tour Director which appeared to be special. Her name, LIISA (with double I) I had seen many many years ago – in Finland. So I asked her whether she was from the land of the midnight sun and yes, she was from Finland.  Together, we walked through the Roosevelt “Cottage”. Then the moment came to say Good Bye to the group. With Mic in hand I wished them a safe and enjoyable trip onwards to Nova Scotia and at that moment Liisa came forward and she asked with a smile whether I would like a kiss. WHAT? I must have looked confused, but she pointed to what she had in front of her: “Hershey Kisses”. I grabbed one and then I hugged her and the bus exploded in cheers. Man-o-man….what a moment that was. Today was another busy day. This time 2 tour buses, also from CT and MA turned up plus that I had 2 private parties for a van tour, one of which came over with one of the fastest boats on the Passamaquoddy Bay. They were riding a 33ft Hurricane Zodiac equipped with a dual 315hp jet engine. WOW….it makes 50mph on quiet waters. The vessel is a former FBI-unit converted for passenger traffic.                              From Nova Scotia…. 7 ladies from Nova Scotia were onboard destined to learn everything about Campobello. Needless to say they all had great fun. How we handled all that traffic in one day? Easy-peasy if one has a talented and smart neighbour plus a guide-experienced wife like Bea. My two bus guides entertained the two American groups while I toured the island with our van.          At the “Hubbard Cottage” for “Tea w. Eleanor” At 4pm everyone had left and we were huddling together to talk about our experiences with the people.                               Tour Guide Selfies