CouchSurfing

If you've been following this blog at all, you probably know about how I met the young man from Rhode Island on my way into Yarmouth Nova Scotia. If not, you can refer back to the July 17th and July 18th posts to get caught up.

Throughout this journey I have been using the Internet, the online journal that you're reading now, along with email, route mapping, online banking, and for keeping up to date with the news of the world. Whatever your own personal Internet experience, you must admit that this is an incredible tool. One very useful service on the Internet that I did not make use of, though I wish I had, is CouchSurfing. The CouchSurfing Project is a charitable organization founded in New Hampshire, the motto included in their mission statement sums it up: "CouchSurfing Participates in Creating a Better World, One Couch at a Time". Here's the rest...

CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance and facilitate cultural understanding. As a community we strive to do our individual and collective parts to create a better world, and we believe that the surfing of couches is a means to accomplish this goal. CouchSurfing is not about the furniture, not just about finding free accommodations around the world; it's about making connections worldwide. We make the world a better place by opening our homes, our hearts, and our lives. We open our minds and welcome the knowledge that cultural exchange makes available. We create deep and meaningful connections that cross oceans, continents and cultures. CouchSurfing wants to change not only the way we travel, but how we relate to the world!

As a result of CouchSurfing I have met and become friends with many wonderful and interesting people.

Matt is an aspiring photojournalist from Rhode Island who just completed his third year at RIT. He's the one that introduced me to Yarmouth.

Carla is a beautiful and delightful Maritime woman who is also an accomplished newspaper reporter and photographer here in Southwest Nova Scotia,

Phil is a very sweet and insightful German traveller on a quest similar to mine, only his is taking place before embarking on building an adult life and family, Brenda is a wonderful American ex-patriot whose take on Canadian life has been a regular subject of conversation over a glass of wine There's Sheila, and Joe, and Chas, and J, and Darryl, and of course there's Jacques who is winding down his own bicycle journey. He's only got another 2500km or so to go, when he arrives home in Quebec he will have ridden over 12,000 kilometers, that's over 7,000 miles!!! Jacques is 63, a former mayor of his home town and a very wise and charming man.

If not for CouchSurfing, some good luck, a little misfortune in Amherst, and lot of other very odd "coincidences", I would not have met any of these wonderful people. I strongly encourage you to sign up to host a couch surfers in your home, it's the very best way to get to know people from other places and experiences. I have learned so much by just sitting and talking, and listening. You don't have to go Nova Scotia to experience the world, it can happen in your own home! If you're travelling, couch surfing is a great way to meet people along the way and to truly get a feel for an area, it's people and it's culture.

Santé,

~B

The Shag Harbour Incident

I finally got a chance to see some of the beautiful Nova Scotia coastline during a drive out to the Barrington town council meeting the other night. Last week when we took the same route to attend a previous meeting, the coastline was socked in with a thick curtain of fog, the view popping out only occasionally to reveal a glimpse of what lies beyond. There was a touch of fog the other evening but that just added to the colorful and rugged landscape. In addition to the ready made postcards unfolding out the right window of the car, there is Shag Harbour.

According to legend, in the fall of 1967, a local fisherman and 3 friends were on their way home, traveling along the coast road when they, along with several other residents, observed a collection of bright lights in the sky hovering over the area of Shag Harbour. While they watched, the lights dropped suddenly into the bay right on the edge of Shag Harbor. Believing it to be the crash of some sort of aircraft, they notified the police. When they described the event to the RCMP, they were questioned about their sobriety. Once it was acsertained that they were not under the influence, officers were sent and an aggressive search and rescue effort was organized and launched into the dark waters of the harbour. Upon arriving at the estimated location of the crash site, the rescuers observed a glowing thick yellow foam rising out of the dark water. The presence of the foam was sufficient to discourage the divers from investigating further. After some deliberation, and in light of the fact that the window in which to recover survivors was rapidly closing, the search continued. However, the official report concluded that in fact no planes had gone missing and nothing was reported to have been discovered under the mysterious yellow foam. Hmmmmm....

You can follow the whole story by watching all 6 youtube videos and following this link to the wikipedia page describing the incident.

One thing you will not find there is information about this baby alien that I actually got a chance to hold at an undisclosed location in the vicinity of Shag Harbour! I can't disclose exactly where, but I can tell you that you should not feel badly for this little guy. Turns out his name is Marvin and he's actually alive and doing well. He loves to play this gag on tourists where he pretends to be dead in this little glass jar. Ha, he's such a kidder!


Actually he's very well versed on the UFO incident and told me not to worry about his friends on the craft, they were fully insured. So there you go, another happy ending from Nova Scotia.

Gotta run, Marvin's visiting for the afternoon and he's hollering for another beer.

Cheers!

~B

Foggy Harbour

Clark's Harbour Wharf Photo Album - Click here!

Tiny Lovely Things

I was talking with a friend last night about relationships and love and was struck by an expression...

In describing a moment of tenderness with another person, he referred to something she did as one of those "tiny lovely things". It struck me immediately as a very delicate and expressive description of what he'd experienced with her. In trying to navigate the complicated and nuanced language of love, he touched on a component that resonates with, I think, all people with any sense of connection to their sensitive selves. Tiny lovely things are what make us smile, what warm us from within and brighten even the grayest day. A gentle brush of fingers across a lovers arm, the warm act of feeding a friend a tiny carrot freshly picked from the garden when it's not expected, a sweet smile across a crowded room. It's the tiny things that matter. When offered to someone needing attention or reassurance, they land with such profound force and are felt long after the moment's passed. They're the moments we replay in our minds as we drift off to sleep at peace with ourselves and our universe.

Tiny lovely things can be shared with strangers - a smile on the street for someone not accustomed to receiving any, spending time to express interest in someone's day rather than just hurrying off after the obligatory "How are ya?", a hug for no reason other than it's just nice to share a hug. These things don't require much effort, just a little caring in someone else's world. Reminding someone to not forget their peach as they head out the door, simply because you like knowing that they'll be happy later that they have it, is one of those things - tiny lovely expressions that we're all in this together and we care.

With all the details of everyday life and living it's easy to forget our potential for these simple acts of kindness and caring that we all possess. When we feel them offered up by another, it can be transforming, if only for a moment. It's getting lost in those moments, that truly define us as human and makes our lives worth living.

Not so tiny after all.

~B

New Photo Albums!

Saturday Night's Parade of Lights on the Yarmouth Waterfront - Click Here!








Sunday's Sandcastle Contest at Port Maitland Beach - Click Here!

These Spokes are Clean!

Bikini Bike Wash Photo by Carla Allen

The view the complete spectacle click here* for the uncut and unrated album!

*You must be at least 18 to view these photos. ;-)

The Traveler

On May 22nd at 10am I set out from my hometown of Brattleboro Vermont to travel. I had, at least, an initial destination and a rough idea of the route. I knew I wanted to see Nova Scotia. Where I decided to go from there was yet to be seen. I did know for sure that I'd keep myself open to the possibility that I might, along the way, find the next place where I'd decide to live and maybe even the next person that I was meant to love. Throughout this whole adventure I've tried to remain mindful that the journey was always the real destination.

It's now July 26th and I'm on my tenth day here in Yarmouth. My journey has taken me through unexpectedly beautiful villages in New Hampshire on my way to the sea coast, like Henniker and Hopkinton where I marveled at the sight of a river running through a New England scene that can only be described as extraordinary, along the rugged Maine coast up to Bar Harbor where I fell in love with April and her Opera House Cafe, into New Brunswick, where the word "hill" gained a new definition for me, and up into Amherst where everything stopped and the pot became irrevocably stirred. There I met some truly wonderful people whom I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. I've ridden through a valley that reminded me very much of the place where I grew up and renewed my interest in seeing things through a photographer's eye. And then into Yarmouth. My experience here, and to a similar extent in Amherst, has been nothing short of life changing. I now know for certain that Matt, the young man that I met on the bridge who led me to this place that is now becoming so familiar, was placed there on the bridge specifically to rendezvous with me and guide me in. I was supposed to be here. Before my journey began, a thousand years before I was born, my itinerary was laid out, a hand poised - waiting to check off all the experiences that have been prepared for me on this journey and throughout the course of my life. My friend Bette shared her belief that our lives function exactly that way, that it's all been laid out in advance and we're just players on a stage reading lines and following stage direction that's already been choreographed. I didn't fully understand it then and engaged her in a lively discussion of free will and matters of time and space surrounding her belief. I can now see that she might be onto something. The young man on the bridge was not a coincidence. My ability to comprehend what it is that placed him there at that moment is limited. For him to be riding along, and decide to capture a photograph that may have caught his attention for just a split second at the same time that I was passing through on day 57, leaves open the possibility that that split second vision could have been a quick whisper from the man with the clipboard that "hey, there's a picture", or maybe a couple lines of code from the big server in the sky. For whatever reason or from whatever source, it would appear that things happen for a reason. I've often struggled with that expression. I also have a hard time with "you always find it the last place you look". Well duh, don't you stop looking once you've found it? "Things happen for a reason" like Bette's belief about following along to some cosmic bouncing ball, begs the question of "which came first the chicken or the egg?" Did I meet Carla and Chas and Joe and Sheila and Daryl and Brenda and Phil because Matt was on the bridge or was Matt on the bridge because Hopkinton and the Opera House and Amherst and the valley had already been checked off and 73 Cliff Street was key life event number 7,256.Which came first? This morning I'm no longer struggling with that question, it's made it into my top five favorite expressions. OK, here it is folks, squeezing in at number three... "All things happen for a reason".

So now there's today, gray and chilly, a lone blue jay calling from down Cliff Street, the house is quiet except for the refrigerator clicking on occasionally to keep cold the leftovers from the meals that we've shared. I'm alone in the kitchen grateful that everyone's sleeping in. I slept in Chas' room last night, he's away for a few weeks of camp and summer visiting. In keeping with the spirit of Chas' room, I piled all of my stuff on his bed when Phil arrived and last night just cleared a space to sleep. Just me, one blanket, something resembling a pillow on which to rest my head, and a pile.

Lao Tsu , the father of Buddhism, once said "A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving". This morning I'm struggling with key life event 7,257. If I hadn't left Bar Harbor, I would have never met Bette and Beverly. If I hadn't left Amherst, I would have never met Carla and company. My love for the special ones who've touched my life will never be diminished by distance. I know that I'll always be welcome on a porch in Amherst where I can laugh and listen and share.

I know that there will always be a place for me here. I know I've made a huge impression and contribution to the lives of those I've touched and I know a vacuum will be left when I ride away from this place.

When I was in my twenties, living in Massachusetts and raising a family, I used to love watching the Tour de France coverage on television. It was during those wonder years before Lance Armstrong came into the limelight (he was just a young rider supporting the peloton) when Greg LaMond and Bernard Hinault were locked it their epic battle for the yellow jersey. LaMond was the superior rider but Hinault was the favorite son of France and the owner of team La Vie Claire for which they both rode. A team could have only one leader. Ultimately Hinault was given the nod to take over the lead and with the peleton driving him home claimed his fifth and final Tour de France victory. I clearly remember LaMond, dejected and pissed (sorry Mom!) for having been told to sit back and let Bernard ride into Paris to the adulation of the cycling world and cheers of an entire nation. I remember Greg ripping off his jersey and throwing it to the ground, and I remember his cyclist tan. Arms and legs bronzed from long days on the Tour, tanned from the neck up, everything else white. I had that same tan when I rode into Yarmoth. I notice this morning that it's already beginning to fade. I was proud of that tan, it meant something to me. I'd earned it, damnit.

A part of me feels like Greg LaMond, I'm being stopped, by myself to be sure, but the race is not yet won.

~B

Destiny, Fate, Kismit, Coincidence...

I am exactly where I'm supposed to be at this moment..........................

I am all that I have met..........................

Everything happens for a reason..........................

What is it that puts us where we currently are in our lives? That puts us on the same bridge at the same moment and gives us the idea and the courage to say "where ya' from?". That places us in a room with another soul and says "OK, now open up, you're safe here"? That taps us on the shoulder and says "hey, doesn't that bike look good? Go ahead and take it, nobody's gonna see you". Who decides which ones down here get smooshed together and which ones never meet? Are we all exactly where we're supposed to be? Some of us are sitting behind desks trudging through work days, others in easy chairs enjoying a good Gene Autry film, some are sitting alone in nursing homes with dementia waiting for someone to ask them to skip rope. At this moment I'm in Yarmouth Nova Scotia, of all places, trying to make sense of my own exact place. Is this really where I'm supposed to be?

It's so funny how all things in life end up connected. Behind the scenes, out of the way, back behind the curtain, the threads attach, one to another, across this one and through these. The web of life, that we only get to see when we stop long enough to think "I wonder what's back here?", and then slowly push aside the curtain. I LOVE how my threads have been connected. From my limited vantage point I can see a few that are so clearly visible and strong. I can see Bette and Beverly who gave me the strength to say "where ya' from?", I can see Era asking me "do you think the universe is trying to tell you something?", and Carolyn saying "Go". Still others are yet to be discovered. I can see them forming, but I'm not yet sure how they connect.

I am truly all that I have met. Though, at this moment, I'm still nestled in the forest, peering out through the trees...

...but the view is clearing.

~B

Back on the bike...kinda

Actually, I just went on a 55k ride. I averaged over 25kph, which is a lot better than the 16 or 17 I get when I'm fully loaded and pacing myself. It felt GREAT! I've got a couple of appointments tomorrow, one to explore how complicated it's going to be for me to stay and work in NS for a while, and the other one to get a cavity filled. I've been putting it off for some time now and it's finally hurting every time I drink anything cold. I wonder how much I can save if I pass on the Novocaine. Ouch!

Having a hard day today. My friend Joleah told me to "remember that you are exactly where you are supposed to be at this very moment" There are days when that feels like the case and other days when I feel like I'm off track. Tonight's ride felt "natural" - me out on the bike, pumping hard, at times experiencing a sense of flying, watching the world pass by. Maybe that's what I'm doing now, watching the world pass me by. I've been thinking again today about what I do when it's time to re-enter the real world. Will it be here, or in Bar Harbor, or up in Amherst, or some yet to be discovered place further up along the coast, or back in Massachusetts or in Vermont, or riding further south to avoid the cold. I'll know more tomorrow, but right now, today, I feel completely up in the air. Without the traditional anchors of an established home with all the associated obligations, and a regular routine involving some version of a nine to five, it's easy to get lost in your perceptions. I'm prone to that even under the most regimented situation.

So what's next??? For now, I've been staying busy here in Yarmouth taking care of overdue handyman stuff. Today I dropped off a mower carburetor to get the jets cleaned and to have a rebuild kit installed, and then I laid down a new floor in Carla's upstairs kitchen. It looks like a pro did it, but no, it was just little ol' me. It's funny how some guys react to my willingness and ability to help. One of them actually handed me a fallen light dimmer knob to put back so his girlfriend wouldn't get the idea that he could actually fix things. He was kidding, but I have observed that mindset to be not at all uncommon. Can you tell I'm having a moment here?

As always, the sun will come out tomorrow...tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow...

~B

Birds

I was awaken this morning by the gentle call of the indigenous Yarmouth Jackhammer. It was quite lovely. Actually, the birds here are quite nice. Very few crows. It turns out the crow experience I related in a previous post involving shooting "inexpensive arrows at high black targets" was a real story. Kentville NS is apparently famous for it's ridiculous crow population. Funny.

It's raining here this morning and the Jackhammer has ceased his plaintive call. I'm heading to the hardware store this morning before Carla goes into work to get a couple of hinges and a few more screws to finish Sheila's trash bin. I fixed the ceiling fan yesterday, but I still need to get a couple of screws for that to replace the ugly electrical tape that's keeping the cover in place. I'm also going to be job hunting once I clear whatever hurdles I need to clear. I'm hoping it won't be too tough. I have a line on a few job ideas already.

Yesterday, Carla took me down the coast to see some of the sights on her way to covering a couple of stories. Unfortunately, it was rather foggy so the experience was somewhat limited. We attended a Town Council meeting last night which was at once really boring and quite fun. Small town politics is always a treat. Not that different from Brattleboro.

OK, I'm down to 18% power on this laptop, so I'll cut this short and post more later. ~B

Sheila's Cabin

This afternoon we waited around for Carla's next couch surfer to appear. She was scheduled to arrive on the Cat from the States and was to stay in Yarmouth for just one night on her way to work as a volunteer on an organic farm in the Province. Couch Surfing is a very old and endearing practice whereby travelers make there way to and around their destinations by way of the hospitality of willing "couch owners". The Internet has made the process much more accessible to anyone wishing to lend a helping hand to travelers, and in return, gain wonderful experiences meeting people from around the world. That's exactly how I entered Carla's world, her remarkable collection of friends, her work as a gifted reporter and photographer, and this magical place around her. Carla's been hosting "surfers" for some time now and has had been thoroughly pleased with the outcome. After realizing that the next surfer was not going to appear as scheduled, we headed out to Sheila's cabin on the lake. Carla's Son Chas was here at the house to entertain and host as needed.

The cabin sits on a quiet lake a few minutes on the outskirts of Yarmouth, past the lake where the Dragon Boat Races were held, up a quiet dirt road into the woods, across a right of way on a neighbor's front lawn, and up a little hill. It had been foggy and threatening rain most of the day so it was nice to see a charming little cabin with smoke streaming up from the chimney indicating a fire was lit to welcome our arrival. It was delightful. Carla's friend and cousin Sheila had purchase the property with a rundown ramshackle cabin about six years ago and has created something truly special. At every corner here I see examples of a way life that feeds the living and that overflows with signs of hope and tranquility and community. I think it's partially due to my being in Carla's world, but this place is indeed special. I was pleased to see a couple of guitars being strummed as we entered, it's been months since I've played. I'm not very good, and it only takes me a short while to run through my repetoir, but I love to play. Along with taking piano lessons, learning to speak a little more french than "un peu", and having my own sailboat, getting really good at playing the guitar is on my personal Bobby-Do list. I've been encouraging Carla and Sheila to keep me busy with their own Bobby-Do list and so far they seem amazed at all the things I can do. Wait 'til they find out I can cook! Anyway, it was a wonderful day. We had to cut our visit short in order to bring a care package of food to Carla's missing couch surfer. There was a little hitch with immigration and she was in a hotel room downtown with a guard outside her door awaiting her return trip to Portland. She was very pleasant, but there was something fishy in Denmark. Turns out the security guard played some minor league ball with the Pawtucket Red Sox. He even knew Jim Rice and Fred Lynn! What a place. ~B

P.S. I better get some sleep, we're going for a bike ride in the morning!

Facebook Rules!!!

Here are my Facebook photo albums of the...

Dragon Boat Race ... Lobster Crate Run ... Journey to Yarmouth

Off to the Dragon Boat Races!

It's been magical since I landed here in Yarmouth on Thursday. Having run into Matt on that bridge twenty miles out of town seems like a wonderful stroke of destiny. Well, here are a few photos to suffice until I can write more...









I'm off to the dragon boat race. I'm paddling on Carla's team for the Vanguard News. You can also see photos from the parade that we saw yesterday and some more local happenings on the Vanguard's website. It's really a great website for keeping up to date on the local happenings.

OK, time to paddle!

Cheers,

~B

A Yarmouth Welcome

I'm at Carla's this morning and Matt and I are typing away on adjacent computers getting updated on our web life. We had a hot croissants with fruit and cheese with our coffee this morning. Dinner last night was something special too. Matt and I prepared the steak and shrimp kabobs last night and set a wonderful table for a nice meal on the patio. This sure beats the heck out peanut butter and jelly. Matt didn't believe me that sardines in mustard sauce were really good, so we even had them for desert. Actually, we had strawberry shortcake for the real desert. Matt's a photojournalism student at RIT, so the three of us have been having some good photo discussions, since Carla is also reporter and photographer for the Yarmouth County Vanguard. Matt's got another year of school but already has a nice webisite of his photography.

I just signed up for Couch Surfing.Com. That's how Matt met Carla. I think it will be a great resource for the next faze of my travels. We're heading out to walk the downtown in a bit. I'm hopping in the shower now.

Cheers!

~B

I'm in Yarmouth!!!

Sorry I haven't updated the blog in a few days. Every time I get to a library, it's either closed that day or I'm there after their days is through. Anyway, I'm in the Yarmouth library with my new friend Matt. I met him on a bridge about twenty miles back and rode into town together. This is the last leg of his trip and is taking the Cat back to the States tomorrow. It's really amazing how much faster you can ride when you have a companion. Tonight we're dining and sleeping at his friend Carla's. She's a reporter at the Yarmouth paper and had told him previously about this guy that had his bike stolen. Small world, eh?

I also ran into Trent while we were at Tim's having coffee. He recognized my bike from the internet. Again, small world.

Well, I'll have a bunch of new photos and info tomorrow as I'll be hanging here in Yarmouth for a day or two.

Cheers!

~B

Slow, But Steady...

I'm in the Windsor Nova Scotia Public Library and it's another gorgeous day outside. My bike is safely secured to the pillar at the front door of the library, I just checked. I'm a little sleepy today since last nights choice of sleeping accommodations were a bit problematic. I actually camped in the woods just beyond the football field of the Kings-Edgehill School. It's the Nova Scotia equivalent of Deerfield Academy back in the Massachusetts. Last night was a reunion and they ended up shooting off fireworks right over my tent! The reunion revellers were going well into the night and since I'm not used to hearing voices, human anyway, where I've been sleeping, I didn't sleep very soundly. Then at 4:37 the crows started in. I've decided that if I lived in Winsdor, I should like to take up the sport of archery. I'd focus primarily on shooting inexpensive arrows at high black targets. If I did this every morning for just a month and hit maybe two or three "targets" a day, I could significantly improve the general tranquility of this otherwise lovely place. I mean, give the other birds a chance to sing for once! Geez!

I've been doing more thinking about what comes next for me. When I was on the first leg of my journey, my goal was simple -to reach Nova Scotia. When I was in Amherst, I was dealing and reacting and thinking about things that were mostly external to me, like getting my bike back, how I felt about Amherst, whether I should drink rum or beer for evening refreshments with B&B, things like that. Now I'm on this leg of the journey and I'm mostly out of touch with everyone except my own thoughts. I've retired my cell phone to emergency 9-1-1 calls only, and pay phones are few and far between. My goal after Amherst has always been to see Nova Scotia. I've been planning on going right around. I went through the River and the Joggins, to Advocate and Parrsboro, through Truro and on to Brooklyn, and now into Windsor. My plan now is to head down "the Valley" as they say, the Annapolis Valley to Yarmouth. Man, that's a lot of time to think.

I saw a picture of that American President on page five of the paper today. It's really nice to be completely sheltered from the antics of the American political players. I don't have a TV on my bike so the only news I get is from the CBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Company, the Canadian equivalent of NPR, only on the CBC when they are playing a song as part of a story, THEY PLAY THE WHOLE SONG. What a novel idea! I did hear about the Fanny and Freddy calamity, that's not good. You Americans should do something about that. Anyway, yeah Bush on page 5. Is it possible to be a conscientious objector without a draft? It's a wonder everybody in the states doesn't move to Canada just to get away from a system that would allow that to be what ends up on page 5! Can I get a Hallelujah? Really, I'm not ready to chuck it all, but it is amazing how a little distance can provide a whole lot of perspective.

On the Road Again...

I'm in Truro NS today getting caught up on all things internet. I have a clear view of my bike from here and I find myself peeking at it often.




Here's what my canpsite looked like on Shulee my first night back out on the road.


The trip up to Cape D'or was fantastic. Someobody told me how beautiful it was but sadly failed to mention the road up the mountain to get there. It hert, but I made it!


Wanda and Paul treated me to a feast at Diane's in Five Islands. OMG! What a feast! I only left a few french fries on the plate. It was GREAT!



I'm finally getting back into the rhythm of the road. My 46 year old body was very unhappy with me for the first few days. The three week break was enough for my behind and my legs to forget what was expected of them. I'm still amazed at the hospitality anf generosity I experienced in Amherst NS. I can't thank you all enough. OK, that's a long enough rest, back on the road.

Cheers! ~B

Bittersweet Morning

This is my bedroom this morning. See, I even made the bed.

I was up before "the girls" today. It's the first time since I arrived here eight days ago that I was up to greet the morning before they were downstairs making the coffee, setting a warm place for me at the kitchen table, and awaiting my appearance, usually around 10am. This morning when I awoke, I immediately found my thoughts racing around all the details I needed to face in preparation for my mid-day departure. I'm very melancholy this morning. I've grown to love this place and it will be hard for me to head out of the dooryard. Bette and Beverly and Amherst are now woven into me. I'll leave this place today hoping that I might return and knowing that I've discovered some significant pieces of the puzzle that so I yearn to complete. I'll be taking time to write more about this over the next couple of days, but for now, the task at hand awaits. It also occurs to me that I'm sad that my family is together, minus my kids who are at opposite ends of the globe, Nic in San Diego, Chris in Spain, as well as me in Nova Scotia, and Donna (my ex and the kids Mom) in Stering Massachusetts. How did that happen? It's like a family explosion! It's all good, but...peculiar. Anyway, I hope the rest of my family is having a great time at my Janine and Ed's in Springfield Vermont. I should give you all her address, so you can crash the party...."Free Food and Alcohol! Bring your swim trunks!". But, no, that would be wrong. Sorry I couldn't be there to make my famous Breakfast Burritos, but I know Janine and Amy can both make a mean plate of toast, so it's not all bad. Kidding - Ha!

I'll be heading down through the Joggins today to Advocate (pronounced Advo-CATE up here), then on to Five Islands. I have a seafood platter waiting for me there!

From Bette and Beverly's, this is Bicycle Bob signing off.

Have a great weekend!

Cheers!

~B

T-Minus 26 Hours and Counting...

Call to Stations: This is the first check during ride launch countdown.

-Begin final vehicle and facility close-outs for launch
vehicle = my new bicycle, facility = Bette and Beverly's house

-Check out vehicle systems
the bike arrived at Basil's yesterday. We're cracking the box at 6pm Atlantic Time tonight.

-Review ride software stored in mass memory units and display systems
my new cyclometer should be in the box with the bike.

-Load backup launch system software into the vehicle's general purpose computers
huh?

-Remove mid deck and flight deck platforms
have Beverly hold the screen door open tomorrow so I can get my bike outside.

-Activate and test navigational systems
I need to remember to bring my map.

-Complete preparation to load power reactant storage and distribution system
pick up some groceries.

-Complete flight deck preliminary inspections
we mowed the lawn yesterday, so take-off should be unimpeded.

-Clear launch pad of all non-essential personnel
move the cats!

All stations report "GO" or "NO GO"...
________

Journey to Ithaca

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield

I am a part of all that I have met

-from Ulysses by Alfred Tennyson


Ithaca

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.
Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.
Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.
Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.
And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.
-C. P. Cavafy

OH, CA-NA-DA....

Happy Canada Day! The festivities for the July 1st holiday held on the central square on Victoria Street were quite enjoyable. There was a great turnout to hear the Town Crier and the many local dignitaries open the Town's celebration of Canada Day and to enjoy the music, games, food, and fun that accompany it every year. We, in the States, could take an example from Amherst for the show of national and community pride that was seen here today. There were so many Maple Leaf t-shirts, flags, and buttons, that I felt out of place without some display of my Canadian heritage (I'm told that a significant slice of my family does originally hail from just outside of Montreal). My friend Geri brought me a nice red and white Canada Day wrist band, which I then wore with pride. I walked downtown with Bette and Beverly after a nice breakfast of coffee, eggs, toast, yogurt with raspberries, and two slices of ham (AKA Canadian Bacon). They're both way too good to me!

As usual, I met some really nice folks today while we were downtown. One notable conversation was with John and Mary who directed me to another must see spot on the next leg of the journey. I'll be sure to include Saint Mary's Bay and the World's Tallest Wooden Church. I can't tell you how nice it is to have to opportunity to speak with all of the locals and hear their suggestions for what's important to see in Nova Scotia.

I drove up to Sackville with Bette yesterday, in Beverly's Honda, to check out an outdoor store that someone had recommended. I was looking for a place at which I could replace my camping and cooking gear (I'm trying to get it locally instead of online). We crossed the marshes and headed straight for Wanderlust. What a great store! I had some specific gear in mind and was really just looking for a place where I could satisfy the "grocery list" that I had assembled. Well, I was delighted with the service and selection there. In the end I think I ended up with better gear than I expected. Like anyone, I'm somewhat a creature of habbit. I was looking for exactly what I had on the first leg of my journey. It occurred to me however that I needed to get past my "idea" of what the next phase of the journey should look like and try something new. I still need to be as well prepared, but I don't need to duplicate what I've already done. I can set out fresh, and by God I shall! What a treat to find such a great store in little old Sackville. Actually, it's supposed to be the "Cultural Capital of Canada" according to the sign anyway. It is a really cute town. I'll be heading there later this week to grab a camp stove and the footprint for the new tent that Esther emailed me about today. Thanks Esther! I'll finally be light and dry!

Bike Update: The eBay auction ended with a winning bid of $310 Canadian. Brian, the winner, is getting a really good bike for a GREAT price. After the auction Kelvin emailed me to say he was also sending a donation. If you'd like to do the same, the address is:

Cumberland YMCA
P.O. Box 552
Amherst, NS
B4H 4A1

I just checked the UPS tracking on my 60 pound package from Brattleboro, and it's on time for delivery Thursday! It arrived in Quebec yesterday, but probably didn't go anywhere with the holiday today. I ran into Basil downtown today. He's graciously offered to get the bike ready for the Journey-Part 2. I should be rolling again this weekend. Cheers! ~B