Bluenose Meander: Stanfest

Just getting there is half the adventure. I have a word of advice for people operating attractions along winding hilly roads. If the sign marking your establishment is out front, the speed limit is 60 or higher, and I have forty foot motorhome or transport truck behind me I ain’t stopping. I may have liked to but it just isn’t safe. Unless you place your sign 1000 ft down the road I’ll not be visiting. And just because the locals know where you are doesn’t mean that I’m going to find you unless you make your signs large, bright, and clear. I’m watching the road for hazards, your sign has to be prominent or I just won’t catch it. I know that somewhere near Port Bickerton there is a Lighthouse Interpretive Centre and I passed the Goldsboro Mining Centre just as I rounded a corner with a large RV on my tail.

Naysayers to the contrary the Country Harbour Ferry had just arrived and was unloading as I approached and I drove almost straight on as the first vehicle on board, fare $5.50. The route along the Eastern Shore Coastline was winding, hilly, betimes rough but filled with thrilling views of the coastline. Pity there was little opportunity to pull over and admire the view. The Nova Scotia Government Highways Website describes the route as a good summer road. Not sure what that euphemism means but I’m working on it. The road down to Canso was in excellent shape and rated at 90 KM/Hr. The signs for Stanfest though not prominent got me to the acoustic campground where I was met by two fine local gentlemen who led me to my site. The main stage is a short walk distant. I had not expected to be needing to run my generator to operate the A/C unit because of heat. Who knew?

Walked up to register, and get my armband for the weekend. Made a tour of ‘downtown’ Canso. The public wharf on Water Street and the CO-OP Food and Hardware Store whose A/C was very welcome. Not a lot to see in Canso after you admire the views of the harbour. When I walked back and saw the line-up of vehicles trying to get in was thankful I came early. After getting an early supper settled in for an afternoon nap, it was rather warm.

Wandering around Canso I gleaned the following. The manager of the CO-OP which was heavily air conditioned was busily stocking 25 pallets of groceries that had just come in. The frozen goods first. Fishing here involves a limited lobster and crab season, Fall Shrimp and Tuna catch. Since the fish plant closed, employing 600, things have gone down hill, the Town went broke and was subsumed into the Municipality of Guysborough. The high school closed permanently this year and will be demolished. The gal at the Whitman House Museum graduated in a class of 12 and is planning to escape the Stanfest Crowd by camping in Cape Breton this weekend. She just started and learned more about the items in the house from me than I from her. The dozen flat irons on the stove in the kitchen were donations but looked a bit extreme. The three storey Post Office stands empty and for sale signs abound around town. When I got back to camp and saw the lineup to get in I was glad I came when I did.

Ricky Skaggs gave his audience a 3-hour show for their $51.00, I heard as much as I needed to from the sidelines. Spent my $10 in aid of the Canso Arena for the kick-off party sponsored in part by Molson’s with two bars in place. The crowd did not attend to listen to music and the stage set up in the middle of the space provided horrible acoustics. It was worthwhile seeing David Gunning up close. He’s as good looking and personable in person as he appears in pictures.

Walked up to be first in line for breakfast Friday Morning at the arena where the only other patrons were the early shift security staff from Black Belt Security, Sydney, NS one so young his face was still full of acne. Must ask how much training they get? [Precious little I was told, their only black belts hold up their black pants.] The coffee at $1.00 was forgettable but hot, the homefries could have been left in the deep-frier a little longer, powdered eggs, and brunt curled up bacon, total $8.00 tax included. I did get to update my tablet using their free Wi-Fi. Around 8:30 made my own coffee. I’m grateful for my generator and A/C. Went for a walk around 10:30 and found little open.

Things started happening around six when I walked over and picked up a ‘low chair’ for eight bucks so I could sit up front. Watching the huge screen get inflated and the stage crew get set up helped pass the time while I read Life of Pi.

Bluenose Meander in Nova Scotia

My welcome to Nova Scotia has been hot, wet, and humid. It's the hot part that's hard to take, temperature's above 80 would once have been considered extreme especially for June. Heat like that combined with high humidity.... ?

I'm getting to know my youngest niece as an adult. We've gone to Sobeys to shop, mowed her lawn, toured her new home, gone swimming at a local fresh water dam, had local pizza, and strawberries. Was served waffles made on the new Cuisinart Griddler I gifted the newlyweds.

Highway 14 from Windsor to Chester is newly paved save for the last 5 rough miles. The rain followed me as I drove the 103 to Lunenburg/Bridgewater. Visited the Cemetery in Midville Branch and the barely recognizable home I grew up in along with the new owners and a few neighbours who moved in since I left home in 1967.

The early-season staff at the Lunenburg Board of Trade Campground didn't seem to know what they were doing, couldn't find anything, and had to be reminded I'd asked for 4 not 3 days camping. The water is soft, the internet works and so does the electrical hookup so all is not lost. After the heat-wave that greeted my arrival in Nova Scotia we saw some sun on Tuesday the eighteenth but matters cooled off significantly on Wednesday as the rain returned. Thursday night a sou'wester blew in overnight raising the temperature by 15º F and bringing gusting winds and bands of heavy showers that will stay with us into Monday July First, Canada Day. Pity the people in a tent on the lower campground here. As I write this a tattoo of rain drums on my roof vent and upper windows and sluices down my windshield. The fog that came in yesterday afternoon has the harbour entrance fog horn going off every 90 seconds. Welcome to Lunenburg. All my windows are fogged over and nothing dries.

Spent yesterday, Friday, visiting with my 94-year-old Aunt catching up and being pumped for gossip. Tough when everyone you once knew has passed on and you have no one to talk to from your generation or even those younger. She got out to the beauty parlour on Thursday in preparation for an event at St Paul's Bridgewater Sunday honouring their 20 members over 90. Entertainment is watching the hummingbirds at her feeder and 20-odd American Goldfinches in her backyard, reading the Chronicle Herald--the Halifax Paper and the weekly Bridgewater Bulletin. The obituary section is of great importance. I hope I can still cook and do my own washing at a similar age.

Walked uptown early this morning for the $7.50 breakfast on offer at the local Royal Canadian Legion Hall. Discovered after walking a mile round trip that the sign I've been looking at for the last two days was facing the wrong way. Guess they didn't want out-of-towners to find the place. Everything else was closed at that hour.

Zion Lutheran, Lunenburg is between pastors so I plan to attend the historic St John's Anglican rebuilt exactly after the fire of Halloween 2001. Expect I'll take the tour after service. My cousin showed me the family pew complete with gate back in the 60ies. And so I walked out to St John's Anglican Sunday Morning in the rain stopping to look at the Legion I'd missed the day before, taking a look at Central United Church, and picking up a bulletin at the Lutheran Church. The Church was a beautiful as I'd remembered and the organ well-played. The hymn-tune Down Ampney gave me opportunity to sing with gusto. The rector, Micheal Mitchell walked down to greet visitors before service. The congregation still uses the common cup for communion. Lemonade, cakes and sweets on the parade after service, then a tour of the building complete with a look at the burial ground under the church home to 20 deceased.

On the advice of a local walked down to the Savvy Sailor on Montague and ordered Eggs Benedict with home-smoked bacon, coffee and peach crumble dessert. Walked over to Central United for a concert by the Mahone Bay girls choir, Tea and Biscuits accompanied by guitar, piano, double bass, flute, violin, and drum kit played by an adorable urchin with thick black eyebrows. Amid passing showers walked down to the railway wharf which hasn't seen tracks in many decades and took in the harbour sights. Stopped to sample the wares at the Ironworks Distillery--rum, vodka and eau de vie with a pear grown inside the bottle. Had a pleasant chat with the young man doing the sampling.

The last time I visited Foodland in Lunenburg a crew was outside painting the exterior. I paused to admire the pastel mural that now graces its front. Inside I looked for fish cakes unsuccessfully and found nothing else I needed. Settled in once I got back home for the evening.

Monday Morning I struck out for Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore around 7:30. First up was a heavily wooded route past the road to Second Peninsula after passing the Lunenburg Academy. Eventually one comes out on Mahone Bay with what, on a clear day, would be an ideal view of the town's famous three churches in a row today partially hidden in fog. One passes those churches and drives a few miles past town before accessing the 103 to Halifax. Around Tantallon the world disappeared completely in dense fog. At that hour traffic in Halifax on a Holiday Monday was non-existent and I found my way to A Murray MacKay Bridge dropping my looney in the fare basket on the Dartmouth Side. From there joined Hwy 107 through Cole Harbour headed North East. Stopped for gas at Canadian Tire blessing the pump for stopping at $100.00, then for not stopping the second time when the tank was full. Early on a Holiday Monday nothing was open so I drove up the foggy coast to Murphy's Cove, turned onto Murphy Rd, and drove to the end of the line at Murphy's Campground where Mrs. Murphy signed me in. 

Nothing special about the sites here among the rocks, trees and hills on a winding road betimes rocky and muddy. Managed to get a site facing the bay which has been shrouded in fog since my arrival. I have had some fun talking to the neighbours. This campground is truly a family-run operation. Coffee is on every morning and campfire with boiled mussels every night. Canada Day fireworks and flags for July First.

Drove on to Sherbrooke Tuesday Morning stopping at Ships Harbour for Groceries and a bottle of wine later near Sherbrooke. Was amused to pass Mailman's Point just east of Town. Calling Riverside Camping along the St Mary's River a campground is a stretch and the owner demanded cash. It does have electrical hook-ups and water taps, a

bathroom and laundry sharing space with 2 'cabins', but that's about it. Walked into town and had an over-priced grapenut ice cream. Wandered through the Coffee shop, the cafe, the library, Foodland/Pro Hardware, the Royal Bank, Shoppers Drug/Sears, the Post Office and that was it. Stopped to look at the Mill and Lumber Camp on my way back. Got home just before it started raining again.

Woke early Wednesday Morning and saw dawn break over a mirror-smooth bay, was about to go out and greet it when it started raining so I went back to bed. Spent the day catching up online and writing until late afternoon when I made a trip up to Foodland to go shopping as they don't open until 9 in the morning. Got cash on my interact purchase. Suddenly I've gotten a whole pile of neighbours including a couple from Chester. The sun finally made an appearance and shown in my windows as it was going down.

Thursday morning the adventure begins. Located my paperwork for Stanfest and will soon be off. After I've finished up online though I may have another nap first. Just getting to Canso this morning will be an adventure.

Bluenose Meander: Days Six to Eight

Had a quiet drive down to Fredericton early Friday Morning and found a campsite at Hartt Isle RV Resort. The rain continues to follow me otherwise had I brought my bike I'd have ridden into downtown 4 miles distant. One of these years. Spent another quiet day in camp. By next year I'd hope they've finished reconstructing their 'resort'.

This Sunday Morning, Day Eight, set out for Nova Scotia after reading the comix over coffee. The highways were relatively quiet with little trucking to bother me. Two days earlier I played continual hop scotch with a heavy truck that passed me on the downhills and then had to be passed again as it labored up the next grade. Not fun that. The day began sunny for the most part. Stopped in Sackville New Brunswick just short of the NS Border to get cheaper NB gasoline after waiting for the line-up at the pump noting all the NS license plates. Found the NB Welcome Centre there open. Felt sadly nostalgic as I passed the four Radio Canada International Transmission Towers in Tantramar Marsh now standing idle as Canada's answer to Voice of America begun during WW#2 has been stilled. The internet is spelling the end of Short Wave Radio.

A few miles later stopped at the Nova Scotia Welcome Centre to pick up tourist bumph. A young highschool laddie will don kilt and sporran to pipe visitors into New Scotland starting Canada Day after several year's hiatus since the lassie retired. I must stop to see him on my return journey. Stopped at Masstown after driving the old (non-toll) road

through the Wentworth Valley and there purchased Nova Scotia Maple Syrup, Solomon Gundy, Apple Blossom Honey, Green Tomato Chow, and Mustard Beans. Twould be a sin not to.

My reputation as a water witcher remains intact as a black cloud appeared out of a clear sky and dumped torrential rain just 20 miles short of my niece's home in Falmouth in the Annapolis Valley. Ignored the GPS' advice to take the Superhighway to Halfiax and then back for the old hill and dale winding HWY 14 route through Nine Mile Woods. For the most part the road was in better shape than the highway.

All's right with the world, my pop corn popper still manages to set off  the smoke alarm.

Bluenose Meanders: Days Four & Five

Checked online early this morning Wednesday June 19th, then went back to bed again. Something I'll not be doing the next two days as I have no web access. Woke again at 8:30, packed up and headed out to IGA Extra. I wasn't in the mood for shopping today. Highway 185/85 is still under construction but the route is largely completed at long last, a limited access highway with divided lanes for the most part. The motorcycle trail crossings serve to give one pause at 90 KM/Hr. As I got nearer Edmundston and out of the 'mountains' was able to pick up CBC One in English once more.

Once again the New Brunswick Tourist Bureau disappointed me by being closed. At least I didn't have the challenge turning around people in larger RV's would have. This marks the third year in a row they've stood me up. I was welcomed by an RCMP Roadblock and putting the best possible face on the situation told the officer, is this my welcome to New Brunswick. He quipped that it was necessary now that Quebec is a separate country, I shook his hand and he sent me on my way. Seems they are looking for people buying cheaper beer in Quebec.

Shortly after found De Republic Park. A young couple were manning the camping booth. They failed to tell me the park supplies only 20 AMP power. When I tried to use the pay phone to make a 1-800 call it failed to work. I'm not impressed. The washroom has an open stall with a toilet? Aside from no privacy someone in a wheelchair would have to mount a 2 by 4 to get to the facility and do without toilet paper. The washroom was begun well but it appears they ran out of money and completed the job with two by fours and plywood. Walked over to check out the botanical gardens and learned that not much is in season. Perhaps I should have waited for my return trip.

The calendar may say we're but a few days short of summer but weather conditions dictate that spring has just fully sprung here. The fiddleheads have just finished opening, and the wood anemones, and other spring ephemerals are still in full blossom. My tour of the NB Gardens Thursday Morning was thorough and exhaustive and lasted less than an hour. I did enjoy talking to the Gentleman at the desk who moonlights giving tours from his full-time job as a professor at the NB Forestry School. We both knew our botany. Spent the rest of the day tidying up inside my RV and writing 8 letters. It rained again that night.

Bluenose Meander: Day Three

Oh the luxury of a day in camp. No need to secure everything and prepare for travel. Daylight comes very early in Eastern Quebec since south of us New Brunswick is an hour earlier in the Eastern Time Zone. This means  lose an hour tomorrow when I cross over. Went back to bed after my morning browse online and slept in until 9:30.

When I finally got active climbed the heights and walked over to check out the Saint Lawrence Exploration Centre. With a display area that would fit in the average Motorhome and presented en Français it appears designed for the use it was serving this morning: Introducing Quebec School Children to the marine environment. I decided it wasn't worth the $7.50 entry fee.

Walked back up with my camera and tablet to get pictures of the campground:

I would not say I'm organized but I've managed to find a few items and put a few more away. For the first time ever I found the appropriate able to connect my camera directly to my laptop, found the appropriate port on the camera, and discovered that they all work. My FastStone Image Viewer Software detected the card and successfully downloaded the images as before. You can teach an old dog new tricks!

As the returning tide came in it brought rain and cloud with it. [The St. Lawrence is tidal for another 100 miles all the way to Quebec City; it dramatically backs up the Wolf River.] Seems unless I don rain gear I won't be walking out to the point and once more I will not see a sunset. After finishing the tea I just brewed I'll see to dinner and then settle in to read and watch TV on i-Tunes.

Today I walked by the Motel Loupi. Do you suppose they allow Cougars in the Wolf Motel?

Bluenose Meander: Day Two

Slept in after early morning web browse. Fell asleep Sunday Night after watching Teen Wolf on i-Tunes. Wasn't up to much so I drifted off to the rain pattering on my roof and windows. At least Aloutte Campground was quiet; evening Wi-Fi sucks, especially at $5/day extra.

Sleeping in for me meant 8:30 AM. Given Montreal and Quebec City Rush Hour Traffic this was not a day for an early start. Rivière-Du-Loup is at the junction of HWY 20 and 185 which heads South to Edmundston, New Brunswick. Getting there meant a drive up the Eastern Townships of Quebec on moderately rough pavement in light traffic. I was fortunate that the fog didn't drift in off the Saint Lawrence until 10 miles from my destination. I was also fortunate in encountering relatively little highway construction or detours, only light rain, and even snatches of

sun. Made it all the way without incident though the QPP were out in force stopping speeders.

Headed first to St. Hubert just off the highway for a feed of chicken, then went next door to the Shell Station where a fill-up cost me $135.70 at $1.33/L. Heading north across the highway bridge construction on HWY 132 seems permanently stalled. Arriving at Camping Du Quai is like coming home:

1. Friendly Family Run Campground that's quiet
2. Great tasting water
3. The best Wi-Fi I've seen in my travels
4. Hiking trail across the road
5. One of my favourite Grocery Stores in town
6. St Hubert's Chicken nearby

The heavens opened just after I'd settled in. Good thing I wasn't planning on a campfire. :-(

I wanted to catch up online in any case. It was with some interest I read that this place is famous for its sunsets. I wouldn't know; anytime I've been here it's either been cloudy and raining or fogbound. If it weren't for the CBC the Simard Farmily would have all the media outlets locked up: everything is in French in any case.

Bluenose Meander: Day One

Got underway around 7:00 AM Sunday Morning in the rain which continued ll day at time heavy. The East-Bound 401 past Kingston is in terrible shape. The new Service Centres replaced after the half century anniversary of their creation may be shiny and new but they lack the graciousness of their predecessors. At least I managed to get across the top of Toronto without incident. Stopped for gas in Mallorytown too soon it appears, it was 6¢ cheaper in Cornwall. Thought of the Movie Bon Cop/Bad Cop when I passed the Quebec/Ontario Boarder. Found my way through the middle of downtown Montreal blessings Montreal drivers and ignored my GPS to find Camping Aloutte north of HWY 20. For those not bilingual in French the word means Lark.

Most items I need made it into the RV, getting them organized will take a little longer. Once more I pulled out my coffeemaker basket to discover a spiderweb of mossy fungus growing on the last grounds I used. Must remember to dump that in future. When I got in camp filled my water tank run dry in Erie Pennsylvania against freezing temperatures last April in Oakville. The black water tank empty for 3 months still reads full. The kitchen tap was clogged with plastic from the lines and tank. All those little annoyances. Slowly I'll get back in the swing of living in my home on wheels. Must remember to inquire about Wi-Fi when signing in at campground offices. Locking the toilet door, important when using a unisex washroom!

I'm about to unplug and head down the Saint Lawrence River past Quebec and out through the Eastern Townships along Highway 20. Hopefully it won't be too foggy. The sun has peeked out among the clouds here but I'm driving back into the rain.

June Belly Aching

I know how to access ripping software for DVD's and am aware that virtually anything is available for download, even before its release for screen somewhere in South-East Asia but I chose to buy legitimate copies of DVD's. What I find insulting is the fact that I am forced to waste my time looking at copy warnings before I can enjoy the videos I chose to pay too much for in the first place. Those who choose to pirate these things will not be deterred, those of us who are honest are being penalized for that honesty.

I have 'friends' on Facebook who bare their souls online and through instant messaging with the use of impossible spelling, bad grammar, and indecipherable syntax, some even bidding the online world good night; but are either unable or unwilling to take the time to collect their thoughts in a logical consistent manner and write me an E-mail. If the trend continues future biographers will be denied the collected correspondence of individuals which inform so many great books of the past. Are we becoming a post-literate society?

The trouble with buying bulk herbs and spices is dealing with the extras you scouped out of the bins that won't fit in your original containers.

Attila the Hen beats the rap. Word just in that Mayor Hazel McCallion 92, of Mississauga was found not guilty on a technicality. Meanwhile another disgruntled voter is working on a petition to have the GG oust Harper as Prime Minister of Canada:

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-right-honourable-david-johnston-governor-general-of-canada-stop-harper-now

At the rate he's collecting signatures the people of Canada will be voting on his re-election before the possibility of such a constitutional crisis could rear its ugly head. Canada lacks recall legislation but recent events prove we may need it.

June Spleen

It's only June First but the pollen load is making me cantankerous.

I set out a bird feeding station on my balcony and for the last month an American Goldfinch has been attacking its reflection in my floor to ceiling windows. Nothing I do deters him, aggressive creatures those Americans.

The smoked chicken luncheon meat I bought in early May has a best before date of July 29, just what do they do to it?

I have decided to wait for the complete Hobbit series on DVD to watch the Lord of the Rings Prequel by Jackson. What year is that likely to be? Comes word that Tolkien did not coin the word Hobbit. In Wales a hobbit was a former measure of approximately two bushels and a half. Unless Hobbits have strength equivalent to that of an ant it's doubtful a Hobbit could budge a hobbit of anything unless they were feathers.

Proving that people are heroes everywhere but in their own hometowns consider the four young Hobbits in Lord of the Rings. At Aragon's Coronation Ceremony on the heights of Minas Tirith, Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry are honoured when the High King and the assembled men, dwarfs, and elves bow low to them. When they arrive home the townsfolk of the Shire ignore them as if they were just now stumbling home after a night at Green Dragon.

In 1995's How to Make an American Quilt Finn displays an impossible level of self-centredness and lack of commitment. She has changed the subject of her thesis so often her Grandmother has lost track of it. When Sam arrives with architectural drawings for the renovations he is making to their home it becomes quite plain that Sam wants children but the idea is furthest from Finn's mind. When presented with the finished quilt which is not likely to be colourfast she shows so much regard for object her Grandmother, Great-Aunt and their friends have laboured on all summer that she promptly drags it through bright red California mud. Were I Sam I'd run not walk in the opposite direction.

One of Garrison Keillor's better lines:

A teacher told his school board that there was no need to teach evolution in his classroom because it hadn't happened there yet. Then he realized no one had any idea what he was talking about.

I used to be somewhat miffed when a book I had not yet gotten around to reading in a $20 Trade Paperback edition went on sale in a remaindered Hard Cover Edition for $5.00. How is it that E-books can now be more expensive than a mass-market paperback edition of the same book?

The anniversary of their coronation is not a day of unbridled celebration for a hereditary monarch as it also marks the date of the death of their parent.

During the recent citywide lockdown in Boston occasioned by the search for the perpetrators of the bombings Police specifically requested that key Dunkin Donuts locations remain open for the sustenance of the officers. Did they really think this through?

Recently learned how the American Tea Party got its name:
Taxed Enough Already

Fast and Furious 6

Is Hollywood really that devoid of new ideas? They lost me at II.

If a woman became president would her husband become the First Man?

DWEEB

Dick with eyebrows

Fortunately I have to keep mine trimmed.

May Rantings

Hey kiddies, someone's handing out money and no one is checking to see how it's spent. And now we're expressing surprise and indignation that there was some cheating going on. Didn't we already know that governments are the biggest thieves around. Just who is responsible for leaving the hen house door open? Recent pictures of Mike Duffy really do make him look like a pig at the public trough. However everyone who would cast a stone should first submit to an audit of their own accounts first. Let he who is perfect.... Woe betide he who would think that Stephen Harper has his back. Somehow I'd rather hear less about retribution and more about the policies being put in place to ensure this doesn't happen all over again in a few years. Our Auditor General yearly reports on Billions of Dollars of spending unaccounted for and unmonitored.

How did the electorate of Toronto allow themselves to be tricked into electing a buffoon like Rob Ford. The same electorate who made "Bad Boy" Mel Lastman mayor of Toronto now have a real clown on their hands.

Another bridge collapses in America. This isn't the first and it won't be the last.

Hurricane numbers are up for 2013 and the season start is still a week away. Coastal communities be ware. There's already been one in the Pacific.

Canada Post already suffering from last year's $200,000,000+ loss is now trying to persuade customers not to refuse junk mail, a right that has been spread by word of mouth, not by Canada Post. Seems they want to squeeze every possible penny out of their most profitable line.

Last week's unprecedented spring blizzard in Central Newfoundland is followed by a new one in Alberta this weekend. Earthquakes, blizzards, tornadoes, floods.... The sky is falling, the sky is falling!

Why on earth would I go to a bookstore, an electronic one at that, to buy BBQ Sauce?