She's back

Well, here I am, blogging again.

July was very rainy, as you know.

Therefore, the mosquitos were terrible, all through August. usually there are very few left, but not this year. It is only the past couple of weeks I could go for a walk down our road. We had lots of good weather, but the lake was a little chilly, and I didn't get as much swimming in as I had hoped.

You all probably want to know what's up, eh? Well, I am hanging around here for a little while longer. At the end of the month, I am moving in with my friend Janice, in Nobel, which is about five minutes north of Parry Sound. The cottage where I've been staying isn't completely winterized (no water) and it would be too isolated for me. I might go cabin crazy.

I'll be in Nobel until the end of the year, possibly longer. I don't seem to be able to see more than a few months down the road these days. Keeps me waffling between the calmness of the present moment, and total fear and anxiety.

I've officially joined the Parry Sound Writers Group, and am involved in organizing a poetry night this fall, and have been writing regularly all summer. Now it's time to pull all my writing together and see what I've got. Hopefully I have started something that I can finish.

The Autumn is stunning here. I had forgotten how beautiful it is, the clouds heavy in the sky, and the trees bright red, and green still, too. It;s like living inside some beautiful piece of art that changes every day.

When I'm in Nobel, I'll have internet again, and intend to be here blogging again regularly. Just warning you all. Thanks for tuning in,

Cheers, Jacquie

rain rain go away....

OK, it's been a little damp here lately. I've been spending quite a bit of time bailing out boats, and getting rained on. The paddleboat was completely filled again yesterday, as well as Harrison't boat, oars floating in the bottom, and our metal boat. Bailing and bailing. Here, hopefully is the picture I tried to upload last time. Sunny and hot today again, and me in town all day doing errands! Timing is everything, as they say,

Cheers, Jacquie

Stormy Nights

Rained like maniacs last night. I bailed out of the cabin, and headed for the cottage couch, where there was at least electricity to read the storm out by. Just me and Nero Wolfe, all cuddled up together in a blankie. Suddenly, all was silence, like a door softly closed. The eye of the storm, then, the other side of it again. Finally, I drifted off to slumberland around 3 o'clock. Today there were big gouges in Grey Owl Road. I have never experienced a storm as potent and long as the one last night. Today was sunny and hot and breezy. You would never know there was thunder and lightning and torrents of rain, just a few hours ago.

I tried to upload a photo of the paddleboat, completely filled with water, but it's taking forever. Not sure if it's the library computer or the Blogger site. These computers! Always throwing you for a loop.

Cheerio, Jacquie

It's a little hot

It is hot hot-hot-here today, records are breaking like eggs and oozing all over the soft, melting pavement. Toronto is 33' with the humidex taking it up to 40'. I am glad to be at the lake. There's a stiff breeze off the water, cooling the world off. Later, when it calms, I will take my evening swim. The sun is dazzling bright, and the living is easy.

Tomorrow I start the publicity for my summer writing groups in Parry Sound. The first session is next Monday. Hope someone registers.

Life is steady and quiet here. The cottage is a half-hour drive from civilization (P. Snd.), although the McLellar library is only ten minutes by car, open four part days a week. So the internet is available in limited quantities. They built a new radio tower this spring, and we now have great cell-phone reception at the lake. Not everyone around here can say that. There is a general store in McK. too, so most things are available there, at hugely inflated prices, of course.

I was reading over my journals from Mexico this morning, looking for missing pieces for a story I'm working on, and what an interesting journey that was! I'm sure there's a body of work there, if I can just tease it out.

Cheerio, fans and friends,
Jacquie

Well, I can't believe it's been so long since I posted. Gives you an idea how exciting my life is, here in the wilderness. I've had lots and lots of family time, and lots and lots of time in nature. I've seen lots and lots of wildlife: loons, osprey, cormorant, vultures, owl, woodpeckers, hummingbird, foxes, turtle, minnows, frogs, toads, dragonflies, all sizes and colours, mosquitos, in abundance, a horsefly bit me on the leg yesterday. Yes, life is exciting!

The weather has finally turned very hot, and I am heading for the lake for a swim with my nephew Cal this afternoon. That is the type of thing that takes genuine priority over blogging.

Cheerio,

SPLASH!

Jacquie

The Wawa Goose

OK you guys, I know your lives wouldn't be complete without seeing my picture of the Wawa Goose. It's a couple weeks old, but here it is!

Computer time is tricky for me, as you only get half an hour at the library. There is an internet cafe, but it's only open in the day, no evenings.

The weather has been good; some rain, but mostly at nights, and lots of sun and warmth.

I'm slowly getting to know a few people here, but it takes time.

Miss you all, Love, Jacquie

Week One

I've been here a week now, and am just starting to feel a bit settled. Well, not really, but it's better now
that I've finally moved out into the cabin. It's very rustic, plywood and 2X4 studs for walls, and an open
roof truss, but it's cozy (8X12) and private and I have a great view of the lake through the trees.
I've spent a good amount of time with my parents, which we've all enjoyed: going into town, and doing
the cryptic crosswords. Even Dad's been working on it!

Today the workers, Terry and Paul are here, with all their equipment, digging up the outside of the
cottage to replace all the weeping tile and drainage material, to try to get the basement dried out and
save the foundation from cracking any further. It is very damp and musty down there, so I guess it's
time. They also had a look at the septic tank, and told us (and showed us-ugh!) it desperately needs
pumping out. Better late than too late, when it comes to sewage systems.

We have had lots of warm weather and some rain, but it's not he bone-chilling rain of the west coast.
Today it's overcast and breezy, and in the low seventies. Perfect!
Last night we went into McKellar for the Father's Day Dinner at the Community Hall. It was put on by
the McKellar Seniors Association. They put on about 6 dinners a year. They also have card nights and
casino nights and bus trips to various places, as well as donating a good deal of money to local services
such as the medical clinic.The dinner was substantial: chicken or beef, with baked potato and baby
carrots, a great salad and raw veggie selection, and fruit salad and home made squares for dessert.
Coffee, tea, and punch were served for beverages. It was a great meal, and fun to be out with all the
local seniors. I knew there were thousands of stories sitting in that room, and wished I'd had an
opportunity to hear some of them.

Tomorrow M&D are heading home for a few days, so it'll just be me (and the workmen) here until
Saturday. I've met a few new people, but friendships take time to develop. I feel a bit lost and lonely at
times, but I know this will pass as I make more connections here in the area.
The mystery writing workshop I took this past weekend was excellent, and I feel I have all the
knowledge I need to write a great mystery. Now I just have to write it! Wish me luck.

Love. Jacquie

Wawa to Parry Sound

My final day on the road.

Got a late start out of Wawa. Left the hotel around 11, but had to go back to get gas. The most
expensive since leavnin Nanaimo- $1.13, but, it waas worth it because I got a picture of the goose.

Another long day on the road. The scenery around Lake Superior was outstanding! Long curves of road
and land, and majestic vistas of the lake. Definitely take this drive at some point in your life.
I stopped for a great lunch about 45 minutes outside of Sault Ste Marie, at the Voyageur. The menu
told of the northwest company voyageurs, their life, and how they used to camp their canoes on the
beach across he road. A very romantic tale, and a delicious lunch of whitefish rollup and rice and
hamburger soup. And coffee.

I started to fade at Iron Bridge, between the Soo and Sudbury, with about four hours of driving left to
get to the cottage.I figured if I stopped every hour to stretch my legs, I would make it safely. Tim
Hortons at Espanola, gas up in Sudbury, where it was sunny and warm at 7 PM..

The sun shone gently down my back as i headed down #69 for Parry Sound. I passed two deer nibbling
at the side of the road, and they cantered safely back into the bush. At one point a Great Blue Heron
swooped directly over my car, going my way, and even the crows seemed to be welcoming me home to
this softer, rolling, marshy land. I had a truck at my 6 all the way down, the two of us distant
companions on the road. I took it easy, just as well, as the OPP were out looking for speeders.
At the north end of Parry Sound, I turned off onto 124, and the familiarity of years of travel on this
well-remembered road. Jimmie's Garage no longer stands at Waubamik, althought the rusting pumps
are still there. Jeannie's Bakery is closed, unfortunately for our taste buds, but fortunately for our wastebands!.
The old wooden barn that marks the final curve and downward hill into Mckellar still stands, as
impressive as ever. Past the barn, you drive down the long curve and see the village of McKellar across
the bay of Lake Manitouwabing, and things never really chage that much there. There is always the
general store, the gas station ($1.06), the community hall (father's day dinner June 18th, 5-6:30). This
year there is a chip truck at the old gas station, where there used to be the post office, and where the
laundromat used to be for a while.

Mauve clouds and golden sunset ushered me down Grey Owl road, and into the shadows of the trees,
around familiar bends, past memories of home. “This used to be a very narrow lane,” I explained to
Belinda Beamer. “Once our dog, Sandy, got her nose smacked by a sappling, just for having her head
out the window! This part of the road used to be a bare rock. The road's really been improved over the
years!” I also told her how proud and amazed I was of her, for her outstanding perrformance on the
cross- county trek. Just after 9PM, my travels ended, as I parked my wonderful car under the trees
outsied the cotttage, and stepped out onto the soft grass, legs a bit shaky, and walked toward the door,
to be happily greeted by my loving mother and father.And a repaired pump and running water. See,
there really is a Goddess!

Now, we've had a bit of a visit, I've settled for the night here in the second upstairs bedroom, I've done
my yoga and completed this entry, now I can stop moving for a while, and settle in to my new
temporary summer home.Tomorrow I will give Belinda a much needed bath, and not do too much else,
if I can help it. Maybe just get to someplace with internet access, so I can post this to my blog. But that
can wait, you, my loyal readers, I know, will wait for me.

Monday: Ignace to Wawa

I left Ignace under sunny warm skies at about quarter to ten. I had hoped to leave earlier, as I had a long day ahead of me on the road, but the fresh northern air kept me sleeping late like a baby.

The road still taking me further north-east, towards Thunder Bay, I saw a small brown hawk circling, with white bands on wings and tail. Lots of truck traffic on this stretch, so I hung back and gave everybody lots of room. It was going to be a long day for me, so may as well drive low-stress.

I kept seeing signs for some museum in Thunder bay, saying “Welcome to the Past”. Kind of sspooky, as I am going back to where I come from,but also welcoming.

I stopped briefly in Thunder Bay, for gas, coffe and a take-out sandwich, and carried on. I found myself north of Thunder Bay, and still heading north! Lake Supeior looking very scenic over to the left, but the road long and curvy, with drop off's over the side. Not the easiest drive. I kept thinking of my friends who travelled to Xilitla with us, and I could relate to their anxiety.
Nipigon was the furthest point north for me on this drive. I stopped at the tourist office to use the facilities and eat my sandwich. An Ontario woman shouted to me, “Hey BC Plates! Welcome to Ontario!” It made me smile to be so welcomed, as if a stranger.

The CBC has kept me company off and on throughout this trip. Some places you can't receive any radio signal at all, and my CD's have also been good company.

I was somewhere between Marathon and White River, when I realized I have the coolest car! Definitely a guy-magnet, and she has driven beautifully- like she was made for the open road and notheing else! She needs a good bath, as right now she has over half a country's worth of road dust, rain and bugs adorning her- what a warrioress! Tawanda!

It was a long stretch to Wawa, but most of the big trucks had left the road to head north, at Nipigon, and the curves weren't quite as needful of all my attention. I missed the Goose; apparently I drove right past it. I was looking for it, too! And I had been so looking forward to stopping and taking a picture of it for this journal. Oh well. Now my story is that I went to Wawa, but I missed the goose!

I expect to land at the cottage, outside Parry Sound, sometime this evening. The water pump is broken, so there is now running water there. Welcome home, indeed! But I know there is lots of love waitng for me there, and many new friends to meet.

Ignace: One More Day

I decided to spend an extra day and night in Ignace, as I was just very road-weary. It was a very peaceful place, and I did as little as possible: ate, read, napped, and painted my toenails. That's what I call a full day! This was the sunset view from outside my room last night.

Saturday: Ignace, Ontario

Gracias, Senora, for bringing me to this respite, this retreat from the road. Tonight I feel like I never want to leave here. It's a beautiful lake, the one in front of me, even if unfamiliar, and thank you for the blue skies and sunshine on this northern road. I feel the peace of this place, and the quiet in my heart.

It was a long gruel of a drive today. I find it hard to stop once I get going. I only stopped today for gas and potty breaks, picking up food and drinks as I went. I got a late start from Neepawa this morning, as I wanted to spend as much time as I needed at the Margaret Laurence Museum there. It was very inspirational, and I was able to offer encouragement and the AWA writing resource to the young woman tour guide. I was lucky to have the entire place to myself, for an hour this morning. And I wanted to spend more time at the coffee shop in the Oddfellows Lodge, it was full of middle aged and older women, who all seemed bright and interesting. No time. I could have stopped there for another hour, but the road was calling me. And I'm glad I listened, because had I lingered there, I wouldn't have seen the sunset here.

The land changes suddenly and dramatically. East of Winnipeg, you start seeing more and more trees, and when you cross into Ontario, you are walled in. As Sandy said, trees and trees and trees and rocks and trees and trees and trees and rocks and trees and trees and trees and rocks and water! That is all I've seen, so far in Ontario. I have never been this far north in my life, and hope to see northern lights tonight, but if they're out, I'll probably be sleeping and miss them. There's another chance tomorrow night, when I hope to be in Wawa. Then the cottage the night after that. I may take an extra day somewhere, if I find a place I want to stay, but after four days on the road I am really starting to want to be there.

The traffic is heavier this part of the road, lots of trucks coming at me, but not many passing me. I seem to have had my own little pocket, from Dryden to here. Drove through Kenora, and it's a busy thriving downtown, but I didn't take time to stop. I'd be surprised if I wasn't back this way sometime. I'm falling in love with Canada. I could easily spend a summer here writing.

Corragio! Avanti!
Courage! Forward!

Friday: Weyburn SK to Neepawa MB

Got lost getting out of Weyburn. Luckily I had absconded with the free tourist guide, which included a map of the city. On My CAA map, three hiways come together. I came in on # 39, but I was leaving on #13, east. I finally got myself sorted out, and was on my was around 11:30. Late start due to fatigue and yes, I have a cold, gas up, and hit Tim's drive through. It was still cold, and light rain.

Driving across Saskatchewan, you have lots of time to ponder the important questions, such as, did I remember to put deodorant on thie morning? And also, do birds grieve? East of Weyburn is cattle country, and the traffic was light.

Closer to the Manitoba border, there's an area with little oil wells, and then, right at the border, suddenly, there are trees! And the road gets better across the provincial line. I kept seeing these large-ish clumps on the road, and I couldn't figutre out what they were, but finally it dawned on this city gal, that what I was seeing was clumps of field mud, deposited by farm equipment! D'uh.

SK 13 became MB2, and the rain finally let up in Manitoba, around 1:30. The roads are long and straight, and there's a lot of sky here. At Hwy 10, I turned north to go through Brandon, at rush-hour then east again to go into Neepawa.

I stopped in a pretty little town named Souris for lunch, and checked out real estate prices. You can get a cute, litle house for about sixty thou there.

Gassed up in Brandon at 1.08, and pulled into Neepawa around 6:00, central time. I'm here on a pilgrimmage to the birthplace of Margaret Laurence. I had dinner at the chicken joint, and walked the streets. Friday night teenagers, drunk and disorderly, kids riding bikes, and women walking dogs. I sense all the undercurrents of the town Margaret Laurence grew up in, are still all here, just under the surface, probably as they are in all small towns, all over the world, but Ms Laurence brought this world to the page so believably and richly. This morning after breakfast, I am going to her original home here, now a museum. Then I'm heading for Thunder Bay on the Trans Canada. Me ane all the trucks. The rain seems to have let up, thankfully, and I look forward to a quiet day on the road.

Canada: It's a Big Country

Thursday

Left Fort Macleod around 9:45, in the rain, heading for Weyburn Saskatchewan. After reviewing the maps last night, I decided to bypass Regina, and take the scenic drive down hwy 39 from Moose Jaw. Then the next day swing up through Brandon to make a pilgrimage to Neepawa, birthplace of Margaret Laurence, and incidentally, another designated scenic route.

Driving across Alberta, and Saskatchewan, leaves a lot of time for thinking. I thought about Michelle, and our road trip to Calgary a few years ago; how I miss the fun of our sing-alongs! And Rich, who I drove with most recently, from San Miguel to Austin. Driving through the Rockies reminded me of the road to Xilitla, and his confessions of being worried about breaking down in the 104 degree heat, were bizarrley mirrored in my low grade concerns about break-downs in the 12 degree celcius, rain and gusty wind.

Also lots of time for browsing through the old boyfriend files, and the might have beens, too. Isn't that what long road trips are all about? Caught some great radio in Alberta and into Saskatchewan, CKUA, public radio with fabulous music (also available on-line).

At 1:30, I crossed the provincial border, and the only noticable differnce was that the road in SK was terrible. I think they're upgrading it, but there was nobody working on it yesterday! It was about an hour after that that ranchland started giving way to fields.I saw an elk, far in the distance, on a knoll, and my old companion the blue heron made an appearance again today. Also, a small flock of white swans flying low over a field.

I always see fields of golden wheat, when i think of SK, but here the fields are green and newly planted, and all the farmers are happy for the rain. I eat bread, so how can I legitimately complain? But illigitimately, the rain is awful- non-stop and messy.

Trains, long long trains, as the road follows the tracks across the land It's all wide open here. Once you get past Swift Current, it's all fields. The day was dark and long, and I passed a serious accident going through Moose Jaw. The emergency vehicles hadn't arrived yet, and there are several lives that will never be the same now.

Later, on # 39, my car hit a bird. I hate that, it got caught in the current between an oncoming truck and me. I said prayers for all of us, the truck driver, myself and the bird, and the bird's family, now missing an important member. I meditated on the interconnectedness of life and death, the karmic bonds and agreements we have to show up for each other in all of lifes passings. I hope the bird's family can adjust, and the death not ripple through.

My neck is very sore today, and I'm planning an easy day up to Neepawa, and maybe to Portage la Prairie, if I have enough energy. It's still raining. I hope I can drive out of it, as it's makes for tiresome driving Adios, Jacquie

Grand Forks to Fort Macleod, via Nelson

Decided to make a detour, and check out Nelson, as I've heard so many good things about it. Started off from Grand Forks around 8:30, and arrived in Nelson for coffee at 10:30. Had a good leg stretch up and down the vibrant, lively main street, and then headed north to take the FREE BC FERRY from Balfour to Kootenay Bay. So glad I saw thst article in the Globe and Mail this week, as the lake is beautiful, One of the loveliest places I've seen in Canada. It made me wonder what this land might have been like before the Europeans discovered it and started leaving footprints all over it. And then the drive down the east side of the lake to Creston twisty, and pretty, pretty, pretty. More coffee in Creston, gas in Cranbrook, more coffee in spectacular Fernie.

The Rocky Mountains are huge, magical, deep, daunting. I was totally ready for them to be over long before they were. I can't imagine being the first people to cut trails, settle, and lay roads through this region. It just goes on and on and on.

Finally out of the Rockies, and into Alberta: rain squalls, wind, lightening, ominous, yet graceful wind generators, and lost an hour in the new time zone.

Drove through the Frank slide area: unbelievable. I had to keep picking my jaw up from the floor of the car. I know nothing of the history of this event, but the amount of rock laying around is massive. It looks like it just happened last year, but it could have been anytime in the past few hundred years.

Belinda Beamer has been a champion, she got me safely, and if I may say so, stylishly, through the grueling rockies. The rest should be easy. Glad I got new tires on the back, especially if this pouring rain keeps up tomorrow.