Author: Andrena Teed

Visiting family and friends is one of life’s joys. We were fortunately able to spend a few hours with some cousins and long-time friends this weekend.

Trivett cousins – John and Carolyn – live in Quispamsis, within sight of the Gondola Point Ferry, which was a feature of our youth. We took the Gondola Point Ferry from Clifton Royal to Rothesay or Saint John. Half a century ago there was one cable ferry crossing the river. Today there are two ferries, and they seem to make the return journey as soon as they reload. It’s a busy, busy route today.

Sitting at John and Carolyn’s, it was calm and peaceful. They had planned a boat trip down the Kennebecasis River. John’s new boat gives a stable ride even when it is going fast, as it does when John is at the wheel. It is always a thrilling ride, but at the same time a relaxing few hours on the water.

Their dog, and son Will’s dog, came for the ride. Lucy is a Nova Scotia Duck Toller, a breed which loves the water. When given the opportunity, like when we paused for a half-hour, Lucy jumped in the water, swimming around to the other people playing in the water. At one point she was on a floating mat with a group of children, who thoroughly enjoyed her presence. Enticing her back aboard was a challenge.

John also got in for a brief swim. We other three did not, at that point, feel like swimming.

We enjoy visiting the Trivetts. It’s always non-stop action coupled with wide-ranging conversation. I especially enjoy the discussions on a variety of topics with Carolyn. Even in a fast-moving boat we can sit back, relax and chat and chat.

We were staying with long-time friends, David and Elspeth Nickerson. It was a time of relaxation for all four of us, and presumably for them as well.

Nickersons’ generous and warm hospitality was much appreciated. There’s always fun and laughter at their home, and this weekend was no exception.

We enjoyed a barbecue, lounged around chatting,

and went for a couple of short walks along the marvellous trail system in Quispamsis.

There is a branch of the Trans-Canada trail within a couple-of-hundred meters of their home. Three of us took their dog, Maisie, and our Granville for a walk to a swimming hole nearby. Thoroughly enjoyable with plenty of wild flowers to admire,

and dog hijinks to make us chuckle.

To top it off, Cousin Peter arrived for a Sunday morning visit with us. We all chatted and chatted, as one does with Peter. Both Nigel and I were glad to see him – during the past couple of decades we’ve solidified from childhood pals to adult friends. That’s a transition that doesn’t always happen with cousins, but we are certainly pleased that it has happened with Peter.

A memorable weekend, over far too soon. It was far too short to visit all the family and friends we had hoped to see, but c’est la vie. We are on a schedule, and cannot adjust it too much. I’ve let our loved people know where we are, and they must just find us on this trip.

A smooth drive from Smiths Cove. We went via Hwy 14, which meant we avoided the schmozzle where two highways meet in Halifax. It was a fine introduction to the travel ahead – generally main roads, but also some slightly off=the-main-route roads. We arrived at Fundy National Park at 18:00.

Check-in was quick and easy, as it always seems to be at Canada’s National Parks. Firewood was readily available at the entrance – no charge, but we had to return the burlap sack for another camper to use.

It was fairly easy to back into the campsite. A couple of vehicles came along the road and politely paused while Nigel manoeuvred the trailer and vehicle into place. That is part and parcel of most patrons of the national parks. Our experience has always been positive with courteous neighbours, helpful staff, and a neat and clean environment.

We were a bit rusty with our setting-up routine, but it began to click into place quickly enough. Unfortunately, a heavy rain shower slowed us down, so we had to finish it all the next day. That’s okay, because there are always minor glitches when camping.

Nigel is the camp chef. We have a small, portable BBQ, which is just big enough for a meal for two. We are feasting in camp. We have enough lamb and pork from the freezer at home to get us through a couple of weeks of camping. A bit of luxury in our semi-rustic settings.

We used the campfire wood in the evenings. Somehow, a campfire, in the very efficient Parks Canada grills, is de rigeur. There is nothing more mesmerisingly relaxing that propping ourselves in front of a campfire. No, we do not roast marshmallows. We don’t like them, so we don’t make them.

Wolfe Lake is a delightful lake at the western entrance to Fundy National Park. We went to Sussex on an errand for a couple of hours, and paused here for a refreshing cool drink and paddle in the water on the return trip. This delightful statue,Riding the Wind, by Gary Crosby,was on display outside the Park office. It is part of 13 pieces of art in an exhibit titled “Beneath the Surface”, an art installation put together by Craft NB. The art is scattered all over the Park.

Fundy National Park has a golf course. Nigel played a game; I went along for the ride. We rented a cart just for the ease of moving around the course.

What a gorgeous course – well manicured, beautiful views, just challenging enough to play a good game, but not so challenging that it defeated the player. Several of the tee-boxes were very high, so the player hits down towards the green; a bit unusual but not uncommon.

Fundy has 31 hiking trails, ranging from easy to difficult. We, of course, chose the easy trails because we are out of the hiking habit. With the dog and cat in tow, we did not walk far along any trail. Accepting of the leash, both of them are accustomed to walking off leash with us. The Park rule is that they must be leashed, and that’s fair enough. Many people do not like dogs, so it can be distressing to have a dog running along a trail. We did let Granville run off leash at Laverty Lake.

There was no-one around; it was evening, so it was unlikely anyone would be walking the Tracey Lake Trail. She had a bit of fun running along the trail, circling back to us, and chasing squirrels up trees. Most amusing for us was watching her splashing in the lake. This lake had a very muddy shoreline, littered with some large pieces of wood. Granville loves playing with chunks of wood, so she was in seventh heaven.

We booked a short time at Fundy because of the time constraints for getting to BC. Too short to do much, but long enough to enjoy the main features of Fundy National Park – the lakes, the trails, the well-appointed campsites, the golf course. Although it is a comfortable Park for camping newbies, it has enough classic wilderness-style activities to attract the experienced outdoors person. Something for everyone.

Packing and preparation is a never ending task. There are several elements to consider – the workings of the trailer, plus the items we’ll bring with us on the trip.

The camping trailer has been checked. It has a road worthiness sticker (acquired at the eleventh hour because that necessity was inadvertently overlooked). Nigel (with Catriona’s supervision) checked that he has what he needs to set up the physical campsite.

Inside, we have been putting required items in their places as we have gathered them at the house. These items include bedding, towels, toiletries, packet and tinned food, and clothing.

We emptied the pantry to create a store of items for the trip. Thankfully we are travelling during summer, when fresh fruits and vegetables can be purchased at markets and shops along our route. We have a store of pantry staples that came from our house.

The clothing is a challenge because we must pack for three seasons. Yes, we know about layers, but it still requires a variety of types of clothing. We each have a big plastic crate of winter clothing packaged for shipment on the barge when we get to Port Hardy.

It all seems to simple and easy when presented like this. Anyone who has packed for an extended camping trip knows that there are a million and one little idiosyncrasies that delay the process. Fingers crossed that this will be the scene on Tuesday morning – equipment coupled up and us ready to drive out of the yard to start our next phase. Westward ho.

We are accustomed to closing the house for a few weeks or months while we go on holiday. Under those circumstances, things can remain the same, more or less.

Getting ready to move away from the house for a year or more is like moving, but not at all like moving. Some things must be boxed. Some tasks must be completed before we leave. And some things can remain as they are.

Getting the wood split and into storage is a priority. There was a pile of pieces from a neighbour’s tree that were left for Nigel to move and cut into wood-stove sized pieces. A few days of work was essential to ensure that the wood remained usable for when we return.

Nigel thoroughly enjoys working with his Kubota. This was the perfect reason to spend a day with the machine. Those logs are very big.

Plenty of manual work was required to fit the log onto the splitter because it could not cut through the whole width in one slice. This particular log eventually split into six pieces, which then required further splitting to make them stove ready.

After carrying, splitting, and further splitting there was a row of stove-ready logs ready for storage. This array is from that large log.

The logs were stored in the wood shed. They’ll dry over the next year or two, and be ready for burning when we return.

This is an annual task, but this time we are storing the wood for a couple of years hence. It’s all work that had to be completed before we leave for the adventure west.