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Not Talking Turkey

11/30/2022

The journey south continues with a week-long stop on Blythe Island, an unknown area along the East River, just a few miles NW of Brunswick, Georgia. I arrived to a few days of warm, sunny weather in a community of 700+ people in a slow-paced neighborhood where I could walk, bike, and peruse a regional park with a campground (future reference!). However, the official occasion is to celebrate a Florida friend's 60th birthday, tour the Golden Isles, drink eggnog and eat pie.

When Mark arrived, we plotted the outdoor itinerary, but as the week went on the weather wasn't very cooperative. Rain, fog and cool breezes were the norm, so a few movies and a few games of Rummikub were added! Nevertheless, we headed out daily to enjoy historic Brunswick, St. Simons and Jekyll Islands.

Brunswick became a British settlement as early as 1738 and has a town layout similar to Savannah with squares and parks in a grid style. During my last visit to this area (in 2017), I'd camped for a month on Jekyll (and loved it), while simply day-tripping elsewhere. In Brunswick, I'd toured the main commercial streets, but this past week we enjoyed the Historic District of homes and greenspaces as well. Each of Brunswick’s 14 original squares in the Old Town has a story; and two major squares have retained their original size and shape.

Many photos tell the story...

I've now landed in DeLand, Florida, but do send good karma my way. The Element needs to take me another 236 miles south in the morning and continues to act up.

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The Best Laid Plans

11/20/2022

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It’s late October -- time to regroup following a heavy social schedule, and time to point
south as fall begins to feel a bit brisk.

The goal is to bring back my “summer feeling” in a temperate climate. What does that mean? It’s waking early feeling rested, spending half the day playing outdoors, chatting with strangers, and perusing the area; while the other half is focused on writing, reading, travel planning, and catching up on life’s chores.

After kicking tires in too many locations across the Carolinas, I was called back to a favorite spot I discovered in the spring. Yes, I’ve been living solo in Farmville, NC for the past month in a very affordable, grand old home. The owner lives elsewhere, but there was the possibility of multiple housemates arriving at any given time. This never occurred, so oddly enough, I had the place to myself in the same historic neighborhood I so enjoy. The first week was quite pleasurable with warm weather, a successful visit to my favorite thrift shop, crusty bread from Cafe Madeleine, and a 2-hour tour of the local museum.

Ice, Ice, Baby
One week later, I had my first bike crash in more than a decade. Thankfully, no vehicle was involved, but I caught a tire crossing a railroad track and slammed my right side to the ground. I’ll spare you the photo, but suffice to say that my shoulder-to-ankle wasn’t pretty; while the scariest part was the thought that I broke my index finger. Lucky for me that I was less than a mile from home, but I woke barely able to open my hand. Ice was the magical relief to a very swollen calf and my hand in just 48 hours. The next day, I got back on the saddle
oh-so-cautiously before I could psyche myself out completely.

Pesky Dashboard Lights
Meanwhile, my dear Element is acting up, too. So, I bit the bullet and spent my
final week with a car mechanic. Long story short, when I left Farmville on the 19th, it was still acting up (idle, idle, baby); so I held my breath all the way to St. Stephen, SC for an overnight, then all the way to Brunswick, GA, where I now remain for a week. All of that said, there will be eggnog in a few days so all will be well in the universe.

Note to Self: Living near a bike shop, an auto mechanic, and an urgent care center is probably a great idea.

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And I've Been Called Antisocial!

10/23/2022

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Following a delightful summer of solo life in Canada, with a short pause in Maine, it's been a whirlwind month of dropping back into the social scene. Quite happily, it began with a delayed birthday celebration and included visits with 16 (I do believe) family members and dear friends of many years. A few folks I'd seen just months ago; most pre-covid life; and one reunion was actually a first since 1980! There was plenty of conversation, a bit of reminiscing, some really great food, much walking about, and the joy of laughter. I'm almost out of words.

Allow me to mention the beauty of the fall foliage this year as I drove from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania stunned by the color red-orange, and while the Appalachian views through West Virginia were shades of gold, it too, was impressive.

I dropped into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia for a few days in the college town of Harrisonburg, just west of the Blue Ridge mountains. It was fall for 48 hours then winter for the next 48! Nevertheless, I ventured out on two wheels and two feet to take a look at this new-to-me location. The historic downtown is quaint, the college campuses worth a visit, and the mountain views, plentiful. People of all ages were quite cordial and polite, though there doesn't seem to be a penchant for small talk.

My descent south has begun with the social calendar on hold as I play catch-up with life, start writing again, pedal toward the goal, and simply relax! I'm now hiding in North Carolina for just a little while but I'll be back here soon.

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From St. George to St. George

9/18/2022

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My departure from Nova Scotia was a day early as my ferry across Fundy cancelled, though I thankfully knew of a comfy, affordable room in St. George, New Brunswick. It was a pleasant visit, and rising early gave me the chance to chat with my friendly hosts over coffee & treats from the Country Store!

For whatever reason, I decided that the synergy of leaving St. George to arrive in previously-booked St. George was a positive sign; so saying "so long" to Canada was okay and I took my time cruising along Maine's route 1 with a waterfront stop before my next destination.

The transition back to the USA with 4 nights in my tent was just what I needed. I'd forgotten how much I loved waking to the sunrise and the birds singing, even on the few mornings where the temps were near 40 or less! While it was a cautious act to cycle to all of my destinations on the peninsula, the early evening sunset (oh yeah, time change!) with book in hand put me in relax mode rapidly.

Next up, a day's push to visit with family and friends in New England for a bit while fall is in the air.

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Across the Bay

9/12/2022

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Late August was my initial departure date from Canada, but as my first two stops were so enjoyable, I didn't see the point in crossing the border to the busy and unaffordable States. While answering the call to visit my favorite St. Andrews by-the-Sea, I found an interesting place to stay in Nova Scotia and decided to chance it. In all honesty, with the exception of Cape Breton, I was underwhelmed by Nova Scotia on my last visit -- August 2016 -- and wanted to give it another chance.

The town is Bear River, and the homestead is with a female artist my age, and it's been just right. I've been living in Nova Scotia for nearly three weeks now in a peaceful, rural environment of about 800 people. Once one of the great shipbuilding towns of the Province, Bear River attracts artists, artisans, vintners, and farmers who reside in one of two counties, as the river is the border between Annapolis and Digby. There is also a community of Mi'kmaw, First Nation people who were here to greet Champlain and the Scots when they arrived.

Known as "the tidal village on stilts", Bear River sits along a brackish tidal river that rises up to 17 feet twice in 24 hours. While I was able to capture this dramatic rise and fall, I have been unable to capture the sun rising in the morning fog or the bigger-than-life, orange full moon that is sitting on the horizon this weekend. The light and the darkness here are in a range we seldom see. The town, the river, the casual friendliness of the people remind me of Alaska as much as the Canadian Maritimes.

While I've had auto, cycling and ferry challenges while here, I am rested and relaxed, and in addition to my usual reading habits, I've put words to paper, too. It's been a very comfortable and enjoyable stay with a return to my tent for a few nights in Maine up next.

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Not Talking Turkey

The Best Laid Plans

Note to Self: Living near a bike shop, an auto mechanic, and an urgent care center is probably a great idea.

And I've Been Called Antisocial!

From St. George to St. George

Across the Bay

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