leaving the west coast

I went for my last physio treatment this morning and then stopped by my grandparents to give them the jar of Newfoundland blueberry jam. I had brought a jar back last time I was there (in May) and they loved it and ate it so quickly so I brought another one. I ate a quick lunch and showed them my one photo of Peggy's Cove. Then it was time to leave and I broke down when I gave them each a hug. They ended up getting emotional as well with my grandmother saying they were reluctantly letting me go away. I told them I'd be back and see them at Christmas. It was really difficult and I was sniffling the whole way home.

I've pulled all my stuff out to move but there is just SO much stuff I can't believe it. And it's not even everything I own. When I come back, I gotta do some massive weeding. This is ridiculous. Gotta keep on packing and sleep in my bed for the last time in a long while tonight. The move is exciting, but I feel so sad leaving family members behind.

the misadventure continues

Just a quick note since I'm so swamped with finishing up here. The trip ended with St. John's being fogged in and therefore our flight leaving 30 minutes late...which meant we almost missed the connection in Halifax, and then almost missed the connection in Toronto. The luggage however, did a major miss and we still haven't received it as of today. :( The flights themselves were fairly unpleasant with the first two segments both having a cranky baby. On the first one, the mother of 2 had a rum and coke - not a very positive sign at all except demonstrating her lack of ability to maintain any semblance of control. (The father was bouncing the kid up and down on the tray table.)

Today was a nice quiet day where I got to finish up more cleaning at work. I'm pretty much done. We had a lovely buffet lunch at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel. Tomorrow will be a day of goodbyes.

wildlife encounters

This trip has been turning out to be one heck of an adventure. Two days ago we drove through Cape Breton National Park where we saw a moose run across the road behind our car. Then yesterday, we drove from Sydney on Cape Breton Island to Fortress Louisburg yesterday and then on to Bras D'Or Lakes before continuing back to Halifax. We were making great time and expected to be back by 10:30pm or so when we turned onto the highway going west (107). We were driving uphill and I was verifying the turnoff on the map when P. swerved the car to the left and slammed on the brakes. I looked up to see a deer and heard the dull "thump" as we hit her. I just said, "Oh my God" as we came to a stop. I stepped out of the car door - with the door hinge creaking with difficulty and got out to look. No carcass but serious damage to the right front (my) side of the car. We backtracked with our hazard lights...nothing. We figure she escaped into the woods but she must have had serious injuries and I think she won't make it. A trucker stopped because he saw our lights and asked if we were ok. We said yes and then we limped it back to Halifax with the car making ticking noises and we watched all the cars that we had by-passed earlier now speed past us.

This morning was spent dealing with the police report, insurance company, and the car rental place to get another car. This is the third car so perhaps it's three times lucky? Thank goodness we are only driving one more day as we fly to Newfoundland tomorrow. This time, we chose a different car too - no more Chrysler Sebrings!

We hit all the Winners stores in the area and then came back to the waterfront for dinner. We went to eat upstairs at Salty's. It had won the 2003 Taste of Nova Scotia and was right on the harbour so we went. We sat down and I ordered the lobster bisque and organic green salad. P. ordered the seafood medley, according to our waiter, the most popular dish. Well, I had finished the bisque and was starting my greens when the waiter made an announcement. I figured it was someone's anniversary or birthday but no, we were told we had to bring all our stuff and clear out as there were firetrucks and policement outside. The restaurant was on fire!! The basement was anyway. P. left and I stared at his skewer of prawns and scallops and decided to scoop it up and put it in his napkin. I brought it down and we finished it off. We weren't told to return so we left. What are the chances? All I can say is that this trip is definitely turning out to be an adventure...

On to the Island

Our car broke down on Saturday. We ended up waiting in a dinky town where the only good restaurant open was closing next week. The food wasn't that great, and the wait even longer. P had runny clam chowder that was more potato than anything else. We missed much of the lighthouse route as a result of this. Popped by another lighthouse that looked like people coudl tour it but it was closed for renovations. We woke up super early today (6am) for low tide to search for geodes.

We're off to PEI this morning but I think I'll be sleeping much of the way...

lighthouse route

Arrived in Halifax yesterday afternoon and it already feels like I've been here for ages. It was a long red eye and then another flight. P. and I picked up the rental car and headed into town to check our stuff in. I took a nap as I was completely wiped from staying up all night. I find it terribly difficult to sleep on planes unless I am really exhausted. We went for a quick bite to make up for lunch. I had a lobster salad sandwich - too much mayo and it was disappointing but then we shared a seafood platter. Beautiful weather out and we walked around a little bit, in through the Public Garden and then grabbed some groceries. Drove by the Citadel and took some photos. Most stores don't open here on Sundays so you have to do it all when it's open.

We left early this morning for Peggy's Cove. Almos as picturesque as I had imagined and bringing back fond memories of the childhood book I read by the same name by Brian Doyle: You can Pick me up at Peggy's Cove. Lots of tourists so it required a bit of waiting to get some nice shots, but I did. Also paused by the Swiss Air Flight 111 Memorial. Then off on the Lighthouse Route to Chester Bay - a very small quaint town with a beautiful dinnerware store selling glass painted dishes, and then to Mahone Bay where there was the Wooden Boat Festival going on so it was packed. Lots of shops selling crafts and gifts. Then we had to hurry to make it to Lunenberg, probably the largest town after Halifax that we've seen. It's actually a UNESCO heritage site and reminded me a bit of White Rock.

Tomorrow we continue on the route to hunt some more lighthouses. We have been blessed with gorgeous sunny weather and have stuffed ourselves with some seafood at every meal; I can see that this pattern will continue!

first of many lasts

Yesterday was my last Saturday here. The next few ones will be away and then finally, I will be moving on a Friday. On Friday, it was a gorgeous sunny day so I asked P. to take me to the RainCity Grill down by English Bay. We sat on the patio where I had a gorgeous view of the bay and we dined on wild salmon and delicious dessert - he had a strawberry compote cake and I had the vanilla creme brulee. Fantastic meal and we wandered a bit on Denman with me joking that it was my last supper...

I went to a shamanic journey workshop last night. As per usual, I didn't 'see' anything although at one point when I was rocking back and forth in a bear position, I felt a "whoosh" of air down my back. Leonard confirmed afterwards that he saw light going up and down my back. And today I was able to do my rolldown with no pain in my neck. :) Two other girls had their arms starting to levitate! Leonard confirmed for me that my injury in my shoulder was a childhood one.

Today was a day spent at home packing and cleaning. All day long. I'm ready to hit the sack. More to do and all wired up. I haven't been sleeping well lately due to all the excitement.

job up for grabs

So they posted my job today. I got a call from someone who actually worked in my job and she called on the premise of asking for some materials which we didn't have. And then when I was about to hang up, she asked if I was leaving the firm. Haha. So I said yes, well no, that I was moving but to the other office. It seemed to satisfy her curiosity and I left it at that. No one else commented to me but that was probably because my current boss blabbed about it to the association, or my former boss blabbing it to her former colleagues. Either way, it seems like it's such a huge ass deal like I was getting married or had a kid or something. Is the world so small? Do people have nothing better to do than gossip?!