The Joy of Travel

This week, Heather and I flew to Toronto. We wanted to see my brother, Peter, and his extended family before he returned to France. It was a quick four day trip. We noticed a couple of changes.

Once in Toronto, we took the bus to Kipling TTC station, subway to Victoria Park, and another bus to Julia’s house in Scarborough. Almost as long as the flight from Halifax to Toronto. Later, on the return trip, we used Uber. From the house directly to the Air Canada domestic departure terminal.

The theme of the trip was story-telling. Peter had been listening to BBC Radio 4 series ’Telling Tales’. While in Toronto, I received email from Chris Hopkinson which included a link to a video on his research, Our Changing Mountains & Water Resources.

In addition, Melissa Ristow sent me links to her story maps (Bats on the Radar, and Kespukwitk).

At Julia’s house, where Peter and we were staying, there was a significant collection of recent books. Twenty two and counting. You need to know that Peter is a graphic artist and book designer. I had time to investigate only three.

I checked out the chapter on the Maritimes, as well as Haida Gwaii. In Haida Gwaii, Gibson describes his visit to James Houston’s cabin at Tlell on a salmon river.

It will take a while to digest the four day trip. Certainly, there is much food for thought on city vs rural living. At this time, we can simply say ’they are very different’. As you age, you can appreciate the plus and minus. For the Peter Maher clan, Toronto remains the hub; for the Robert Maher clan, we are spread from British Columbia, Ontario, Nunavut to Nova Scotia. But for both of us, the journey started in West London (Whitton).

Postscript

Heather picked up Michele Kambolis’ book When Women Rise from the library. Each chapter includes a QR code for everyday practices to strengthen your mind, body and soul.

Acknowledgements

A heartfelt thanks to Julia, Peter, Carole, Daisy, Jason and family for making the trip memorable. The stimulation was palpable after months, years with Covid restrictions. After our trip, Heather and I enjoyed a quiet supper of reflection at the Capitol pub in Middleton. Edward later added the links and the graphics.

References

BBC Radio 4. Making History: the Storytellers who shaped the Past. by Richard Cohen.

Chris Hopkinson video link, Our Changing Mountains & Water Resources.

Melissa Ristow Story mapping links, Bats on the Radar, and Kespukwitk

Peter Maher publications link, including
A Life – A collection of self-portrait postcards from important phases of my life. – https://www.blurb.ca/b/8997959-a-life|
A Place – This is a window on my childhood in Whitton to age 11. A collection of childhood memories – https://www.blurb.ca/b/9921235-a-place
Maureen – Images from a suitcase of family memories – https://www.blurb.ca/b/9936151-maureen
En Route – Places that dad has lived in – https://www.blurb.ca/b/11086688-en-route
Le Rhonel – Sketches of the sewers in Cleremont – https://www.blurb.ca/b/6502894-le-rh-nel
25 Chalk Drawings – These drawings are of the interior of my 300 year old house in Clermont l’Hérault. – https://www.blurb.ca/b/2657860-25-chalk-drawings
Mas Bellevue – A collection of images from a friends house in Cleremont L’Herault – https://www.blurb.ca/b/7327177-mas-bellevue
The Ride – The Ride, is a series of etchings done based on a bike ride I used to take each morning – https://www.blurb.ca/b/921672-the-ride

Douglas Gibson, 2015, Across Canada by Story: a coast to coast literary adventure, ECW Press

Julian Richards, 2005, The Vikings: a Very Short Introduction Oxford University Press

Alexandra Harris, 2015, Weatherland: Writers and Artists under English skies, Thames and Hudson