Edward has been pushing me to expand my thinking on Alastair Humphreys’ micro-adventures concept (also, see post Explore Local). We returned from New Glasgow on Wednesday. So yesterday, we were ready to explore local.
I kicked off the day with the Senior Men’s Strength class at CORAH. Eighteen were in attendance.
Afterwards, Heather was up for a trip to Annapolis Royal (AR). The drive down Highway #1 was stunning: hoar frost on the trees, blue sky above.
We started, as usual, at the bookstores, the Mad Hatter and Mare Gold. Geoff Butler was on duty at Mare Gold. Heather found a reference book, Butterflies of Maine and the Canadian Maritime Provinces: photographs, maps, and collection history. This will come in handy for Summer.
Next stop, was ARTSPLACE Gallery on George Street. We enjoyed Sandra Smirle’s exhibition, “Wrought”.
She repurposes abandoned or ‘ghost’ ropes from the sea. ‘ Smirle has also been featured in the Map as Art: Contemporary Artists Explore Cartography, published by Princeton Architectural Press.
Up the road, we stopped at the AR Historic Gardens.
In the shop, we smiled at the garden ornament ‘Down Lost Memory Lane’. We were surprised that the trails had not been cleared. Next time, bring snowshoes or cross-country skis.
Time for a snack.
Tea and samosa at the Brown Dog Kitchen Cafe at the AR Library.
We needed some ‘light’ reading. “Let’s see what they have in the non-fiction section”. We hit pay dirt. We found three ‘heavy’ books.
For me, Donald Savoie, Democracy in Canada: The disintegration of our institutions. I have always found Savoie’s writing on regional economic development in Atlantic Canada profound and thought-provoking.
Heather found Johan Norbert’s, Open: How Collaboration and Curiosity Shaped Humankind and Manno Schilthuizen’s, Darwin Comes to Town: How the Urban Jungle Drives Evolution.
We headed home on Hwy #201. Stopping briefly in Bridgetown for a few grocery items. By this time, the hoar frost had melted off the trees. Exhilarated, we were keen to dig a path from the back door down to the greenhouse.
This was just a simple example of exploring local (see also, posts Hidden Treasures and For Viram). It motivates me to have that difficult conversation with the administration, faculty, and students at COGS on the need for a ‘Geography of Annapolis County’. Together, we can do it!
References
Donald J. Savoie, 2019, Democracy in Canada: the Disintegration of our Institutions, McGill-Queens University Press.
Johan Norbert, 2021, Open: How Collaboration and Curiosity Shaped Humankind, Atlantic Books.
Philip G. deMaynadier, et al, 2023, Butterflies of Maine and the Canadian Maritime Provinces, Cornell University Press.
Menno Schilthuizen, 2018, Darwin comes to Town: How the Urban Jungle Drives Evolution, Picador
Acknowledgements
Edward continues to contribute both his artistic talent and links to relevant readings. Heather brings her natural history and enthusiasm for outdoor adventures.
Postscript
Recognizing that we were home, last Thursday we celebrated and had lunch at the Bee’s Knees; home-made soup, quiche, and coffee.
Ernest Blair Experiment 