Category: Travel

Posted in Event Review, Travel

SOOF SOUP SUNDAY

Posted on by maherrv

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to attend the community gathering at Centrelea Hall. Cindy Staicer gave an excellent presentation on ‘Forest Bird Species at Risk and their Habitats’ (See also YouTube Video HERE).

Click on image for YouTube presentation

Today SOOF (Save Our Old Forests) are making a presentation to the town of Middleton. They are looking for municipal support for the Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area (see also Saving Forests, Screening/Road Trip, and Two Meetings; Two Questions)

This grassroots action is in stark contrast to the paid advertisement, this weekend in the Chronicle Herald — “Nature Nova Scotia response to Premier Houston’s January 21 letter re: Intention to Expand Unsustainable Natural Resource Industries and Dismissal of Expert Opinion“.

My questions are as follows:
Why is the Government and, subsequently, Nature Nova Scotia using paid advertisements to communicate? Is this an attempt to impact public opinion? Likely, Yes.

What structures exist within the government to solicit informed public opinion?

Earlier on Saturday morning, it was a simple delight to walk through Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens to see the crocuses and snowdrops.

Trish Fry was out taking photographs.

Also, we had to stop at the local bookstores.

Mare Gold had a copy of Ronald Blythe’s “Next to Nature: A Lifetime in the English Countryside“. I could not resist the purchase.

Blythe died in January 2023, aged 100.

‘The finest contemporary writer on the English Countryside. Next to Nature dances with self-deprecating wit, rebellious asides, sharp portraits of fellow writers and notes of worldliness.’ – Patrick Barkham, The Guardian.

Acknowledgements

Heather and I enjoyed our busy weekend catching up with the SOOF activities. Thank you to Cindy, Nina et al. Edward added the graphics and links.

Reference

Ronald Blythe, 2022, Next to Nature. a Lifetime in the English Countryside, John Murray Publisher.

Posted in Art, Nature, Photo Essay, Travel

Footsteps East  our 5,000 km plein air journey

Posted on by Edward Wedler

Plein air art saved us from disaster — and may have even saved our lives!

A massive, cracking thunderstorm with torrential rain struck our campsite. 

At the time, we were painting about 20 km south; in Petit-Saguenay, Quebec, a fjordic region of Canada. Mountainous landslides washed out the only access road back to our campsite. About 200 campers, their tents and RVs were left stranded. They had to be airlifted/ boated out. Tragically, two were swept out to sea and lost their lives. It took over a week to be safely escorted back to camp so we could retrieve our tent and gear. What a start to our 5,000 km plein air trek through eastern Canada!

We planned to travel through landscapes painted 100 years ago by Canadian artists Tom Thomson and members of The Group of Seven — from Nova Scotia to northern Lake Superior and back — and to explore our painting styles.

In Ontario, we visited quaint towns that offered mouth-watering bakery products and parks made famous for their breathtaking topography. In Killarney we hiked “The Crack”; the most rugged trail in the La Cloche Mountain Range.

And canoed the lakes. We travelled by rail up The Agawa Canyon. In Neys and Pakawaska we painted near a WWII prisoner-of-war camp. On our return, we enjoyed camp-time with our daughter and grandchildren and painted the farmlands of Huron County.

Every day, our Footsteps East journey remains crystal clear — the squeal of soaring hawks, the fragrance of pine-filled valleys, the fresh breath of morning air along the rocky shoreline of Georgian Bay and the many spectacular skies.
 

That’s the beauty of plein air art. Every moment is treasured and fully experienced. Even better is when the journey is shared with art lovers and adventurers; locally and from around the globe.

“Little Island, Petite Saguenay” plein air oil by Anne Wedler

Our trek’s stories, artwork, videos, and interactive map are on our website at Footsteps East.

So what adventures await? 

“Footsteps Farther East” is where we tented and painted the landscapes of Newfoundland and Labrador in the summer of 2024. For 2025 it may be rural France and Ireland — even farther east.

Originally submitted to Plein Air Magazine’s “Postcards on the Road”
(now revised including images) by Anne and Edward Wedler
“A Plein Air Pair”
wedlerfineart.com

Posted in Travel

Back to our Roots

Posted on by maherrv

Despite snow on the ground, we went for our customary walk in Valley View Park. On our way back home to Middleton, we took Highway #201 through Paradise and drove past our old house, #6326.

We had noticed changes to the garage and studio. There was a sign ‘Back to our Roots’. The new owners had moved from Deep Brook, bringing their business; the making and the sale of candles.

We are encouraged to see small manufacturing moving into Annapolis County.

Having owned #6326 for the last twenty four years, we continue to return to our roots. For me, that is a journey from suburban London to the geography of Canada. That includes living in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta and BC. For Heather, the starting point was Toronto followed by Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland etc.

For both of us, the driving force has been the landscape; especially memorable has been the time in Iqaluit, Churchill, Haida Gwaii and Sable Island. Globally, shorter stints in California, Indonesia, China and South Africa.

Now, we can legitimately say, we have returned to our roots. One of these days, we shall drop in, buy a candle, to light our path.

Acknowledgements.

Thank you Heather and Edward for sharing the journey.

References

Back to our Roots Candles, https://www.backtoourroots.ca

Posted in Book Review, Event Review, Travel

Sustainable Publications

Posted on by maherrv

With a lifetime of books in the basement, I am trying to determine which ones are ‘sustainable publications’ and those categories of books that are no longer necessary.

This set me thinking about newspapers and magazines. In the category of ‘sustainable’ I would include the weekly, Bridgetown Reader, and monthly, The Grapevine.

In the online class, I would include Emergence Magazine, The Marginalian and The Oldie.

This week, we have learned that there will be a recount for the two Liberal ridings held by Zach Churchill and Carman Kerr (see Close Race).

For my last blog, I sent Edward three photographs from the Rotary Riverside Park in Middleton.

They showed the memorial tree placement,

the yoga stations

and the watch that Heather found on the trail and placed on a tree (shown circled). This is consistent with the treasure-hunting theme (see Treasure Hunting).

Acknowledgement

Heather, likewise, has a significant collection of sustainable publications. Edward added the photographs.

POSTSCRIPT
Sunrise over the Annapolis River

Posted in Event Review, Opinion, Travel

GIS Day at COGS

Posted on by maherrv

Today, Heather and I went to COGS to celebrate Esri Canada ‘GIS Day in Canada’.

The keynote speaker was Dianne Whalen, an award-winning Canadian filmmaker, photographer, author and public speaker. The topic was ‘500 days in the Wild’.

She described her experience travelling across the country on the Trans-Canada Trail. The longest trail in the world: 24,000 kilometers. It was completed over a period of six years, and included hiking, bicycling, canoeing and skiing.

It was a memorable presentation, with numerous insights into the history and geography of Canada. It is available online.

David MacLean made the GIS Day presentation available online in the AV Room at COGS. We witnessed Alex Miller, President of ESRI Canada, present the Roger Tomlinson, Lifetime Achievement award to Gord Rasmussen, City of Calgary and the Making a Difference award to Cynthia Bettio on the partnership between the community of Stouffville and the local school. Both are well deserved.

The rest of the day included ‘lightening talks’ on AEC, Land Management, Public Safety and Health, Transportation, Utility and Emergency Management, Climate Change and the Environment.

The most shocking aspect of the day was that Heather and I were the only live audience in the AV room. Dave MacLean was available to discuss any technology issues. Everyone else at COGS was, by definition, online. This raises the question. At what point in the learning environment can be totally online? In which case, what is the future of a small college in rural Nova Scotia?

The contrast between Diane Whalen’s description, insights and experiences travelling through the Canadian landscape, and our experience visiting COGS was palpable. What is the value of gathering people into the same (virtual) location, and comparing their sense of Geography?

Posted in Common Place, Travel

Joining the dots

Posted on by maherrv

Edward responded to my earlier blog post (Passport Renewal). He recalled David Bowlby and Allison Maher (no relation) who owned Dempsey Corners farm.

Photo taken by Edward of Dempsey Corners farm several years ago.

Apparently, Allison was a supporter of the Ride the Lobster unicycle relay race event. Bowlby more recently worked at the Kentville Research station. Allison is a local author.

This week, I contacted Celes Davar. He has been instrumental in Experiential Tourism (see my post, Nisoge’katik), including Food-Art-Nature (FAN) in Kings County.

My interest was whether FAN fare extended into Annapolis County.

Today we planned to go to the Wolfville Farmers Market. We had forgotten that, at this time of year, Wolfville is hosting Christmas Craft Markets. So, quickly, we diverted to Canning to enjoy the ambience of the ArtCan Cafe.

In particular, I enjoyed the exhibition by Bryson Chisholm, “I have always been here before”.

Afterwards, we took the back road to Berwick, then home to Middleton on Highway #1.

In contact with Dave MacLean at COGS, I learned that next week is Geography Awareness Week and Tuesday will be GIS Day.

From CORAH, I have learned that COGS will be hosting a used book sale at COGS. Perhaps, I can donate a couple of full boxes.

Finally on the theme of ‘joining the dots’ Edward queried OpenAI Chat GPT on a conference “Beyond the boundaries : Reimagining Nova Scotia” at COGS for 2025.

It came back with ten topics.

  1. Geography as a Tool for Health Equity
  2. Decolonizing Geography: indigenous knowledge and land stewardship
  3. Geospatial Technology and the Future of Smart Cities
  4. Climate change through a Geographical Lens
  5. Reclaiming Geography for Political Discourse
  6. The Geography of Education: mapping access, equity and opportunity
  7. Reimagining geographies of Work in a digital age
  8. Cultural Landscape: mapping arts, identity and place
  9. Geopolitics and the global supply change
  10. Spatialize Justice, rethinking equity in urban and rural contexts.

Acknowledgements

Edward for joining the dots. Dave for an update on COGS Geography Awareness Week. Heather for sharing lunch at the ArtCan Cafe. Celes for the link to the Food-Art-Nature newsletter.

Posted in Creative writing, Travel

Country Diary

Posted on by maherrv

I found the following quotation in the latest issue of The Guardian Weekly.

As the ferry returns to Corran, my gaze lingers over Loch Linnhe’s glassy surface.

“These peninsulas take the water between thumb and finger / like women feeling for the smoothness of yard goods.” Wrote Elizabeth Bishop in her poem, The Map. While she didn’t mean precisely here, between the water’s sheen and my revised grasp of local geography, I can see exactly what she meant.”

This resonates with me on several fronts. I enjoyed the reference to Elizabeth Bishop (EB). It brings to mind the efforts of the Elizabeth Bishop Society of Nova Scotia and Great Village. It also reminds me of Elizabeth Bishop House and the archival guide to her life in Nova Scotia by Sandra Barry (see my posts One, Two Three, Two Conversations, and Reading Where We Live)

Second, the reference to EB brings to mind the role of West Dalhousie in the life of Ernest Buckler (another EB).

Here we are connecting Scotland (the West Highlands) and New Scotland i.e. Nova Scotia. We are also connecting the sense of place, across both sides of the Atlantic.

On Fridays, Heather and I are able to attend classes at CORAH. For Heather, it’s Chair Yoga and for me it’s Mens’ strength and fitness. These opportunities for ‘rural aging in place’ contrast with the distractions/frustrations of a mixture of online learning and global politics.

Reference

The Guardian Weekly 25 October 2024, p.62. Country Diary Ardnamurchan, West Highlands, Scotland, UK by Mary Montague.

Acknowledgements

Sandra Barry is a cornerstone of the Elizabeth Bishop Society of Nova Scotia. Edward Wedler added the graphics and links. Heather Stewart shares my ‘sense of place’ across the two continents.

Postscript.

From my perspective, the blog is, in its own way ‘A Country Diary’.

Posted in Opinion, Travel

A Tale of Two Geographies

Posted on by maherrv

This weekend, we visited New Glasgow. After celebrating the birthdays of Paul Colville and Frank Fox, Heather and I took the ‘high road’ through the Rawdon Hills to New Glasgow via Truro. Heather’s Dad needed some support for his MRI at the Aberdeen hospital. While in town, we returned our library books to the deCoste Centre (also read my blog post Pictou Visit).

We stopped briefly at the Highland Mall, where I found Alec Bruce’s book, The Cooperators. I also browsed a book on the beaches of Nova Scotia.

We checked out Melmerby sand beach on the Northumberland Strait. It is a very different experience to the pebbles on Hampton Beach, on the Bay of Fundy. The waters are warmer too.

For the last several months we have been selling the house in Paradise. As we reach the final stages, we are dealing with the Cooperators Insurance, as well as the Credit Union. The house is now sold,

Moving between Annapolis and Pictou Counties, I am always struck by the difference in the culture. New Glasgow has had a strong industrial base: Michelin, Scott Paper, Trenton. This is reflected in the information available to citizens. Pictou County produces a regular newsletter The health services at the Aberdeen hospital are second to none. This week, I also had an appointment for an MRI. We went to the hospital in Kentville.

Politically, Pictou County likely benefits from the residence of both the Premier, as well as a history of federal-level politicians. With the municipal elections behind us, we will watch to see the difference.

Acknowledgements.

We enjoyed our time away in Pictou County. We always enjoy the ups and downs of the road through the Rawdon Hills. Certainly, we appreciate the history of the Cooperators. Thank you, John, Heather and Edward.

Reference

Alec Bruce, 2024, The Cooperators: The People behind the Rebirth of a Nova Scotia Movement, 1949-2024, Pottersfield Press.

Posted in Art, New thinking, Travel

Pictou Visit

Posted on by maherrv

This weekend, we were in New Glasgow, visiting Heather’s family. On Saturday afternoon, we joined Sandy and John on a visit to the deCoste Performing Arts Centre on the Pictou waterfront. This Summer is the Grand Reopening.

A new cultural hub combines the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library (PARL) and the deCoste Performing Arts Centre. We enjoyed the new library facilities, the indigenous paintings, and the sculpture on the waterfront by Alan Syliboy.

The collaboration across the Arts spectrum, combined with a beautiful library space, and theatre offer a new model for the ‘Creative Rural Economy’ (see also A Community Brains Trust and Landscape and Food: hidden gems of the Creative Rural Economy) .

Driving up from the Annapolis Valley, Pictou demonstrates what is possible for other small towns in Nova Scotia.

At the Library I was able to sign out David Suzuki’s ‘The Sacred Balance’. Heather picked up Paul Theroux’ ‘Burma Sahib’.

Returning to New Glasgow, the day was completed with homemade shepherds pie, beets and chard from Sandy’s garden, PBS’ Maine Saturday night fare ‘As Time Goes By’ and ‘Doc Martin’.

Sunday.

Time for the beautiful three hour drive back through the Rawdon Hills. At home, we were immersed again in the challenges of real estate sales. But we took time out for a stroll around the French Basin Trail (view my post Walking Paths). It was deserted, on a holiday weekend.

Acknowledgements

Sandy suggested the visit to the Pictou waterfront.

References

David Suzuki, 2022, The Sacred Balance: Rediscovering our Place in Nature, Greystone Books.

Paul Theroux, 2024, Burma Sahib, Marina Books

Postscript

Pictou Library offers special programs. They also offer Virtual Care and have a Virtual Care Navigator. The Library is a ‘Community Information Utility’, combined with the deCoste Centre. Together they continue to support the Creative Rural Economy of the region.

Posted in Opinion, Travel

Magical Day

Posted on by maherrv

This morning, we had to go to Granville Ferry Community Hall.

On Sunday, Heather had attended Shambala Meditation at the hall and had accidentally left her jacket on the hook.

We arrived early and stopped at JoAnn’s Chocolate Shop & Café and bookstore in Annapolis Royal for a take-out coffee. The books were irresistible. Picked up two.

Brought to Book: The Balance of books and life, edited by Ian Breakwell and Paul Hammond.

Coasting: Running around the coast of Britain – life, love and (very) loose plans by Elise Downing.

Good news. The hall was open at 1:15 pm and we retrieved the jacket from the hook. Afterwards, we stopped at Bob and Dessie Howard’s house outside of Granville Ferry. Bob gave us a wonderful tour of his garden; in particular, hydrangeas, and dahlia species. The conversation covered the history of market gardening in both England and North America. Bob has spent a career, tending a range of species, growing different varieties from seed.

Buoyed by the conversation, we decided to explore the Nova Scotia landscape on a beautiful September day. We headed to Victoria Beach.

Sketch at Victoria Beach by Edward

This reminded me of our need to fully appreciate the geography of Annapolis County. We drove to the end of the paved road. En route, we noted the changing colours, the beautiful houses – the domes, and the Mare Gold retreat at the end. We marvelled at the residents who drive this road. Like, Russell who runs the Mare Gold bookstore in Annapolis Royal (see An Authors’ Market) .

Before setting out for Granville Ferry, I had stopped at CORAH to register for sessions later in the week. I had the inspiration that CORAH, the Centre of Rural Aging and Health could benefit from a Community Information Utility. But that is another blog post, for another day.

The drive to Victoria Beach, the conversation with Bob Howard reinforced the need for a better understanding of our landscape. Beyond, the simple economic view of the landscape as a resource for exploitation.

References

Ian Breakwell and Paul Hammond (ed.), 1994, Brought to Books: The Balance of Books and Life, Penguin Books

Elise Downing, 2021, Coasting: Running around the coast of Britain – life, love and (very) loose plans, Summersdale Publishers.