It’s been one of those vacations which just flew by, but at the same time never felt hectic.

Marcia just kept repeating the same little refrain every morning; “I’m not cooking a meal tonight”, done almost in a sing-songy fashion, and then she’d sit back and just smile.

“At a restaurant, I never put the napkin in my lap. Why? Because I believe in myself.” ~ Hannibal Buress, comedian

Now, a moment for my morning coffee, which I’ve had to prepare for the first time since our travels began.

Sorry about the big Zero last weekend. It was a Nothing on posting the Ramblings business due to travel, lousy connectivity, and me trying to set myself as a “guest” account on Marcia’s Surface tablet – the end result being that neither Marcia nor I could send or receive mail and only sporadically do anything else.

Rails – not the ones flying  through the country side (more on those in a moment), but the one’s Mr. Montpetit placed on our deck and stairs. If you remember, Northern Comfort was raised higher onto a proper foundation and now the Insurance Company mandated them – and be done by June 1st. Montpetit completed the project with a full day to spare and did a magnificent job. I notified the Insurance folk in a timely fashion. Whew!

Rails (or Tracks if you prefer) – Halifax, Nova Scotia was reached by and departed from on Via Rail’s “The Ocean” train. It was a twenty-four hour overnight affair (each way), where we had our personal sleeper cabin (complete with a toilet and our own private seating area), a dining car, and a “bubble-top” 360-degree viewing wagon, and an ‘exchange’ program which brought entertainment aboard. It was a spectacular event, one which we’d repeat in a heartbeat.

B & Bs – were used every night. Marcia researched and booked these. Each one a ‘gem’. Each one with gracious hosts and amazingly diverse guests (I believe us to be the ‘bumpkins’ in each group). Each one seemed to be trying to outdo our previous night’s stay in the breakfast department.

We ended up staying in anything from a large farm house to a home previously owned by a Prime Minister of Prince Edward Island. We bathed in a room with a 6-foot square window in the shower which provided a view of the bedroom and outside window to one containing an old Claw-Foot tub. Again; “It was spectacular, something which we’d repeat in a heartbeat.”

Sights – were too many to bore you with. Here are four highlights of which at least one should strike your fancy.

By taking the route we did we managed to get up close to the schooner, Bluenose II, the day prior to its leaving harbor for a sail around. For years this was the fastest ship afloat and is celebrated by being engraved on Canada’s 10-cent coin.

Since it is still early in the tourist season we were the only visitors at the Bay of Fundy Tidal Power Generating Station. Using the 33-foot tides massive water tidal water differential they use a generator to generate electricity. Being the only visitors we were escorted into the ‘bowels’ of the place for a private tour. Even Marcia, a bit nervous, thought it great.

Through some quiet and desolate farming areas on Prince Edward Island we eventually came to the end of the road. It was very windy and wet when we parked our rental car and walked a bit of a red-clay road and path to finally reach the old and now unused Cape Bear Lighthouse on P.E.I.s south-eastern shore – our destination. This lighthouse was the first wireless station in Canada where during a black night in April 1912 the keeper received the distress call from the ship Titanic.

Mini Mill – The Belfast Mini Mill is located in nowhere P.E.I., and then 7km further down a small road away from the main ‘highway’. Marcia just had to go there and I was not going to argue. Glad I didn’t. Turning off the main road and down a very lengthy path we finally turned a bit and there sat a several ramshackle buildings and some sheep behind those.

The Mini-Mill is operated by sixty-year-old twin sisters. Marcia went ‘ga-ga’ over her find in their store. But, for me, what made this place a find is that these two ladies have designed and build all the types of machinery required to wash, dye, comb, felt, and spin wool. And just so that you think all their stuff is a one-off, they have sold their designed equipment into 22 countries and installed in over 250 sites – by word of mouth.

Each piece of equipment was proudly turned on and demonstrated to us. For each, the special features were designed using years of deep understanding of the knitter’s special needs and skills and thus were made part of the equipment.

How do they build their machinery you ask? They don’t, they have brothers living elsewhere who do that work. Plus, they use machinery owned by a nearby school/college in exchange for student internships. Exactly what one would expect when having to do in a barren and windy place. Marcia found us a jewel!

Fini – So, we made it back safe and sound to Northern Comfort, arriving exactly at midnight the other evening.

Marcia’s veggie garden has taken off while we were gone – as has the grass. As soon as I get the weed-whacker going and things dry out I’ll get going on it.

This week and into the future we’re wrapping our arms around Vince, Kirstin, Derek, and Kellen as Vince is tackling a ‘race’ much bigger than even the two Iron Man races he’s completed. Even though we can’t stand on the side of the road yelling “GO Vince” or tooting horns and ringing cow bells, we’re with you guys. What an amazingly strong family!!!!!

To everyone, make it a great week and everyone, stay safe.

Cheers.

Dirk