June 30, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Lemonade in the Garden.

 Steve is a wonderful gardener.  He grows everything.  A lovely area close to the house on the back of the house has been planted in flowering bushes and trees, which right now are in full bloom.  Beyond the sitting area is his vegetable and fruit garden.  Anna and I were invited this afternoon to enjoy their flowers while we drank lemonade.  We sat in Muskoka chairs admiring the blossoms and enjoyed sitting outside  and nibbling their goodies.  We arrived at 3:00 and left just before 5:00 which is when Anna heads for time.

Steve and Sue live along the shore from me, just on the other side of the Mitchells home.  They are the most industrious couple I know.  Steve tends the ever expanding garden while Sue preserves everything he grows.  She makes jam and jellies, pickles and relish and every other type of vegetable.  Much of the vegetables she freezes.  Last summer, a bag of vegetables would be left in the garage for us.  Once a week they deliver their produce to friends.  And every time we visit we come home with a bag of jams and pickles.  I enjoy both Sue and Steve, who are both retired but who are both busy as bees.  Our afternoon was a delight.

June 29, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Getting Ready.

 So far, I have been by myself in Nova Scotia.  I have eaten the food I had left in the freezer last Fall plus the meals brought to me by Mary MacD.  My meals have been odd.  But now I am almost at the end of my food.  And I have been getting ready for company to arrive.

Anna has done one big shopping to fill the freezer.  We made a long list together.  Now the freezer has smoked salmon in abundance, bacon, sausage, chicken pot pies, quiches, apple pies, pecan pies, carrot cake, and extra bread.  Tomorrow she will do the last shopping of fruit, salad goods, milk and cream and a whole lot more.

The bikes have been checked and fixed and we will pick them up tomorrow.  The wood will be delivered tomorrow morning.  David likes to build a big fire down by the water every evening so he wanted more delivered prior to his arrival.   Jackie the cleaning lady has cleaned the guest house so it is ready to use.  The truck will go into the mechanic on Monday to fix the air conditioning.  And then I will be ready for my first summer guests who will arrive on July 3, 2022.  

Christina, Mary Frances and Molly  arrive on the ferry from Maine.  For two years they have been unable to come so they are excited to be coming.  And I will be delighted to greet them.  For sure, I will be ready, I hope.

June 28, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. An Excursion With Anna.

 Our excursion on Monday could have been a disaster.  After our walk at the lighthouse, as the weather was lovely, I suggested that we take a drive in the country and have lunch in Caladonia, the little town about half way to Annapolis Royal.  Anna does not mind driving and we had no other appointments that afternoon, so we decided to head out.  I knew of three restaurants in Caladonia so I felt sure we could find a place to eat.  So off we went even though we would be having a late lunch.  Caladonia is an hours drive away from Liverpool.

Half way there, I noticed that the air-conditioning was not working.  No cool air at all.  We discussed turning around so we could eat in Liverpool but we decided to keep on going.  The air was still cool so we were comfortable enough to keep on going although in a warm car.  

The first restaurant, The Hollow Log, was closed on Mondays.  The second place was totally closed.  All signs had been removed.  And the third restaurant had been closed since last season.  So we were stuck with no lunch in sight.  We stopped at the Pharmacy to ask if there were any other lunch places and the nice lady told us about a place 15 minutes down the road.  She even phoned ahead to be sure they were open.  So off we went.  By now we wee only a few miles from Annapolis Royal on the french shore.

Finally we ate a delicious lunch go haddock burgers and soup.  The soup was world class: potato leek bacon cream soup.  Worth the drive.  Finally we got home just after 4:00.  Our excursion turned out well even though our afternoon was longer and warmer than expected.  We had a good time.

June 27, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. John Lief.

When we moved here in 1999, John Lief was the Mayor of Queens County.  He stayed Mayor for the next 15 years.  He and his wife Nancy  became good friends.   I do not know how we became friends.  Perhaps friend Sandra Stafford and her husband Bob introduced us.  John  was an engaging and friendly man.  And both Ken and I liked him.

He was an historian by training and had taught history at high school.  But early in his career he became a politician and was elected to the provincial legislature, where he served 30 years.  Over the years, he held many important positions.  But finally he retired to Liverpool, where he lived the whole time.  He was asked to become the Mayor, just as there was a question of combining the town of Liverpool and the county under one jurisdiction.  He shepherded that through to completion and eventually consulted with many places in Nova Scotia and other provinces.

His finger print is all over Liverpool.  He was responsible for the Call Center.  And the arena was his baby.    He has written a book about Privateers and Liverpool plus many other articles.  After the arena was built and running, he decided not to ran any more.  But he was active in consulting.  He had that happy combination of being pleasant while being competent.  And he knew just about everyone at the provincial and federal lever.

But last summer John did not look good.  He was white.  And on Saturday he died in the local hospital.  He will be missed.  His expertise and his spirit can not be replaced.  And I will miss him too.  May he rest in peace.

June 26, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Mary MacD.

 My friend Mary is a good cook.  Fortunately for me, she is generous too.  Today around 3:00. just when I had put up my feet, a tap came on my kitchen door and Mary walked into the kitchen.  "I just brought you a loaf of banana nut bread, freshly baked", said Mary.  And then she left.  My first piece was delicious.  Anna and I will eat a piece tomorrow with our afternoon tea.

Yesterday around 6:45, my phone rang.  It was Mary.  "Have you had dinner?" she asked.  She had cooked a stir fry for Walt and she cooked too much so she wanted to know if I would enjoy it for dinner.  I generally eat dinner closer to 7:30, which she knows so the timing was perfect.  The stir fry dinner was perfect.  It included lots of vegetables along with strips of tender beef, plus rice and a delicious sauce.  It was still warm when she brought it out.  She never stays long, just chats a minute or two and she is gone.  My dinner was delicious.

Earlier in the week she brought out half of a chicken pot pie.  She does not eat them but Walt enjoys a piece every now and then.  But he had eaten all he wanted so she brought the rest to me.  I have enjoyed eating it at two lunches.  I appreciate all her kindnesses to me.  Between what I left in my freezer from last Fall and what Mary has brought me since my arrival I am eating very well.  I feel fortunate to have a friend like Mary.  She is a good cook.

June 25, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Deck.

Today was the first time I could comfortably sit on the deck to enjoy the sea breezes.  Up until now, the weather was a bit too cool for me.  But this afternoon the weather was perfect for enjoying the deck.  The sky was blue and the sun was bright when I went outside at 4:30.  In addition, the breeze was light and cool so even when sitting in the full sun you did not feel hot.  And to top it all off, the surf was pounding into the shore with the frothy waves crashing onto the shore right in front of the house.  It was noisy and beautiful so I enjoyed getting my Vitamin D while sitting on the deck. 

In 1999, when we purchased the house and were discussing the plans for the renovation and addition, we told George, the builder, that we wanted a deck out the back.  He assured us that building a deck would be a waste of money because the weather is cool and the wind high at Western Head so we would never be able to sit outside.  But we built it anyway and of course, we have used the deck a huge amount, although often the deck is too cool or too windy to sit outside.  But when the day is perfect, like today, there is no more beautiful place in the world than to sit on the deck and enjoy watching the sea, just as I did today.  Pretty nifty.

June 24, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Above and Beyond.

Anna is my helper in Nova Scotia.  She does everyone that all my helpers do the keep me carrying on with my life.   But Anna goes way above and beyond the normal tasks of a helper.  Just today, look at what she did to help me.

She went to the grocery store fist thing on her way here.  And she put everything away.  She pays with her credit card.  I give her a cheque which she deposits immediately in her bank, using her phone.  Next she hemmed a pant leg that she noted when hanging up the pants.  Then she loaded four bikes on the back of the truck to take them to be checked before guests arrive.  When we arrived at the bicycle shop she took the bikes off the truck and took them into the shop.  And she brought the ticket back to me in the truck.

Next we picked up 6 pies and a cake, which I paid for.  And we drove home where Anna  put them all in the freezer of the garage fridge.   After lunch at the Quarterdeck, back at home, Anna attached the basket and tray to my new little walker.  They had fallen off when I tipped it over and I was unable to put it back together.  But Anna figure it out.  Then she noted the burned out light in the kitchen so she found a new bulb in the pantry, then climbed up on the table to replace it.  My kitchen now has more light, thanks to Anna.

I appreciate everything Anna does to help me, such as driving,  doing laundry, making my bed and unloading the dishwasher.  But I especially appreciate her efforts to go above and beyond what a normal helper could do.  She is good at figuring things out.  And for that I am grateful.  Now if I could just clone her I would be happy.

June 23, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Infections and Me.

I have been using social distancing long before Covid came along.  In the Fall of 2014 I began chemotherapy.  One side effect was to reduce my immune system. So after consulting the Oncologist, I decided to avoid people who might have an infection.  In other words, I stayed away from anyone who I did not know was healthy.  My system worked but limited my activities.  I never went into large groups of people.  I stayed out of grocery stores and pharmacies.  I never went to movies or plays or church.  And I did not get any infections.  No colds.  No flu.  And not many people.

I always went to restaurants, sitting in corners well away from people.  And we ate outside if possible.  Every so often, when my scans were clear, I did not take Ibrance and my immune system bounced back so I was able to be out and about.  But that has only ben two six month periods since 2014.  So for the most part, I have avoided groups.  

Then along came Covid and my life got easier.  On airplanes, everyone wore a mask, not just me.  And people kept their distance, which was good for me.   And everyone was staying home, not just me.   I still visited with my friends but only with folks who were healthy.  By using social distancing I have been able to keep infections at bay.  I foolishly took a bus tour of Portland, Maine the day of the cruise.  I knew better but as everyone tested negative, I thought I was safe.  That was a mistake.  It was the only time since 2014 that was with a group of people.  And it cost me.

Now I am back to my old ways of only seeing people who I know are healthy.  My system has worked.

June 22, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Oops.

 Today I filtered my urine.  This is true.  This is another aspect of getting old.  I have been chuckling all day.

This morning I was feeling lazy so instead of dressing properly I just put on a robe.  And I went downstairs.  The only other piece of clothing i put on was a pair of underpants.  After my normal breakfast of tea, toast and fruit, I decided to get some exercise but first I went to the bathroom.  Getting my long robe up to my waist was not easy with my balance but I managed and I sat on the toilet.  It was not until I was ready to get up that my fingers did feel right against my skin.  It turned out that I forgot to pull down my panties.  I had filtered my urine.  And I laughed about the indignity of getting old.

After I removed my wet underwear and put them in the washing machine to be dealt with later, I determined to tell no one about my stupidity.  But I changed my mind.  This story is too good to keep to myself.  So here it is.  I actually filtered my urine.

June 21, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Liverpool.

 I like my little town of Liverpool.  The whole county of Queens has a population of 5,000.  But it has everything I need to keep me happy.  The early settlers named the town after Liverpool in England, and they named the river by the same name as in the olde town, the Mersey River.  Once upon a time, ship builders lined th river.  Along with logging and fishing it was a prosperous little town.  The Privateers operated out of this little town too which brought more wealth.  The town has always been a working town.  It never was a tourist town and it is not a tourist town now.

We have every facility.  We have two big grocery stores and two hardware stores.  The main street has interesting shops which you can visit and walk in an hour or so.  We have barber shops and beauty salons. And we have a new fancy ice arena which keeps the ice in all year.  You can ice skate in the summer.  The Sculpture Garden is worth a visit to Liverpool.  All the sculptures were done by Ivan.  It is a marvel.

I have lived here during the summer season for 23 years.  I have watched it become a haven for retired folks.  They have come here from Alberta and Ontario to enjoy the weather and the facilities.  We have a good little hospital plus a theater that brings in movies and entertainers.  Liverpool is a pleasant little town.  And I like it.

June 20, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Friends and Covid.

 Ever since March 2020 when Covid first arrived in my life, I have been observing the difference in behavior.  Some of my friends kept away from everyone and stayed at home, all by themselves.  My cleaning lady in Mississippi reported that 20% of her clients would not allow her to enter their home to clean.  Many folks wore a mask all the time, even when outside by themselves.  I observed people driving their car alone wearing a mask.  Everyone seemed to have a different method of feeling safe.  My thinking is that it is still the case.

In Nova Scotia, masks are optional.  I still see folks wearing masks on the streets or in the stores.  Most people are wearing a mask in the movies and concerts, I am told.  And I have friends in Liverpool who will not be inside with anyone except family.  Even wearing a mask.  They will wait for better weather to meet and greet friends.  And they certainly will not go to an indoor restaurant.

It is interesting how wide the differences  in behavior.  The Canadian government is still mandating masks in all federal buildings and in public transportation which includes planes and buses.  I have friends who even wear a mask when coming into my house.  And I have friends who will not come for dinner, until we can eat outdoors.  I have seen  a  wide range of normal.  For me, I just keep up my normal drill of staying away from groups of people, not because of Covid but because of all infections.  My system has worked.

June 19, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Friends and Lunch.

 Here in Nova Scotia, my friends must not only drive me home but also pick me up.  And for that I am grateful because I have no Lyft driver here.  I pay the bill.  That is the rule.  Today I ate my first meal with a friend.  And I enjoyed every minute.

Frances is a good friend and we needed to catch up with each other.  We ate a delicious brunch at Lanes.  Fran had a busy winter.  She spent 6 weeks in France.  Two weeks she took a refresher course in French.  And four weeks she and her sister rented a car and travelled the small towns, usually staying a week at a time in an inn or b&b.  And they ate out.  No cooking.  And they had a wonderful time.  Last summer I enjoyed spending time with the same older sister, who is spunky and fun.  

  Then Fran spent two months with another sister in Edmonton.  Due to Covid Fran had not seen her sister for three years.  While she was there, and with help from her brother in law, Fran put together a book of all the bits and pieces that had been assembled about the family.  Because she was only there for the 8 weeks,  Fran and her brother in law worked diligently and finally got it done.  Fran in her former life was the principal of a school and is well organized.  Everyone was thrilled with the final product.  Edmonton is cold but every morning they all went to the municipal pool and swam in the warm water.  The rest of the time they stayed inside.

And of course, Fran wanted to know everything about the cruise.  So we were busy talking and talking.  On the way home Fran took me to see some of the development at Western Head.  Interesting.  I am grateful for my friends and their company.  Today was the first of many lunches I will enjoy with my friends here in Liverpool.

June 18, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. This Old House.

 Last night this old house took a beating.  Just after I went to bed, the storms swept through.  Each storm would last for about 40 minutes.  Then after a short time, another storm hit.  This continues for several hours.  The rain pelted on the windows.  The wind whipped around the dormers making a terrible racket.  The lightning lit up the bedroom, even though my eyes were closed.  And the thunder was loud.  It was quite a storm.  I felt reassured that this house has stood the test of time.

I original house was built in the 19th Century, by the White Family.  If you go into the cellar you can see what part came first.  The original house consisted of the kitchen and the office with a dormer bedroom on the second floor.  So it was very small.  In early 20th Century the two story house was added, plus the mud room.  And there it stayed, with no indoor plumbing.  Some time around 1985,Mary and Walt purchased the property and redecorated the house.  And they sold it to the Strangs who lived there until we bought it in 1999.  The Strangs made no changes to the house at all.  But we fixed it.

We were careful not to over power the old house with the addition.  Now you would never know that the house had changed.  It is still charming from the street.  And the most important thing is that the house can still stand a big storm, such as the one last night.  And for that I am grateful.

June 17, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Covid.

I never did have any symptoms  when I tested positive for Covid.  But I soon had a bad cough.  David  tested himself because he felt a cold was coming on.  And he tested positive.  His cold lasted a day and went away.  He has been fine ever since.  But my cough persisted.  My niece told me about an anti viral medicine so I asked my nephew the doctor to investigate, which he did.  He reported that as was in the high risk group, he thought I could benefit with the medicine.  The next part was amazing.

Norm and I were texting.  I was in Toronto, isolated in my cabin.  He asked me for all the questions, date of birth, address, the name of the ship and the location where we were docked.  The next thing I heard, 30 minutes later, was that the chief steward was picking up the medicine and would deliver it to my cabin.  So leas that 2 hours after I first told Norm about my situation, the new fancy anti viral meds were in my cabin.  And I began my 5 days of medication that evening.

I asked Norm if he had pulled rank.  And he said no.  He contacted the waterfront pharmacy, who had the meds and would get it ready.  Then Norm called the ship, Pearl Mist, and the chef offered to pick up the medicine.  Norm commented that I was traveling in a good ship.  So I got better.  The meds broke up my cough and now my cough is almost gone.  Hats off to Norm for his efforts.

June 16, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Larry and Jan.

 Larry and Jan are the most generous of friends.   The plan was for them to come to my house for a late morning cup of coffee.  No fuss and no muss but just a time to catch up with our lives since we were together last September.  I was not even ready for the coffee because I could not put the water into the coffee maker.  But they bailed me out and filled the coffee maker.  Plus Larry made the coffee using the pods.  In addition, they brought the most delicious almond croissants.  And they brought me a small lasagna as they know I do not cook.  So we had a wonderful visit, drinking coffee, munching and talking.

Larry and Jan have always travelled.  Larry has relatives in England and Spain  who they visited every year.  But since March of 2020, they have been isolated in little Liverpool.  Finally, they are being released.  In July they will attend a family wedding in Ottawa.  Then in September they will visit family in England and Spain.  Finally, they will spend 4 days in Paris, their favorite city.

Fortunately, on Main Street, there was a small group of people go became their bubble.  The group got together for meals.  And they exchanged ideas and books.  So everyone survived in Liverpool during Covid.  Now they are looking forward to get back out to the real world.  Today, I thoroughly enjoyed their company.

June 15, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. My Bedroom.

The bedroom in our Nova Scotia home has always brought us great pleasure.  We both had good reading lights and comfortable chairs so most evenings, Ken and I would read in the bedroom.  Now that I live by myself, my bedroom is even more welcoming.  The moment I walk into the room and close the door, all the worries of the day disappear and I am at peace.  I have had nice bedrooms in the past and they never gave me the same sense of calm.  My bedroom in Mississippi is lovely but it is just a bedroom overlooking the reservoir.  This Nova Scotia bedroom seems more like a nest.  I have been trying to figure out why I enjoy this room so much.

One reason is the art.  Over the bed is a large painting made by the sister of friend, Denise S., Kate Holmes.  The canvas is full of happy pigs playing with balls on the beach, with a tiny lighthouse in the horizon.  The words say, By The Sea.  I have 18 other nieces of art, both large and small.  Each one if beautiful in their own way and each piece makes me smile.  When I enter the room I am among friends.  And they make me happy.  Several of the artist are now deceased so I like to recall the purchases and the artists who are still alive on my walls.

One other aspect of my bedroom is that no one ever gets to see all the beautiful pieces of art.  Now when I enter my bedroom every evening, I feel as though I am entering my own private den.  And I smile.

June 14, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Whoopee!!

Miracles do occur.  I have a caterer.  Just two days ago I learned that Gavin had closed his market in Hunt's Point.  The property was sold and the new owner wanted his space so he was forced to close his market and cafe.  He is now working at the Quarterdeck.  And I was stuck.  So I asked my friends for suggestions.  Larry asked Tina for help and she suggested the restaurants, especially The River Bend.  

They cooked for us for two summers but their restaurant was busy and they could no longer cook for us.  For two years we used two different people.  Last summer, Gaven from Hunt's Point did a great job and was all set to look after me this season.  And then the rug got pulled out from under him.  Yesterday I called The River Bank and today they called me back.  And we made a deal.

Their restaurant is not opening this summer because they can not hire enough staff.  But they still have their cooks, so they are doing some catering.  Jennifer will be able to bring dinners to my house whenever I have company.  She will deliver dinners and put them in the garage fridge five days a week.  She will bring two meals at a time.  No desserts.  I have given her numbers and dates.  And all is well.

Certainly, it is their misfortune to keep their little restaurant closed but it is great benefit to me to allow them to cooker for me.  I am thrilled.  Miracles to occur. 

June 13, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Progress.

 Today I made progress.  This afternoon, Joey, the computer man came to fix my internet speed.  And he fixed the printer.  Evidently, when Jackie was moving the desk on Saturday, she managed to change the speed.  And this morning the printer just growled.  But I called him this morning and by 3:30 he arrived and solved both problems.  Whew.

And tomorrow, Anna will complete the registration for my truck.  I have no idea how I omitted to register the truck last summer.  I had done it in 2019 but Steven, the man who looks after the truck, noticed that my stickers were not current.  But I could find no insurance information, nor could I register the truck on line.  I was stuck.  But this morning the insurance company sent me a temporary card.  Now we were able to drive to Bridgewater to complete the task.  The line was long so Anna and I agreed that she would complete the task tomorrow.  Whew.

For lunch we ate at the Swiss Chalet.  Ken and I always ate once a season at the Swiss Chalet, for nostalgia.  When we were young, we often ate there in Toronto because we could afford it.  Today was my day to take my hats off to the Swiss Chalet.  And today Anna did the laundry and put away the dishes.  And we had fun.  The lawn was also cut today.  So my life is looking better tonight.

JUNE 12, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Arriving Home.

 Arriving home is always a pleasure especially when the sun is shining and the sea is sparkling.  But usually, something is not working so I expect that happen.  But I am delighted when everything seems to work properly.  The house was clean.  All the lights had been turned to welcome me.  And the weather was beautiful for these first three days.  Gill came over coffee and we chatted for a long time.  We were both looking forward to the arrival of the Mitchells and the Elys.  Our world was looking rosy.

And then my bubble burst.  Gavin from Hunt's Point Market was again going to cater for me.  I spoke to him just a week before the cruise.  All I needed to do was to give him numbers and dates when I arrived in Nova Scotia.  But in a conversation with my friend Mary Mac. she mentioned casually that White Point had hired a new chef, the one who owned Hunt's Market.  The market is closed because the property was sold.  So no catering for Gavin this summer for me.  Of course he did not answer his cell phone but I hope to speak with him tomorrow.  But this is not good as I have guests coming all summer.

In addition, I discovered that the truck was never registered last year.  Now when Anna comes tomorrow, we must try to register the truck.  I hope we can do it on line.  Just one more issue to deal with sooner than later.  I should have known better.  There is always something broken that needs fixing.

June 11, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. A Disaster-Almost.

We arrived late into Toronto on Thursday night.  The flight was delayed 90 minutes so instead of arriving at 10:20 we arrived at midnight.  The plan was to stay the night at the Sheraton airport hotel. First we needed to clear customs and immigration before getting to the hotel.  I was being pushed in a wheelchair while David was carrying our carryon cases.  So far we were doing well.  Except my pusher kept telling me that she could not take us to the hotel because she was not allowed to leave the airport.

So far all was good, until we collected our bags and the pusher told me she would leave us at the door.  Well that would have been a disaster.  David had secured a cart which was now piled high with our four cases plus my walker.  But there was no one to push me and we were a long way from the hotel.  We were in terminal one and the hotel was just outside terminal 3, which was a long way.

So I pitched a fit.  I asked to speak to a supervisor.  And I begged my pusher.  And I bribed her.  I told her that she was abandoning us.  No results.   The problem was the time.  The porters left work at midnight.  There was no one to pay to take us to the hotel.  Finally, a supervisor appeared and authorized my pusher to take us to the hotel.  So with David pushing the cart and my lady pushing me in the wheelchair, we finally arrived at the hotel.  After that, all was well.  But it was a close call.  All my efforts were required.  Whew.  It was almost a disaster.

June 10, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Home Again.

 Being home again in Nova Scotia is wonderful.  But getting here is never easy.  Yesterday we had a long difficult day and we finally got to our hotel rooms very late, about 1:30 in the morning.  So I was beyond weary.  But as usual, today was a better day and we moved through our day with relative ease.  Everything went as planned with no upsets or problems.  Mr. Gaskell was waiting at the airport when we arrived in Halifax.  The evening was sunny and bright at 5:20 when we arrived so we  enjoyed our ride home.  Tomorrow morning Jackey will come and help organize my stuff which will please me.

David was worth his weight in gold on Thursday.   In Milwaukee, the cruise line organized a courtesy bus for us to the airport.  When we arrived, the bus driver told us that the only place the airport authorize him to park was right at the far and of the luggage pick up.  In other words, at the far end of the ticket counters.  There were no helpers at all.  When the bus driver put all the bags on the side walk, we had no one to help.  I was useless as I was walking with my walker.  So we had four bags plus my back pack to get inside, with no one to help.

So David and another man went in search of a cart.  It took them 30 minutes to find one.  And then we started the trek to get our boarding pass.  It must have been well over a half mile with David pushing the cart and me using my walker and my heavy back pack.  But we made it.  And once again, I was grateful for David's help.

But now we are both happy.  David is pleased to return to his niche in Liverpool and I am delighted to be in my lovely home.  The sun was shining when I arrived at 8:00 and the waves were pouring into the shore.  Right now I can hear the waves crashing into the shore.  This really is a lovely spot to call home.  

June 8, 2022. Milwaukee, WI. The Last Night.

Everything must end.  David and I are about to get off the boat.  Tomorrow morning after breakfast we get off the ship and take the courtesy bus to the airport.  Next we will fly to Chicago and then Toronto where we will spend the night at the airport hotel.  On Friday we fly to Halifax where Mr.G. will pick us up and take us home.  I am excited to get to Nova Scotia.  I always enjoy arriving  during the day light because the drive home is pleasant with all the rocks, water and trees.  But first we must get there.

The staff on the cruise ship has been superb.  And the food has been excellent.  Living in the big cabin next to David has been a bonus too.  This is David's first cruise but he fit right in.  He loves to talk with people and he is good to explore the new areas we have visited so he enjoyed his first cruise.    And we managed the isolation.  Our food was great and the scenery from our balcony kept us busy.  So now we will move on to Nova Scotia and our friends at home.  Everything must end.  Tomorrow our cruise will officially end.  We are ready.

June 7, 2022. Muskegon and Holland, MI. Downtown Muskegon.

We are docked right downtown in Muskegon.  The whole place is lovely and you can easily walk to town and the historic area in ten minutes.  And you can walk along the harbor for miles, all on smooth paths and landscaped lawns.  The place is impressive.  This afternoon David and I walked along the harbor.  The day was glorious with full sun and 65 degrees.  And a cool breeze.

Next we took a 20 minute shuttle around the downtown area, complete with a guide to tell us what we were seeing.  20 years ago the downtown area was neglected.  No one wanted to be there.  But now it is spectacular.  Old buildings have been turned into condos and apartments.  The stores have returned along with the people living in town.  The Victorian homes have been restored and are now open to tour.    David toured two old gems and loved all the old moldings.  The whole area downtown now just sparkles with energy and beauty.  

So downtown cities can be made to live again.  But not with a lot of energy.  Seeing this town has been a delight.

June 6, 2022. Mackinac Island, MI. Ferries.

Mackinac Island is a time warp.  There are no vehicles on the island, only bikes and horses.  And of course, people walk.  The place is busy, very busy.  Even early in June the town was crowded with tourists.  David went into town and he reported that the little streets were jammed with people.  I am amazed with the success of folks on the island who are promoting a 19th Century town.

The ferries arrive all day bringing people from towns near and far.  They come for the day and take the last ferry ride home.  Or they stay overnight.  The shore line in town is full of big houses , along with several large hotels.  The first ferries arrived today full of the workers.  Hundreds of people got off, heading to town.  We presumed they were heading for work. In addition, a very large cruise ship was at anchor and 6 of their tenders brought the guests in and out.  So the little town was jammed today.  I know little of the town but all the buildings we can see seem to have been built in the 19th century.  No modern buildings could be seen.  But clearly, people like this little town and seem to be enjoying a bit of past years.  I am amazed. 

June 5, 2022. Sault St. Marie, MI. The Pilot Ship.

 A few minutes after the ship leaves the harbor, a little boat approaches the cruise ship.  The little boat says Harbor Pilot.   The little boat draws right to the side of our cruise ship and if you look ever the railing you can see a man get from the big ship to the little boat, all without falling into the water.  The harbor pilot has now officially turned over the ship to the the real captain.  But within the harbor, the pilot captain is in charge.  That is the rule in every harbor in the world.

In order to become a harbor captain you must study and get certified.  But in order to get certified you must also be agile.  Because upon entering a harbor, the little boat brings the pilot captain out to meet our cruise ship.  Once again, the harbor pilot must get from the little boat to the big ship, all with both boats bobbing up and down.  The access door on The Pearl Mist is just below our cabins so David has gotten several good picture as the harbor pilot attempts to get in the boat.  It is a right of passage for every port of call.  And lots of fun watching the action.

June 4, 2022. Little Current, On. Isolation.

Yesterday, David and I were officially  out of isolation.  We left the ship in fine style and enjoyed a wonderful day in Parry Sound.  The town had never looked so good.  And we ate dinner in the dining room.  No one had taken our favorite table, right at the back corner so we were pleased.  The waiters and other people in charge came to greet us royally back to our accustomed place at the table.  So we had a festive meal, and we celebrated.

Today we are at Little Current, a little town at the end of Manitoulin Island.  We are at anchor.  Three excursions buses left first thing this morning but we were not on it.  We actually over slept and missed breakfast in the dining room, so we ordered our room service breakfast again.  But this morning we were served on proper plates and cutlery.  During isolation our meals were served on paper plated and plastic cutlery.  

David will probably take the tender into the little town but I will stay on the ship and get my walking  on deck 6,  which is a splendid deck for walking because you can see in all directions.  In addition, we will enjoy our freedom just walking around the ship and will certainly take  lunch and dinner in the lovely dining room.  Our isolation is officially over.

June 3, 2022. Parry Sound, Ontario. Bud & Mary.

Parry Sound had never looked so good.   Ken was born and raised in Parry Sound and I had visited the place multiple times but it never looked so good than it did today.  And I have no idea why.  But I had a few thoughts.  Fist off, the sun was shining so everything seemed to sparkle.  But in addition, the place has grown.  All the houses were in good condition and there were no empty stores downtown, even though the commercial area has moved out to around the mall.  The whole town looked great.  And David and I enjoyed our day in Parry Sound.

But Bud and Mary  made our day.  They met us at the boat and took us on a tour of the town.  They looked great and sounded exactly as they had always done.  Bud was a friend of Kens from school and we have been life long friends.  But the last time I saw them was in Nova Scotia about 15 years ago so I was delighted to spend the day with them.  We walked around tower hill while David and Bud climbed to the top.  Mary and I sat in the shade in our walkers.  

We ate lunch at a brand new place overlooking the bay.  We ate outside and enjoyed every minute.  The facility is a huge addition to dining in Parry Sound.  Then we walked to the ship.  And we had to say goodbye.  But our day with Bud and Mary was delightful. 

June 2, 2022. Midland, Ontario. Georgian Bay.

Georgian Bay is a beautiful place.  Ken loved it and always expected to own property on Georgian Bay.  But the drive up highway 400 is a difficult drive so we bought our water front property in Nova Scotia.  But Ken always loved the Bay with all the rocks and trees.  We are happy with our decision.  But Ken would enjoy being on the water in Midland on the Georgian Bay.

Midland is a busy place.  We can see it from the boat.  And several excursions are leaving from the ship.  We will not be on any of those excursions.  But tomorrow we will be let lose in Parry Sound.  Very exciting to have our last day in isolation. 

June 1, 2022. Lake Huron. Big Water.

 I know that Detroit is on the Detroit River.  And I know that in order to get into Lake Huron we must cruise along the Lake St. Clair.  But when we left Detroit we could see houses all along the shore.  THe whole way from Detroit until we entered Lake Huron we could see houses both big and small.  Boat houses too.  We could never see when we left the river and entered the lake.  But it was a wonderful morning cruising along the shore.  

and then we turned the corner and could see a lot of water.  We were looking at Lake Huron, big water.  We cruised right through the middle of Lake Huron.  All night we drove and finally arrived into Georgian Bay.  The water was rocking and rolling.  But we did not see a thing.  No land in sight.  Just like on the ocean.  Lake Huron is the second largest of the Great Lakes.  So we were truly cruising through big water.  Exciting.