Nova Scotia, farewell

Hello Everyone,

We are safely back in Ottawa, our adventures in Nova Scotia done, for now.

We left on Saturday morning and got away only a half later than our planned departure, which is like 3 hours early from our realistic departure. And we only almost forgot Emilie's cellphone.

We stopped for the night at a nice motel in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli. Motels are underrated. I used to think they were pretty sketchy, but can appreciate them now that I have had a lot of good experiences. When you're doing a road trip like this, an affordable place with a comfortable bed, a microwave and a fridge is a wonderful service.

Before hitting the road, we took a short walk on the beach, and reflected on how lucky we are. This trip came together in eight days from concepcion to packing up the Green Dragon, so there were a lot of ways it could have gone badly. Instead, seemingly at every turn, things worked out incredibly well for us.

We, and I, have been very lucky, of course, but we also had a lot of help. Specifically,

My Folks

"Ride or die" is the hip, cool way to describe someone who is dependable and supportive. Someone who is with you no matter what.

From the beginning of the pandemic, my parents have been stalwarts in helping us find housing, stay fed, and solve problems. In ways big and small, this trip was made possible by their help.

They might not describe themselves as hip and cool, but my folks are definitely ride or die.

Katrina

She is too shy to say so, but my sister is intimidatingly strong. Not in, like, a metaphorical way about her strength of character or anything (but she is that as well). I mean old-school, fuel-economy-be-damned, diesel-powered tractor strong.

Throughout our adventure in the Maritimes, she’s given her time and strength whenever we needed it. That has meant everything from watering plants and collecting mail, to spending an evening piling eight cords of wood for us.

(Fun fact: she also does cross-fit.)

Emilie

Banks, telcos, insurance companies, and the Canada Revenue Agency form a near immovable wall of bad customer service. Byzantine rules and structures, mistakes that are never in your favour, slow response times, busy phone lines.

Well, they met their match with the incomparable Emilie Cameron. She is the unstoppable force that cuts through them all like Captain Marvel in the climactic scene in End Game, a reference she will definitely get.

She works the numbers like a forensic accountant, fills out forms like a librarian and reads the small print like a lawyer. She will flatter, cajole, argue and bargain with any agent or service rep to get what she needs. She will stay on hold, waiting to speak with someone, long past the time any normal person would have given up in frustration. There is no arcane rule, no recalcitrant operator, no last minute roadblock she can't out maneuver.

Thank you, all.

Wes

One last visit from Roddie before we left.

Sunrise hitting the cottage as we pull away.

Getting a run on the beach before the drive home.