Doing the tide

Around here the phrase "Doing the tide " can mean different things depending on who you speak to. Generally  the tide is moving around the tidal fed body of water called the Milford Haven River, taking you around the picturesque community of Guysborough Intervale.

This marks the beginning of our trip. Lesterdale is the name of the little community starting at the bridge near Boylston. I've taken this loop many times by car but yesterday was my first attempt by pedal power.  

My friend Cindy suggested we make an attempt since we hinted at it a few times....this can't be so bad so we dig out the bikes and helmets and head off to the Crow's Nest for lunch ....another of Boylston's best kept secrets 

Wednesday lunches at the Crow's Nest is beginning to fall victim to their success ....the cars were really stacked up this Wed and what a great way to get out and connect with community ....best lunches and service going Thanks Di an Audry for looking after us! This week was home made fish cakes and salad with strawberry shortcake for dessert.

After a short pedal we came to the Connolly farm with these beauties prancing and dancing in the field.

Pedaling is an interesting endeavor. when you have the good fortune to do it with a friend there is always moments of sharing ideas about what you see but there is more time to just be alone with your thoughts in nature. The odd thing is that I was pedaling along with that thought in my head when Cindy brought out the same reflection. The scents of spring , the sound of the song birds, the gurgling of the little brooks along the way is a much different experience on a bike than on foot ...and by car ...it doesn't even factor.

                              

It is interesting that you can tell a lot about most rural communities by the age and architecture of the churches .St Patrick's, Pictured here, was originally constructed in the 1800's and it's upkeep in a little community like this speaks volumes for the people who live here .  In rural communities like this one it is the hub of social and neighbourly activity.(thanks for the picture Isabelle)

 The final leg of the journey took us past a few lovingly cared for farms and past Janice's haughty hens very busy with an afternoon scratch in the garden.

So chalk up another one .....or let me scratch another one off my bucket list. On Wednesday "I did the tide " on a bike (dry, very dry) at the suggestion of my friend Cindy and I have to say I'm very happy that I didn't know it was 28km till we were almost finished.

Now where did I put my list?........hmmmm let's see .....Camping on the beach and seeing the sunrise over the bay....ahh I guess that will have to wait till it feels like the ice is no longer in the bay.

Till then how about trying this ....walk barefoot in the in the early morning when the dew is still on the grass and watch how fantastic you feel for the rest of the day! Go look at the day as it begins!

Love and light
Chris

Looking Through My Rear View Mirror

I have always been fascinated with the image of moving into the future looking at the present through a rear view mirror. I know that came from  Marshall McLuhan's pen and I can still remember the day in 1969 when I read that line and the class at St.F.X. that I was in when I was introduced to it.


Since then I have spent a great deal of my life moving into the future looking at the present that way. Perhaps that is what draws me to teach yoga and a quest to remain in the present; the here ; the now.

Tonight, when I was driving home from a class in Hazel Hill, I was once again reminded of why I chose this journey and the rich rewards this drive blesses me with. Words or pictures could not begin to express the gob-stopped, jaw dropping beauty of this piece of highway during the full moon in the fall;the amber of autumn; and the sunsets on the bay at anytime of year.

                                                                 
I enjoy and learn so much from the students I teach in every community I have been in. In Canso area, one has to be inspired by a little town founded in 1603 on a fishery which has since disappeared. These people still struggle to re-invent themselves; they keep their identity which has been passed along  since the days when the 'make-and-break' engines could be heard entering and leaving the harbour.
They patiently s-t-r-e-t-c-h into an uncertain future.

The road home takes me through the little communities along the shores of Chedabucto Bay, where you can tell so much just from the way the buildings and homes are lovingly cared for.

Aahh ...and then there is the Queensport Light: more than just the stuff of song and story. It stands alone off these shores as a symbol of the people here who stand firm and solitary against the raging sea.  


Today, the National News announced that this and almost all the lighthouses in the province are considered 'redundant'. Like the communities they serve, who scramble to understand what is going on in a world that is moving too fast to even keep the present visible in the rear view mirror.


Tonight, I spent time leading a class of women who are in a class of their own;  health care workers, fisher women, mothers, teachers, yes, and a figure skater with a dream. These are some of the glue that holds this community together and ensure that it will move into the future.


When I find myself spending  too much time navel-gazing, my students can always bring me 'back to the future', and the universe hits me with a light show that is so spectacular that no words can touch it.


This is the rainbow, "the symbol of hope ", that lit the way home tonight.

Love and light
Chris

Blue Skies and Green Grass

My last blog featured thoughts on light both here and in the Arctic but since arriving home I know I really need to do one on colour. Guysborough is Green and at this time of year the green is so vibrant and varied that it is mind blowing. If you live here you might need to step away from it and look at it with different eyes. Here is what it looks like from my eyes. Above are the wild apple blossoms on the little road behind our house. Sunday graced us with cool weather and blue skies.

Looking out the back door at the fire pit ....we should soon be geared up for a gathering with guitars and a campfire if the weather would just dry up a little.

The boys (our cats) were glad to see us home in their own catty ways and settled in to watching over the garden and scanning the yard for squirrels and birds from their favorite spots on the deck.
Can you see a pattern of green and blue here in my world ....I didn't get to the ocean yet which has a parade of azure blue to purple grey at this time of year. Along with these colors come the the accompanying sound of song birds mating  and the roar, yes roar of the hummingbird looking for their feeders.

This is what we saw from our front window in the kitchen! There were 5 foxes out there by the barn across the road from us and quite bold and brazen as they froliced in the grass. 

Well reflection will be on the fly, since we hit the ground running and tonight will see Yoga classes starting up once again at the Jost Waterfront Building. The first time we see the temperature pop above 15 we will be in the seats above with a mug of tea and a good book, counting our blessings in Guysborough....come join us when you can.