Finding Birchwood RV Campground along the The Trans Canada, what a trip!

Us at Birchwood RV Campground

Not enough is said about the Trans Canada. What an amazing road! Coast to coast and then some. I remarked to Elsie that I'd love to spend a summer doing the entire stretch, Atlantic to Pacific.

I'd have two expectations, firstly to be free to stop whenever we wanted to explore and or speak with someone and also to stop to 'picture take' whenever the scene called out for it's picture to be taken. Oh what a summer that would be. We agreed that the trip would likely turn into a two summer project.

We stopped a few times on the way back from Manitoba. The second night we stopped near Nipigon at Birchwood Campground and Cafe. Besides being tired and ready to stop, the camping guide indicated that they had internet access. Well, Birchwood was a highlight! Yes definitely a highlight. Birchwood was a highlight for a number of, you might say small, reasons that all added up to make the stay one to remember and cherish.

Was Birchwood clean you might ask. Very much so and tidy. Were the buildings new and fancy? Not on your life, They were simple, tidy and comfy cozy. We did some laundry and it was as if we were in our own laundry room at home. No surprises. Just a nice clean, cozy place to read your book while you waited for the laundry to be done. And with a tasty hot cup of coffee from the Cafe.

Marjorie at home in the kitchen

And the Cafe? Well you knew how your meal was being prepared because the clean and homey kitchen was totally open to the eating area. So no surprises, but we were ready when the meal came because, just like at home, the smells of cooking drifted over to the table as we drank our coffee and chatted with Josee and Marjorie, daughter and mother as they made the meal.

Fresh bread, Denis and Josee

In the morning I sauntered over to the Cafe just as Denis, dad, was opening up. He invited me in and busied himself getting the coffee on while I browsed the rock collection that sat in the front window. Of course I ended up with a few. Amethyst is indigenous to the area. What a place!

It's my impression after listening to a few of the others from adjoining camp sights, that if possible, people tend to linger a day or two. It's difficult to leave what feels like home. One difference is that my home doesn't have a mountain staring down on me from across the road. Neither do I have access to such an array of tempting fishing opportunities. Denis says what you catch will be determined by the season that you're available to be there fishing. As well,at home I can't walk up the trail and pick blueberries as had Josee and her mom the previous day. By the way as I was reading the paper I overheard Marjorie mention to some locals who had stopped by for breakfast, "we didn't see any bears along the trail or at the blueberry bushes." Okay.

Well we did leave and so did 1/3 of a very homemade blueberry pie. Damn, I wish I could stop by for another slice and a good cup of coffee.

Six Mile Lake Provincial Park

Can't wait

I just had to post a one liner. Last night we stopped at Birchwood RV park near Nipigon, ON. Unbelievable. The nicest family you could meet, and the home made bread. Wow, topped off an amazing breakfast. Pictures and more will follow when we get home on Tuesday!

Some how we'll be back here again!

Those Sixes and Sevens popped up again

(uncle & aunt, Vic and Irene)

To those who take the time to read this,

Be forewarned,

You won't have to leave the shallow end of the pool

To appreciate this little update.

I gotta admit, we're 'on the road again'.

Willie Nelson should use that line

As a lead into a song.

Oh, you say he already has?

Oh well!

(SILV and Susie)

Son in law Vic

Hereinafter known as (SILV)

Offered to ride shotgun

On my trip to the central North West.

That would be MB

via Sudbury,

Sault Ste. Marie,

Thunder Bay,

and Kirkland Lake.

Susie, our RV,

(We named her Susie 'cause like my Mom,

you gotta love her.

And like my Mom,

She can create issues for you).

Has been asking for some warranty work

On some of her body parts.

Mom

She, not my Mom, was born in Winkler MB.

So it's off to Winkler for the retrofitting.

(Mom was born next door in Saskatchewan.

Bless her, her warranty ran out

And she opted for heaven).

Having tasted prairie life

For twenty seven hours or so

SILV was sure he'd seen it all

And then some.

As he boarded that plane

I heard him say " flat is flat is flat is flat"

He flew home so that Elsie could join

Susie and I, which she did.

All that to say that we, last night,

Had dinner in downtown MB

With our uncle and aunt

Vic and Irene.

Now Vic and I have shared

A birth-date for going on 68 years.

That would make the actual sharing 67, right?

Right, and it was he who pointed out to me

That while I'm 67

He's doing time at age 76.

Ray & Vic

Well, what does all of this mean,

If you've read my blog intro,

You know that

Numbers 6 and 7 are almost huge.

So Vic and I are sure

That some cosmic event is imminent.

If not this year, then some time in the future

After all the Word says that 6700 years

(some poetic licencse taken)

Is but 67 moments in Gods eyes.

So,

Beware . . . and goodnight

Johnboy and friends!

They say it so well

Is it because we are overly familiar with North American english,

or do we not have the richness of language usage

that some other ethnicities incorporate ?

I grew up with 'high german' and 'low german' as second languages.

The nuances from, at least our cultural tree are laced with expressions ripe

with hyperbole, wit and satire.

Expressions often address subjects that would be taboo to discuss

or to mention in conversation.

One common low german expression,

used in mixed company in our overtly and religiously correct community

was the familiar 'shieterie und buch wie doa',

directly translated, diahrea and stomach ache. Not obscene by any stretch,

but it surely loses it's charm when translated into english,

no matter how you interpret it.

Body parts were described colloquially,

rope and tail could as easily be used to refer to

a certain male body part as to be used literally,

both by women and men.

I'm belaboring my point.

My Irish friends have way too many discriptors and 'turns of phrases'.

The lyrics to much of their music evoke

humor, compassion and tell stories so vividly.

A while back while browsing through Irish Design,

a local shop selling all things Irish,

I was compelled to purchase a little piece of art.

Both for the artistry of the piece as well as the proverb

that had given the calligrapher motive for creating his little work of art.

But I must say, it was the proverb that drew me to it

and compelled me to get out my Visa card.

I trust that as you read the proverb

you will understand the pleasure that

I have enjoyed each time I happen upon it.

May those that love us, love us;

& those that don't love us,

may You turn their hearts;

& if he can't turn their hearts,

may he turn their ankles;

So we may know them

by their limping.

It also reminds me of another saying,

"Everyone I meet brightens my life.

Some when they enter my life

and the others when they leave it".

And you my friend

are one of those who brightens my life

each time you enter.

Ciao, I hope to see you soon.