She delayed filing her intent to take a leave, waiting to hear about the job here. She didn't get the job here. She contacted the law school to see about taking a fall leave. We figured it made more sense, absent the job, to stay here until we were actually settled, and go back in the spring if she wanted to finish this year. A man I'll call Rick - the "p" is silent and thanks to Kate Clinton for that one - serves as a dean of sorts. It was his call that if she took the fall leave she would lose her roughly $12,000 scholarship. So, we decided that there was no way she could stay here - if she ever planned to finish - and give up the scholarship. The good news is that we had originally talked about the possibility, so we weren't completely unprepared. We just didn't anticipate that it would be with 7YO and me still living in temporary quarters and me with one fully functional limb, and that one with wrist arthritis.
So, 7YO and I will be here in Fredericton. Next week he's in camp again all week so I will have some time to play catch-up with a lot of hanging details, like my expense report from the Boston trip. The week after that he starts school. My birthday is the end of that week. Happy frickin' birthday. There is the possibility that we will be able to move in to the house, sans siding, the third week of September. Not holding my breath. Speaking of the house, I'll try to post an update on that soon.
So, as you might imagine, we've got a lot going on. We did go away this weekend, a previously planned birthday celebration for P. We took our first trip to Grand Manan Island. After a Friday of prep, we drove down to Blacks Harbour first thing Saturday morning - in the heaviest fog I've seen in years. To do so, we had to take what is allegedly the NB highway most frequented by moose. Unfortunately we saw evidence of that claim. I was glad that 7YO was snoozing when we passed two different moose who had met their demise on the highway. Scary and sad.
We took the 9:30 ferry, but, due to the fog, we saw nothing past the railing for the entire 90 minute trip. We arrived at North Head, Grand Manan around 11 am. Everything was enveloped in fog. We had talked to a local on the ferry and he had, delightfully, clued us in to the local bakery. We stopped and picked up warm doughnuts and other treats. We made our way to Castalia Marsh Retreat thinking we wouldn't be able to check in because it was so early. But, our host said, "It's ready, make yourselves at home."
We stayed in the "Birch Yurt." This was a great "in between" because, right now, my knees and shoulder would just, I'm sure, completely quit if I said, "Let me get my ThermaRest!" So, a camping cabin was a great alternative. Here are a couple of photos.
The "Birch Yurt" at Castalia Marsh Retreat, Grand Manan Island.
The view out the window, toward the marsh.A few other snapshots...
The walk out to the Swallowtail lighthouse.
The "Hole in the Wall" formation.We had great seafood and saw some beautiful scenery. 7YO enjoyed his "beachcombing" and "rockhounding." The Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station museum was also a hit. This morning, Monday, we stopped at the bakery en route to the 9:30 ferry, picking up some more warm doughnuts and a couple of loaves of bread made with organic ingredients from a New Brunswick farm. Yea - 100 mile diet qualified!
This time we were on the smaller boat. There was hardly a cloud in the sky. It was sunny and warm. A striking difference from Saturday. And, on the way back, several times we spotted harbour porpoises surfacing as they swam. Very cool. They often spot whales, but we did not.
We stopped in Blacks Harbour to pick up some sardines and at The Birch Grove in St. George for lunch - one more scallop burger, one more lobster roll... Then, we stopped in St. Andrews for one last visit - for the summer - to Katy's Cove. P and 7YO went for a swim while the pup - yes, our 9+ year old lab x spaniel made the trip with us - and I hung out in the shade. As you see, we opted for a leisurely return to Fredericton. Good thing. I'll save the story of the "too short joists" for another post on another blog.
All in all, Grand Manan is a great getaway if you enjoy nature, the water, hiking, relaxing, and seafood. If you've ever been to places like St. Andrews, NB or Ogunquit, ME or just about any place on Cape Cod, think of Grand Manan as the anti-resort. You won't find any fast food, neon lights, or tacky shops. There appears to be one gas station, one grocery store, one great bakery, and a handful of restaurants that you might miss if you're not looking. There are all kinds of hiking trails and several campgrounds, cottages, etc. You can go whale watching or kayaking, but that's pretty much it for "touristy" things. All in all, we give it a thumbs up. You just have to know what you're looking for in a vacation. One storekeeper I spoke with relocated there from Toronto and loves it. But, when her sister came to visit she couldn't wait to leave.
Off to bed - more as I gather the energy!
This time we were on the smaller boat. There was hardly a cloud in the sky. It was sunny and warm. A striking difference from Saturday. And, on the way back, several times we spotted harbour porpoises surfacing as they swam. Very cool. They often spot whales, but we did not.
We stopped in Blacks Harbour to pick up some sardines and at The Birch Grove in St. George for lunch - one more scallop burger, one more lobster roll... Then, we stopped in St. Andrews for one last visit - for the summer - to Katy's Cove. P and 7YO went for a swim while the pup - yes, our 9+ year old lab x spaniel made the trip with us - and I hung out in the shade. As you see, we opted for a leisurely return to Fredericton. Good thing. I'll save the story of the "too short joists" for another post on another blog.
All in all, Grand Manan is a great getaway if you enjoy nature, the water, hiking, relaxing, and seafood. If you've ever been to places like St. Andrews, NB or Ogunquit, ME or just about any place on Cape Cod, think of Grand Manan as the anti-resort. You won't find any fast food, neon lights, or tacky shops. There appears to be one gas station, one grocery store, one great bakery, and a handful of restaurants that you might miss if you're not looking. There are all kinds of hiking trails and several campgrounds, cottages, etc. You can go whale watching or kayaking, but that's pretty much it for "touristy" things. All in all, we give it a thumbs up. You just have to know what you're looking for in a vacation. One storekeeper I spoke with relocated there from Toronto and loves it. But, when her sister came to visit she couldn't wait to leave.
Off to bed - more as I gather the energy!
6 comments:
Thanks for checking in.
You put us to shame with all your activity. Here you are with so much going on, "1 limb" (with problems), a 7YO, dog, etc. and yet you still get around and do so much!
So sorry about P. Hopefully the separation will go by quickly.
I loved your travel update. As Daniel said, you put us to shame!
Too bad about the "P" and Rick (silent "P") thing. Hopefully the time will pass quickly.
Great photos ! ! ! !
Totally sucks about P. Great photo's!
Oo, that sucks. Here's hoping it goes quickly.
Great photos and great travel!
I was glad that 7YO was snoozing when we passed two different moose who had met their demise on the highway. Scary and sad.
You probably already know, when moose meets car, it's usually people and car that meet their demise. That is nothing to trifle with. Glad none appeared in the fog!
Re the moose - yes and yes. We were going pretty slowly and both had our eyes scanning everywhere. Because there are such problems here they've actually cleared a fair amount of the roadside and put fencing along the treeline of the "moose-heavy" areas.
Thanks to everyone else for the comments. All in all, today, not so good. But, we'll see what the week brings.
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