Jane and I spent the last day at the St. John river reversing falls. It was unreal. The tides are so big, about 30 feet in the Bay of Fundy so the water belts in and out. The high tide pushes the river backwards and creates massive waves and whirlpools . Low tide was even more spectacular and I lost all interest in my Thelma and Louise dream of running the car off the cliff when we saw how huge the wash was coming out of the gorge as the tide receded. Jane said a few unholy words and we parked well away from the edge. It's hard to believe that the river flows in different directions at each tide. The force of the water is phenomenal. We did see 6 harbour seals swimming and fishing just out of reach of the turbulence. They'd get mashed fish I think.
We met a stranded older American tourist at the river who insisted that the river was not like that at high tide and no we did not see it at all at 1pm. He said that the river was just q river and when he compared it to the Niagara Falls and I asked him if the Niagara Falls climb back uphill again , he just looked confused. Why bother? It was too much for his brain to process.
it was a very emotional time at the Saint John airport when Howard, Jane and her mum Marian came to say goodbye. It really is goodbye Canada. Hello Oconomowoc Wisconsin.
Hello Wisconsin.
Marian does the same work that inspired Elizabeth Fry all those years ago in the brutal Newgate prisons . She has worked with women in prison and with their children to try to make changes. It's very similar work that daphne does through Project Esther. Remarkable women.
The trips to Toronto and then onto Milwaukee were 2 easy short flights of 4 hours total. Phew.
I was met in Milwaukee by Barbara Kramer and her granddaughter Melissa. Both utterly gorgeous and totally proud of their country. Barbara took me to a famous fast food outlet for a fish burger and a dish of frozen custard. Whoa there horsey. I had a baby dish and it stonkered me. Tomorrow we go to a teachers breakfast. Barbara learnt about reading recovery at noon hay school and it transformed her teaching. She teaches the pedagogy and practice to other teachers. She is 81and still loving reading recovery. She still loves teaching teachers how to teach reading with reading recovery. Amazing generous woman. I need to brace myself for the next few days as I think Barbara has plans to run us ragged. Bless ever. Canadians and Americans are hospitable and generous people.
Tonight is my last night in Canada. I shall never forget the kindness of Jane and Howard over the past 4 weeks. We have gone coast to coast and places in between . They have been generous in every respect and I hope to return the favour one day.
Yesterday was lots of street markets in Fredericton. Anita's immortal words about gypsies and hippies sticks in my brain whenever I see a market. its so true. Most of the art works they sell are terrible or over prices and they sell magic cures and potions. It's amazing that Christianity can be seen as so unbelievable but people will pay a complete knob of a stranger to rub their belly with a pink stone( rare naturally), swallow herbs and spices and a witches ear wax, deep breathe and open their 5th eye, eat stuff that is so deprived of any taste, colour texture or flavour and firmly believe it is earth's bounty on a stick and meditate to the tune of "she'll be coming round the mountain."
I was fascinated by the Mennonites and asked to take their photos. The young lad made it very clear that they did not pose and requested I included the produce in the photos, so I did. Their veges were popular. Not sure what the deal is with the men in the blue or brown shirts but it may be a maturity thing.
Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat.... Was held at the Playhouse in Fredericton Signa made her mum proud of course as she played the role of mrs Potiphar.
We got back to Quispamsis at nearly 2 am. Holy smoke. Jane's 86 yr old mum kept the tunes a coming but she is a soprano so the keys are a wee bit rough for me.
Today Jane drove us to St Martin on The Bay Of Fundy.
On the way she insisted we stop at the scene of the accident from the day before to see if we could find my gold chain. We were astonished at how far the car had flown in the air and the extent of the damage to the guard rail. It was also quite a way down into the trees. No gold chain though. I couldn't wait to drive away as the accident site is marked off and all it would take is a rubber necking driver to send us into the forest. I've seen it on telly when cops get hit whilst on the side of the motorway so I know it must be true.
The tides at the beach at St Martin rise and fall by 30ft so the fishing boats are really high and dry. It would be a leap of faith off the wharf onto the deck at low tide.
We saw 2 covered bridges very much like the Bridges of Madison County. Very romantic today but I would imagine diabolical in the snow and ice of winter. It would be a scene from Beetlejuice.
We didn't do so well in our choice of lunch places on the beach. It was the equivalent of The Greasy Spoon; forget the spoon. So after we had drunk the fat off our plates we took a tiki tour or a Canadian tour around the wee villages. Two old men were lounging outside a gallery and said," Hello." I replied with'" Tena korua." One asked me what it meant so I told him. The other one said that they were hoping I was telling them that they were good looking. Quite witty I thought.
There are some lovely knock knacks tasteful artefacts to buy but after what we've been through in CHCH I wonder why I'd bother, so I didn't.
So all who are waiting for Canadian memorabilia forget it. Nada. Zero. Nothing.
Tonight is a lovely night; not too hot and there is a breeze.
The people I've met through Jane have all been talking about the last 2 winters here and how they don't want another one like it this year. It is very hard to imagine as everything is so green and pretty. I've had supper and appetisers with a French Canadian and her Aussie husband, 7 Canadians and tea ( morning tea) with a Canadian Italian and 2 Canadians. Folks are very hospitable. Everyone has a basement. I think I said that already. It's like another world down there.
I've gone from thinking that the hinds, stags and fawns are sweet to wondering how you could eliminate them without getting caught. They are so destructive and yes greenies, I can hear you saying that they were here first. We were called to be kaitiaki of the land and because they are smart animals and have moved into suburban areas, they have plentiful food (domestic gardens thanks) and no predators. They are getting quite fearless and will soon be a challenge esp the stags and hinds with babies in tow. I've tried calling out venison burgers, deer sausages but they take no heed. Such arrogance. They carry ticks, some of which carry Lyme disease so not fun at all.
I've just looked over my shoulder and one is laying beside the garage. I shall approach it with toasted hamburger buns and some sauce.
Howard's hummingbird feeder is a great hit with the birds. They are so tiny and fast- about half the size of a wax eye. Not a good shot but the best I can do as the boards come and go quickly.
The hotel is the Algonquian in St. Andrews and the piano sits in their courtyard.
The loo signs were on the doors of the washrooms????? Dunnies at St Martins beach.
