Crossing borders I instantaneously found myself in a different human milieu. Quebec at that particular border was not especially welcoming, but I quickly made the mental adjustments. Staying a desolate night in an off-season campground in Nicolet was a surreal experience, as I was making efforts to follow the second presidential debate on my electronic devices in pouring rain.
Parc National du Bic, Quebec. Having a utopia in a Huttopia, a specially-designed tent, meeting animals, enjoying the beauty of Chemin du Norde, seeing the archeological site and walking the Chemin Le Contrabandier, but also, when moving back to my own tent – living through the coldest night of my life…
Such a rich and beautiful park. This time Pic Champlain and Les Anses trails.. Birds, seals, fantastic geology. Quiet, beautiful bays. After spending a second night in the cold, I had a shower crisis in the morning, which turned out an opportunity to meet a new friend.
Route 132, Gaspe Peninsula. On way to Forillon villages with churches. Holy Marys, windmills, castles, seabirds and trees in colors. Most spectacular were the famous cliffs appearing mid-drive. I ended the day as sola guest in an out-of-season B&B, enjoying the comforts, hearing interesting life stories from owner .
Forillon National Park, QC, is well worth it, Carriage roads and desolate forest paths lead from the “Bay of Seals” to “Land’s End”, with whales watching and gannets diving. Also rich wild life, and historical fishing sites. Forillon’s Auberge (hostel) offers socializing oppportunities and excellent services.
The huge gannet colony on Bonaventure Island is a peak experience for any naturalist. This is a bird lover paradise. Unfortunately, poor boat arrangements did not enable me to enjoy the experience to my heart delight, Still… except for Galapagos, second to none…Also, the amazing Perce rock, a geological marvel.
Seasonal beauty on Road 132 from Perce, QC to the NB border. New Brunswick to Maine: In Campbelton, quaint bilingual border town, I heard local stories at the cozy Super 8 spa. Crossing the border at Van Buren was a bit challenging. I rounded up the day with a seafood meal in Machias, ME, and the Bluebird Motel.
Acadia National Park, Blackwoods Campground is a good hub for exploring Acadia, a park rightfully deserving its reputation. Beauty is everywhere and glorious. Specifically, the Jordan Pond Loop Trail is a highly rewarding experience photographically and ecologically.
A bonanza for the body and spirit, climbing Mt. Cadillac South Ridge Trail was challenging, but doable. Meeting wonderful people and sharing food and life stories made the day. The landscape turned from forest to stark bedrock, but life still thrived in rain pools, enlivening the barren landscape. View from the top was wondrous.
Eagle Lake, Acadia National Park, ME. Circumnavigating the lake was a perfect way to round up my sola trip. Inexhaustible beauty, from smallest details of the forest floor to grand vistas of mountains in automn colors reflected in tranquil waters. Using walking path over carriage road made hike interesting.
As automn is coming to a close, I kayak over the pond for the last time and take some loon pictures on location, with the row in my hand and the cellphone in the other. We enjoy a great getout with oldies music and beer. Eventually I pack up my wonderful trip, ready (kind of) to resettle in the Middle East…
The epilogue is an attempt to appreciate the physical and psychological long-term effects of my sola camping trip, especially my decision making processes. “On this trip nobody penetrated the space between me and my agency, so every mistake or misstep were clearly mine and owned, as well as every decision well taken.”
It was no jackal nor coyote. This haunting other-worldly sound breaking intermittently over the Pond and carrying over unabated across the entire waterscape from side to side and beyond, did not emanate from a large mammal, but from a kind of middle-sized duck romantically called a loon…
Perfect carefree days by the pond: swimming, sailing the pontoon with family and friends, writing poems, sunbathing on the dock, picking blueberries from the secret bushes and enjoying a variety of good music at the Ossipee Valley Bluegrass festival. Especially notbale was the all-female Shel band.
The general talk about hair and age is demoralizing and most of it is not based in facts. Taking good care of your hair, even dyed hair, can keep your hair growing and shiny. I offer tips, advice and an apology to hairdressers
Crossing borders I instantaneously found myself in a different human milieu. Quebec at that particular border was not especially welcoming, but I quickly made the mental adjustments. Staying a desolate night in an off-season campground in Nicolet was a surreal experience, as I was making efforts to follow the second presidential debate on my electronic devices in pouring rain.
Parc National du Bic, Quebec. Having a utopia in a Huttopia, a specially-designed tent, meeting animals, enjoying the beauty of Chemin du Norde, seeing the archeological site and walking the Chemin Le Contrabandier, but also, when moving back to my own tent – living through the coldest night of my life…
Such a rich and beautiful park. This time Pic Champlain and Les Anses trails.. Birds, seals, fantastic geology. Quiet, beautiful bays. After spending a second night in the cold, I had a shower crisis in the morning, which turned out an opportunity to meet a new friend.
Route 132, Gaspe Peninsula. On way to Forillon villages with churches. Holy Marys, windmills, castles, seabirds and trees in colors. Most spectacular were the famous cliffs appearing mid-drive. I ended the day as sola guest in an out-of-season B&B, enjoying the comforts, hearing interesting life stories from owner .
Forillon National Park, QC, is well worth it, Carriage roads and desolate forest paths lead from the “Bay of Seals” to “Land’s End”, with whales watching and gannets diving. Also rich wild life, and historical fishing sites. Forillon’s Auberge (hostel) offers socializing oppportunities and excellent services.
The huge gannet colony on Bonaventure Island is a peak experience for any naturalist. This is a bird lover paradise. Unfortunately, poor boat arrangements did not enable me to enjoy the experience to my heart delight, Still… except for Galapagos, second to none…Also, the amazing Perce rock, a geological marvel.
Seasonal beauty on Road 132 from Perce, QC to the NB border. New Brunswick to Maine: In Campbelton, quaint bilingual border town, I heard local stories at the cozy Super 8 spa. Crossing the border at Van Buren was a bit challenging. I rounded up the day with a seafood meal in Machias, ME, and the Bluebird Motel.
Acadia National Park, Blackwoods Campground is a good hub for exploring Acadia, a park rightfully deserving its reputation. Beauty is everywhere and glorious. Specifically, the Jordan Pond Loop Trail is a highly rewarding experience photographically and ecologically.
A bonanza for the body and spirit, climbing Mt. Cadillac South Ridge Trail was challenging, but doable. Meeting wonderful people and sharing food and life stories made the day. The landscape turned from forest to stark bedrock, but life still thrived in rain pools, enlivening the barren landscape. View from the top was wondrous.
Eagle Lake, Acadia National Park, ME. Circumnavigating the lake was a perfect way to round up my sola trip. Inexhaustible beauty, from smallest details of the forest floor to grand vistas of mountains in automn colors reflected in tranquil waters. Using walking path over carriage road made hike interesting.
As automn is coming to a close, I kayak over the pond for the last time and take some loon pictures on location, with the row in my hand and the cellphone in the other. We enjoy a great getout with oldies music and beer. Eventually I pack up my wonderful trip, ready (kind of) to resettle in the Middle East…
The epilogue is an attempt to appreciate the physical and psychological long-term effects of my sola camping trip, especially my decision making processes. “On this trip nobody penetrated the space between me and my agency, so every mistake or misstep were clearly mine and owned, as well as every decision well taken.”
It was no jackal nor coyote. This haunting other-worldly sound breaking intermittently over the Pond and carrying over unabated across the entire waterscape from side to side and beyond, did not emanate from a large mammal, but from a kind of middle-sized duck romantically called a loon…
Perfect carefree days by the pond: swimming, sailing the pontoon with family and friends, writing poems, sunbathing on the dock, picking blueberries from the secret bushes and enjoying a variety of good music at the Ossipee Valley Bluegrass festival. Especially notbale was the all-female Shel band.
The general talk about hair and age is demoralizing and most of it is not based in facts. Taking good care of your hair, even dyed hair, can keep your hair growing and shiny. I offer tips, advice and an apology to hairdressers