Adventures in Flopsy 2: Newfoundland or Bust

Actually we weren't at all sure that we'd make it as far as Newfoundland on this trip. There was a small matter of a hurricane ripping through the maritime provinces and we didn't want to become part of the problem by going somewhere where resources were already strained. As so many times on this trip, we changed our plans and then changed them again.

We intended to head for Newfoundland as fast as we could and then take our time on the way back. We did want to visit Quebec City though so we headed off with that in mind when we were finished the singing gig in Ottawa. We were a bit apprehensive at the border because of our lack of French and we stopped at the first visitor information centre we came upon. The lady there was very helpful. She assured us that we'd be fine with our very limited French. She gave us a map of the best way around Montreal and she recommended a campground across the river from the Old Quebec. We could, she said, take a ferry over so that we wouldn't have to worry about driving. What a brilliant suggestion!

We did have a bit of trouble understanding exactly what the parking attendant wanted us to do when we pulled up to the ferry dock but with some pointing and grunting on both sides we got parked in the proper spot. We walked up to the Citadel and signed on for a tour. I heard my dad talk about the French Canadian regiment the 'Van Doos' from his experiences in the second world war and it was interesting to see their home barracks. There was a parade and we got to see the soldiers in their bright red uniforms and their busbies. Rather ironic that the only regiment in Canada to wear the very British busbies is the French one. Unlike the Stampede or Banff and Lake Louise in the summer, the Citadel was comparatively quiet. They only allowed a certain number of people on each tour but there weren't huge line-ups waiting to get a tour either.

After the tour and a good look around the museum, we headed into the city for some lunch. Richard had been without a watch for a few days and we figured it must have slipped out of his pocket. He was quite unhappy about that because I have a watch that matches it. We went into a Swatch shop and he bought a rather elegant replacement. It's also a very practical souvenir of the trip. The watch I wear most of the time I bought in Zermatt Switzerland. I won't say that I think of Zermatt every time I check my watch but probably once every day or so I'm reminded of the great hiking holiday in the Alps. Of course, as luck would have it, I later found Richard's watch in the van.

On Richard's bucket list was having poutine in Quebec City. We went to a rather upscale restaurant and he had poutine. It was nothing like the poutine that comes in a package or the kind you get at MacDonald's. Still, I wouldn't put it near the top of my list of favourite foods. I don't remember what I had but it wasn't poutine.

With the Hurricane Arthur making its way north, we decided to go around the Gaspe Peninsula and stay out of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia where the worst of the storm was supposed to hit. We'd do our sightseeing on the way to Newfoundland rather than on the way back and if we didn't make it to Newfoundland this trip we'd just have to plan another. We started to follow the lighthouse route and our first lighthouse was at Pointe-au-Pere. We got a tour, in French, saw a video, in English, and got to go through the Canadian submarine the Onondaga. Both of us really enjoyed that stop.

We kept our eyes on the weather forecast and decided to head to Matane which was supposed to have a municipal campground. It did and it was a lovely one. We planned to stay one night and then move on but by that time the trailing edge of the storm was making itself felt and we decided to stay for two nights. With the help of Google Translate, Richard managed to secure a second night for us and we hunkered down in the wind and the rain. It was chilly enough that we even turned on the furnace at one point. We saw one tree with a broken limb as a result of the storm but we were warm and dry and our shelter stood up just fine in the wind. Because power was out in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and parts of Prince Edward Island we took our time in Quebec until the power was back on in most places. We spent two days in Forillon National Park. It was kind of exciting to buy a national park pass somewhere other than Banff.

There were a number of hikes that we could have done but we chose to hike up Mont Saint Alban which gave us gorgeous views along the coast in both directions. On our way down we came across a mama and a baby porcupine. We waited for them to get off the trail. Mama obliged and lumbered off into the bush. Baby had other ideas and headed down the trail in the opposite direction. We waited for a bit and then crossed the trail in between them. Mama did not come rushing out of the bush and Baby seemed content to chew on the foliage.

After 2 nights in Forillon we carried on and stopped for lunch in Perce. It was a challenge getting a parking spot but we managed and had lunch in a little restaurant overlooking the ocean. We debated about whether to stay and take the boat out to the bird sanctuary but the weather forecast was for rain the next day and we decided we didn't want to spend another day waiting it out. We reasoned if it was raining we might as well be using the time to get closer to Newfoundland. Perce Rock and the gannet colony went onto our bucket list for another trip.

The next national park we hit was Kouchibouguac. I practiced a lot to spell that and to say it. I think it was one of my favourite places on the trip, although it was really hot and humid and I had a serious case of the grumpies because of the heat. There are lots of trails that to hike or cycle. The second day we rented bikes and rode 23 km on the trails, not a hugely long ride but these bikes were... interesting. They had one speed with coaster brakes and we had to ask the rental guy for helmets. It took me a while to stop grabbing for the non-existent brakes with my hands. We got quite a workout and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.

From Kouchibouguac we drove to PEI. We weren't sure we'd get to PEI either but, once again, we lucked out. We phoned from the Nova Scotia visitor's centre to book passage on the ferry to Port Aux Basques in Newfoundland. We couldn't get on for a couple of days so we decided to contact John and Kris on PEI to see if we could arrange to meet. John is very quick replying to emails and within a short time we were heading back so we could take the Confederation Bridge over to the island.

It's an advantage driving a rather large high vehicle over the bridge because we could see over the concrete barriers on either side. In a car we would have only seen the road. When we left the island we chose to take the ferry rather than the bridge because it was shorter and because the day we left was windy and Flopsy's steering is not the most responsive on the planet. In that situation a large high vehicle was not an advantage.

We had a marvellous time with John and Kris who wined us and dined us. We caught up on the intervening years, had great conversations and met their two dogs. Our time on PEI was one of the highlights of the trip.

After taking the ferry to Nova Scotia we camped about 20 minutes away from the Newfoundland ferry. Getting to Newfoundland would take 6 hours. We needed to be at the ferry at 9:30 a.m. The ferry didn't leave until 11:30 but it really did take all that time to get all the vehicles loaded. Having secured a space in the campground, we drove into North Sydney to have a lobster dinner at a restaurant recommended to us by the person at the campground. When we got there it was closed. We settled for pizza and never did get our lobster dinner. That's one more thing for the next time.

When we got up in the morning it was drizzling and chilly. The drizzle turned to rain once we left the port and we were glad we brought our fleece sweaters out of the van with us. We found a spot on one of the decks right by the windows that looked out the bow of the ship. We had lunch on board in a rather unusual restaurant. We lined up to order and pay for our meal, then obtained a number to put on the table. When the meal was ready one of the crew brought it to our table, sort of like a cafeteria where someone else goes through the line for you.

When we finished lunch we listened to books, wandered around the ship, checked out the gift shop and took photos of the rain and the sea. When we arrived in Port Aux Basques it was raining and grey and altogether desolate looking; nevertheless I couldn't wait to see what Newfoundland had in store for us.

Looking Back on the Holiday

This is rather out of order but I was thinking about our great holiday adventure today and mentally checking off all the people who made it memorable.

Here's a partial list:

• The French Canadian woman in the campground who spoke English to us and then when we said we were trying to speak French she asked us questions in very slow measured French so we could understand although we had to answer them in English. We laughed together.
• Jack and Mary owners of a Roadtrek camper van who spent the evening with us, showed us where everything was in their van, came over to our campsite to look at our van and then invited us back for chocolate and tea.
• Frederick a park ranger in Gros Morne who took a year-long woodworking course. He showed me photos of a chair he restored and I showed him pictures of my shop. We talked about wood and he told us where his camper van was parked and invited us to take a peek inside on our way out. Later in the campground we met him again. He was previously stationed in Banff for 8 years.
• Richard and Deanna, the two retired teachers from North Bay and owners of their third Roadtrek. He gave us ideas on what to look for in a used Roadtrek and what we should be prepared to spend. We stood on the beach on the shore of Lake Superior and exchanged teacher stories.
• Michaela, the ranger in Gros Morne who told us about the overnight hike and who came back with Richard and me when I realized I was in over my head. She was lovely to talk to and made a tough hike much more pleasant. She will make a good guide.
• The interpreter in the lighthouse who had lived in the area all her life and talked about doing her work in order to keep the stories and the culture alive.
• The woman in the campground check in who asked where we were from and when we told her her comment was, “You probably know more Newfies than I do.” That made us laugh.
• The man who, when he learned that Richard was born in Newfoundland, said, “You're just a Newfie who lives in Alberta.”
• The guys in the Chrysler dealership who ordered the water pump for Flopsy from Toronto and got us back on the road with 8 litres of the proper concentration of antifreeze so we could get home.
• The young man in the Canadian Tire in Marathon who got the socket set out of his car and took off the remaining bits of mirror, helped us look for a solution to the problem and then took the nut and the new mirror into the back and welded them together. He came out to the parking lot with us and attached the mirror to the bracket and adjusted it while Richard sat in the driver's seat.
• The woman in the information centre in Quebec who gave us all kinds of literature and a map on which she highlighted the best route around Montreal.

Then there were the friends we were able to visit as we crossed the country.

• Betsy and Dave. I have known Betsy since she was we were both teenagers and was delighted to meet her husband Dave and stay in their home. We had a lot of years to catch up on.
• John J, owner of Lost Loon Island, who cut a piece of 2X4 to wedge the battery in so that it wouldn't slide toward the front of the van since one of the clamps had rusted through. We had a good visit and went for dinner before heading off the next morning. On the way back, we actually got to visit Lost Loon Island when we didn't think the timing could possibly work out.
• John and Kris, friends since my first few years of teaching, opened their home on PEI to us. They wined us and dined us and we talked and laughed long into the night.

We saw gorgeous scenery; we walked and cycled and had campfires and hid out from the rain and the bugs. All of those things are memorable but the best thing about the holiday was the people who enriched our lives if only for a few moments. I hope as, we move through our lives, that some of the people we meet might be able to say the same about us.

Life with Odie: Part 1

(This looks like the day to clean house in the blog.  Here's another entry that apparently didn't get posted until now.  Knowing how life has progressed for Odie and the humans in his flock, you might be interested in the beginning of the relationship.)

I've always liked birds. I like them but they, at least the ones we have in our flock at the moment, seem to much prefer Richard. We got Odie, the Senegal parrot, just over a year ago. He was mainly my idea. I wanted a parrot that had the potential for training and was a bit more acrobatic than Bailey the cockatiel or Angie the budgie.

A friend told me that she thought a Senegal would be perfect. I did my research and talked to our avian vet who agreed that this particular species would likely be a good fit. We were set on having a male because they have more potential for talking and because we've had so much trouble with Bailey being broody and wanting to lay eggs. I've been checking out the bird ads on Kijiji for a couple of years now, just to see what's out there. I don't remember exactly when Odie came to my attention. An ad for him would appear and then it would be gone for a month or two. Then it would appear again. In the meantime Richard and I talked about whether or not we should get another bird. He wasn't too keen. I guess I was looking for a replacement for Koko the Quaker who was with us for 7 years and died very suddenly in 2007. In reality, I knew that it wasn't possible to replace a Koko. No two pets are alike.

Just before we went to Italy in the fall of 2009 I saw Odie advertised again. Of course, we couldn't do anything at that point because we were going to be away for three weeks but I decided that I would call about Odie if he was advertised again after we got back. In December of 2009 Odie's ad showed up again. He seemed to be well-socialized and, according to the owners, interacted with both of them. We arranged to meet Odie. He let me pick him up and return him to his cage although he did set his beak on my hand when I put him down on one of his perches. We went home and did some more soul searching. A parrot that can live 40 years is a big commitment. We wanted to travel and as my mother was fond of saying, "Pets are a tie." Pets also enrich day-to-day life. We next arranged for Odie to have a health check with our vet.

We met the owner outside the vet clinic one cold winter day before Christmas. He handed us Odie in a box wrapped in a blanket and then went to get a coffee. The vet checked Odie over and took blood for the DNA testing. We returned Odie to his owner and waited for the results. By this time we'd pretty well decided we'd take Odie even if he turned out to be a she. The results came back: Odie was a relatively healthy male.

On December 27, 2009 Odie joined our flock. His former owner brought him and his small cage over to the house. I gave her a cheque and we proceeded to get Odie settled in. In the first days he seemed to accept me all right although I would get the occasional nip. I'm not sure at what point things went sideways for me and Odie. The nips became serious bites which often left a trail of blood on the kitchen floor.

I read many training manuals, watched DVD's on parrot behaviour. We had two consultations with our vet about how to stop the biting. Birds don't usually bite in the wild so somehow I had taught Odie to bite. All three of us were unhappy. Richard was unhappy because he didn't like to see me getting hurt and because Odie had chosen Richard when our plan was that Odie would interact with both of us. I was upset because I very much wanted to be able to handle Odie. I knew he was a smart bird and I had hopes of training him to do some tricks which, some of the literature said, would help a bird bond with its owner. Clearly something was off with Odie because he kept biting.

There were days when Richard wanted to find a new home for Odie right away. Parrots are intelligent and require a lot of daily interaction. Because, I didn't want to be bitten I stopped trying to handle Odie. That meant that it fell to Richard to attend to this energetic and demanding creature. There were days when I was ready to give up on Odie and give Odie up but I've never been one to give away pets once they are in my home and it wouldn't be fair to Odie to simply shuffle the problem off onto someone else. As the vet pointed out, "He's just being a bird."

(And five years later he is still 'being a bird.' I haven't been bitten for quite a while but then I haven't tried to scratch his head when he is outside the cage or pick him up either.)

Thoughts on Rotten Bananas and a Cockatiel

(August 1, 2014. I guess I got organized at one point and thought I would write a blog entry and post it later.  I didn't expect I'd post it this much later.)

I love banana bread and occasionally I get around to making it. In the meantime if the bananas get a wee but too brown even for us I hoard them in the freezer waiting for a day when I decide to make banana bread.

Earlier this year I had quite a few bananas saved up. I read somewhere that the best way to freeze bananas is to peel them before you put them in the freezer. I read that after I had frozen a few in the skins. The internet was rife with stories of how hard it was to peel the bananas once they were frozen. As a result, I used up all the peeled bananas first. In fact the ones in the skins sat there for months. One day I decided I either needed to use the bananas or throw them out.

I took them out of the freezer and looked at them. The skins were completely black and they were hard as rocks. I had nothing to lose so I decided to try an experiment. I unwrapped the bananas and stabbed the skins with a paring knife. I had no wish for the bananas to explode in the microwave. I didn't know if they would but I knew if you didn't prick the skins of potatoes they would explode. I set the microwave to defrost, put one banana in and waited. The microwave beeped when it was done and I took out the hot banana. It was really squishy. 'How on earth am I going to peel this?” I wondered. I cut the top off and gave the banana a bit of a squeeze. Some mushy banana came out the cut.

I got a bowl, turned the banana upside down and squeezed it like a tube of toothpaste. The banana slid neatly into the bowl. I nuked the other two bananas and made banana bread wondering why I had put off using the bananas for so long. Something I thought was going to be an icky chore turned out to be really easy and, the banana bread was delicious. There are many times when I have put off doing something because I thought is was going to be too hard or too unpleasant only to find out, when I finally got around to it, that it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected.

There is a flip side to this story, though. In January of 2013 our 17 year old cockatiel tried to fly off my shoulder and had a rather hard landing on the stairs. The next day I could hear a whistling noise when she breathed and when she tried to tuck her beak into her back feathers to take a nap she couldn't settle but took it out again and faced forward. She seemed to be happy enough sitting on my shoulder but I was concerned. This bird had been to the vet so often that the vet joked she should have her own key to the office. I didn't want to take her in it if was nothing but I wanted to make sure she was okay. I called and got an appointment for the afternoon.

When I got to the vet's with her she was running around in her traveling box squeaking in response to the other birds in the office. Watching her, I began to feel foolish for brining her in. Still, the receptionist assured me, it was better to be sure. When we got into the examining room the vet listened to her and palpated her abdomen. It was spongy and the vet recommended x-rays.

They x-rayed her and brought her back. Her abdomen was full of fluid and that fluid was pressing on her air sacks making it hard for her to breathe. We could start her on diuretics but the vet said given her age and her history the cause was probably either a failing heart or a failing liver. In either case the prognosis was not good. Since we had been jabbing her with needles quite regularly for the past two years we thought it better to euthanize her rather than subject her to more invasive treatment that wouldn't likely change the outcome. The vet said I could take her home to say good bye.

I called Richard and we agreed that he would come to see her at the vet's and we would sign the necessary papers to have her euthanized. My last glimpse of her was sitting on Richard's shoulder and snuggling close to his neck. When I took her in that day I didn't think we'd be returning home without her.

Why are these two incidents linked in my mind? Perhaps because both serve to remind me that in simple and in complex things I cannot predict the future and I really don't know as much as I like to think I do. Sometimes, now, when I'm putting off a task or rushing through a day without really paying attention I remind myself to enjoy both the banana bread and the cockatiels that cross my path.

Bailey our first and oldest bird

Adventures in Flospy: Ottawa

One Accord singing in the lobby on parliament hill
Photo by Selim Sayegh

Richard, who doesn't consider writing among his favourite pastimes, is putting me to shame on the blog front. During our recent trip across the country he wrote a blog post every day. There was a wee bit of whining some days about why he thought it was a good idea in the first place but he wrote faithfully and his followers enjoyed the adventures. Since the list of readers doesn't necessarily overlap, I thought I'd take the chance to bring you up to date on our comings and goings so far this summer. It has been an adventure in many senses of the word.

One Accord, the community choir in which we both sing, got the opportunity to go to Ottawa for the Unisong festival of choirs from across Canada. We decided to drive “Flopsy” our 1984 Dodge camper van to Ottawa and then point her nose east to see how far we could get. In Ottawa we sang our heads off for four days and had a great time. The culmination of the rehearsals was three performances at the National Arts Centre on Canada Day. The first, in the morning, included all the choirs singing the pieces we worked on the previous three days. Of course, we worked on the pieces before we got to Ottawa but it was up to guest conductor Kelly Walsh to put it all together beginning on June 28. It was great to sing for her. She was very clear in what she wanted, was always positive and had a terrific sense of humour.

There was one concert in the afternoon and one in the evening both with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and conductor Alain Trudel. Kelly Walsh prepped us ahead of our rehearsal with Trudel saying that if the conductor didn't have to tell us to speed up we would truly have made the grade. In her experience it's common for orchestral conductors to remind choirs to keep up. We were pleased with ourselves when Trudel didn't have to remind us even once to keep up.

Mi'kmaq Honour Song during the choral concert
Photo by Selim Sayegh

The concerts at the NAC were fun and in some ways much like any other concert. It might have been a different experience for folks from smaller communities who are not used to having performance opportunities in large venues. The most difficult thing for me was trying to memorize the words especially the ones in French. I confess to even needing a cheat sheet for the French verse of 'O Canada.'

Concert with the NAC orchestra
Photo by Selim Sayegh

I was seated beside a grade 11 student from Ontario who was quite willing to help me with the French. I enjoyed talking with her at breaks and remembered fondly why I like that age-group so much. Although the powers-that-be really wanted us to perform without music they weren't actually standing in the wings taking it away from us which, from my point of view, was wise. As far as this particular chorister is concerned they had a choice of gibberish words and improvised notes if I sang without music or something far closer to being accurate and musical if I sang with music. I did try to memorize the songs and, these days, I find it much more difficult to get words and music to stick than I used to. I can usually remember the notes but get mixed up when phrases repeat with slight differences or lose count when we repeat the same phrase a number of times. I'm not the only one. Thank heavens for the kids' choirs and the high school and college singers who were able to get the stuff into their heads.

While in Ottawa we toured the mint which I really enjoyed. We also had a river cruise and were able to find a spot to watch the fireworks on Canada Day. Our accommodation while in Ottawa was in the university residence. Richard and I shared a suite with our good friends Deb and Steve and we had a riot. It was hard to fit in enough sleep because we stayed up late after rehearsals and performances laughing talking and telling stories. You're never too old to be silly and have a good laugh.

The only down side to Ottawa was the humidity. I am not good in the heat. End of story. I have a few chores to do so I'll save the rest of the adventure for a few more posts, not exactly immediate news but a good way to recall a fun summer nonetheless.