Serendipity and Metaphor
Sunday,
October 2, 2016
Hopewell
Cape, New Brunswick, Canada
Serendipity and Metaphor
It is all new … new Found Land, new Scotland and
New Brunswick. However, for us it was about the old … old places in our heritage,
old tombstones and old spots among the new ... old trees and old growth forests
… old villages and old forts. Moreover, old mysteries … in Halifax, we found on
our walks a small labyrinth at St. Matthew's United Church. Such an obscure point
in so many things to do and see … yet it beckoned and I walked it. Finding a moment
of otherness in the world of the tangible.
A metaphor for our trip; It’s the
minor moments and little objects that catch our attention and stay with us in our memories, like the people
and the unexpected turns and corners that appear and call us to stop and attend.
This happens a lot and the trick is to pay attention and respond … or forever miss
the heart of the pilgrimage. It creates space that enhances awareness, encouraging
flexibility in our plans and leads us to surrender to the numinous moments in our
lives.
Some examples ….
·
The tiny labyrinth in a large city.
·
The surprising colors changing
and indeed splendid … in one tree, we found both red and gold.
·
A statue in the middle of a quiet
garden … Evangeline is a poem written by Robert Lewis Stevenson about the Great
Upheaval of the Acadians – deported from their homes by the British in 1755 – 1763…
found at Grand Pre, NS, near Pictou.
·
The Acadian Flag is the French
flag with a star.
·
Ducks are inscrutable and we found
them always in mating pairs.
·
Friendly people who made the places
special by their presence and eagerness to share.
·
Hunting in 3 stores for a little
camp stool and failing … then finding the perfect stool at a flea market.
·
Rivers that run backwards.
Nova Scotia
GRAND-PRÉ NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
Evangeline is a Poem by HW Longfellow about the Great
Upheaval ... the expulsion from Nova Scotia of the Acadians. This statue is in
this site. Grand-Pré is a powerful monument that unites the Acadian people.
Visitors to the site will uncover the tale of Le Grand Dérangement: a tragic
event in Acadian history that has shaped the vibrant culture of modern-day
Acadians across the globe through its quiet but powerful renaissance. The site
commemorates the Grand Pré area as a centre of Acadian settlement from 1682 to
1755 and the Deportation of the Acadians, which began in 1755 and continued
until 1762. For many Acadians throughout the world, the site remains the heart
of their ancestral homeland and the symbol of the ties that unite them to this
day.
Digby
On our heritage search in Digby,
Nova Scotia, we stopped in a small gift shop and met Wendy, who wanted to talk about
her town where she was born and raised and now owned this shop. We talked about
French ancestors and then she mentioned the graveyard tour in Annapolis Royal. Despite not liking to drive in the dark, Dan drove
us north about half an hour away and we arrived at the appointed spot at 8:30 …
pitch dark, behind a small museum, alone, on the edge of the little town. Not confident
we were even at the right place or the right time, we agreed to leave by 9:15 p.m.
if no one showed up. At exactly 9:15 p.m., an ancient Acadian clothed in mourning
apparel appeared carrying a couple of candle lanterns.
Alan Melanson, 10th generation
Acadian, descended from Acadians who ran into the forest to escape the Great Upheaval,
protected by the Mi’kmaq natives. As other people arrived, our guide provided lanterns
for each and we walked through the graveyard hearing stories of the ancestors. A
large portion of the graveyard had no markers; Acadian graves were originally marked
with wooden crosses. The British did not desecrate the place, but the markers were
allowed to fall into ruin and disappear. This was an experience to remember … a
response to the serendipity.
Tidal Bore on the Shubenacadie River Our last stop in Nova Scotia took us to Maitland to watch the
tidal bore surge up the Shubenacadie River and its red clay slopes ... between Maitland
and Truro. Two sets of pictures here. These are before and after pictures of the same place.
The first two photos are before and after the bore … same
place … before the tidal bore you can see a drainage ditch feeding into the
river. The second shot is a motorized rafter sailing through after the tidal
bore. The drainage ditch is now a river flowing in reverse. The first picture
is the river before the tidal bore… Note the red clay
muddy slopes of the river in the distance and to the left. High tide on the right taken after the tidal
bore came through.
New Brunswick
Another moment of surprise and
serendipity happened as we crossed the border between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Pulling into the visitor center about 6:30 p.m. we found it closed. Nevertheless,
we walked around the building and discovered the most unusual walking path in Sackville Waterfowl Park. The salt marshes
that are everywhere are not good for agriculture, but if diked, drained, and filled
with fresh water, this small city turned it into a waterfowl refuge that can host
up to 160 different species of birds at migratory times. Not only a natural refuge,
they also added up to 3 miles of paths and boardwalks around it, and through it,
for the human types to wander and explore. Even though it was dusk … we yielded
to the appeal of the wild and set out on the path. 
Hopewell Rocks – Flower
Pots and Forty-Foot Tides
The tides around here do not just
lap at the shore … they rise 25 to 40 feet pulling away at the rocks, equally claiming
the land and depositing new rocks and critters. Hopewell Rocks are a favorite visit
for visitors on the south shore of New Brunswick. It also provides what it promises.
At low tide, you can walk out on the extensive shore line for a mile or two along
the coastline, strolling among numerous 50 feet tall structures called flowerpots
… formed by erosion of loose material around granite … with tall trees growing on
top. Returning a few hours later, you find that the flowerpots are nearly under
water... appearing as tiny islands in the sea. With our Coyote Roadtrek, this was
so convenient. We walk out the stunning trail to the cliffs and down the stair steps
to the muddy shore and explore for an hour or so before the incoming tide, nipping
at our heels, hastens us back up the cliffs. We return to our Coyote and lunch, nap, read and
write … and a few hours later, return once again to experience the phenomena, as
all is underwater at high tide.
These two pictures are of the very same
place … at low tide and then at high tide, a rise of 40 feet.
Lobster in New Brunswick … Our little Coyote in my left hand wasn't scared at all ...
being so near the claw. Be calm and hold on.
October in New Brunswick, Canada.
Next: The good ol’ U S of A
What We Discovered
Grand Pre National Historic Site
, Grand Pre, Nova Scotia, Canada
2205 Grand-Pré Road, Grand
Pré, Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley
Annapolis Royal Graveyard
Tours. Fort Anne National Historic Site in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia http://www.tourannapolisroyal.com/graveyard.html
Sackville Waterfowl Park,
Sackville, New Brunswick
Comments
So beautifully written! From Jennifer Benjamin,
on Oct 11, 2016 at 05:44PM
Thank you. From Dan & Vicki, on Oct 12,
2016 at 11:43AM
You captured Nova Scotia, she will forever
stay in your heart. She is forever my home. I can hardly wait to see some of the
places that are on my bucket list ... like the Tidal Bore I want to ride it in ...
From Wendy, on Dec 8, 2016 at 01:55PM
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