Larry Gibbons
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LIFE HAPPENS

27/9/2019

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CORMORANTS AND A SHY HERON
As you probably know, recently we had a big wind. It hit the coast as a hurricane and then became a tropical storm.

So, what’s the difference between a hurricane and a tropical storm? Well, as one person explained to me, a hurricane has sustained high winds and sounds like a train constantly roaring by.


I assume a tropical storm is like having one freight train roar by, then silence, where a person can feel hopeful and then is hit with disappointment when another train roars by and rips out some of what the other train missed.


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TREE ACROSS LANE_WAY
On the positive note, I learned that my chainsaw still starts and that we have very good neighbours.

​I had to clear a large tree off our lane-way and a bunch of downed trees off the path that leads to the river. We like to call it our ‘River Path’. Very creative, I must say.


​After I cut up the big tree lying across our lane, I went in to start breakfast. That involved cooking on the wood-stove and getting water from the river. We had no power, so no running water for four days.

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NO WAY OUT
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BLUEBERRY MOUNTAIN FOREST
While eating breakfast I heard a chainsaw. It was a neighbour and his partner cutting up the rest of the tree. 

​So, I gave him enough gasoline for six hours of generator time and he in turn let us put our frozen food in his freezer.

Also, just before the storm, a neighbour had offered their home as shelter. They live on a mountain and the house is sturdy. It was very kind of them, but we immigrated to another person’s house. She had phoned us earlier and we have stayed there before.


​We were glad there were open arms. Everybody in the world could become a refugee at one time or another and open arms are very handy. And truly Christian.


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WEB OF LIFE
The problem with writing this blog is there is too much life happening for me to keep up with it.

​I was going to write a blog only about my nearly 60 K bike ride between Judique and Port Hastings. It was a memorable day, but so was the tropical storm.


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JUDIQUE TRAIL_HEAD
Anyway, on the bike hike day the weather forecast was for a high of 28 and a humidex of 33.

Well, I figured that because the trail ran along the ocean a breeze would cool things down.


​However, I packed three bottles of water instead of two. I also brought an extra shirt, just in case. What a laugh. Absolutely and totally unnecessary.


​On the trail, as the heat built up, I saw what I thought was an animal sitting on the trail. So, I hopped off my bike and began to walk slowly towards the critter. I would stop from time to time to take photos. The critter never moved. Up ahead, I saw two cyclists approaching from the other direction. It surprised me to see the cyclists pass the animal without the animal fleeing.

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MAYBE A TURTLE?
After the cyclists had passed me by, I got on my bike and rode towards the strange beast. If they could do it, so could I. 

​Well, it was a strange beast indeed. I had to pull out my animal identification book and was able to identify it as a rare orange pylon pot-hole marker.

​Four k’s from Port Hastings I discovered that the trail had been washed out. Therefore, I didn’t have to do the full 60 K’s and when I turned back I was happy to be heading home. The humidity had definitely sapped my strength. 


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FARMER WORKING ALONG TRAIL
I looked for a place to stop and eat my lunch. I found a spot to sit in the shade, where the black flies were plentiful and the mosquitoes roamed free. Here, the bugs and I ate and drank water. 

I still had over 20 K’s left to go to get back to the truck and was hoping I was up to the task.

Back on the trail, I cycled and stopped, cycled and stopped. My arms felt heavy and I knew I was reaching my limit. 

About ten K from home port, I had used up two bottles of water and was happy I had brought a third.

​I stopped once again, my bike and I half crawling to a picnic table where I wiped the sweat out of my eyes and off my face and then took a swig from the last water bottle.

It was a solid non-transparent blue water bottle. I decided to pour the water from it into the clear one that I had been using. 


​Look out! I could now see the drinking water and it was full of slime swimming merrily, hither and thither.
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BUSTER'S FRIEND
I said to myself, “Self, I am going to try and do ten K’s without drinking any more water.”

Which I did, but you see when I’m dehydrated, I lose my voice. So, when I got to the truck and began the drive home, I didn’t stop and buy water. Because I don’t know sign language. 


​On the way home, I practiced ordering water, but my voice was almost non-existent. It was awol. So, I drove all the way home, approximately 90 K’s, thirsty while meticulously driving the speed limit because I didn’t want to get stopped by a cop and be left dumb-founded and speechless.

                     

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MOUNTAIN FOREST
Three billion birds have disappeared from North America in one generation. I assume ours.

​It’s a befuddling fuddle duddle what our generation has prioritized. Natural resources. Human resources. Fuddle duddle.


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TARA TAKING PHOTOS
Last Sunday, Tara, a friend from Eskasoni, Vince, a friend from Baddeck and myself, a very, very close friend from Middle River, climbed Blueberry Mountain.

​We also took a side trip to get a view of Cap Rouge and the climb back to the trail was tres exhausting. The views from both heights were worth the effort though and with change left over.


​
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LARRY, TARA, VINCENT
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