Goodbye, Canada, Until Next Time
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Louisbourg, Nova Scotia. 6:00 a.m.
This spot is okay in the dark, but in daylight I feel exposed. I drive to the parking lot of the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, where I know I can have the privacy I need for my morning routine.
I am so glad I came all this way to visit the Fortress of Louisbourg.
It took 20 years to rebuild much of what life looked like here in 1744. They were able to create the reconstruction thanks to incredibly detailed archives found in France. (Taking the guided tour is a fantastic way to explore the site.)
I wish I had more time to spend here, but I have about three hours of driving ahead of me to the small bed and breakfast I booked last night.
One night turns into two. I need more time to think, and I need to stay under a roof on a rainy day.
After hours of scrolling through my options, I make a few decisions. Most are rooted in the notion of letting go.
I was looking forward to experiencing the incredible beauty of Maine's rugged coast again. Next time…
Knowing I truly need a break, I book a cabin on a farm for seven nights. I give myself three days to get there because I am still holding on to one place: Five Islands Provincial Park.
Five Islands Provincial Park is a place where you can experience the dramatic tides of the Bay of Fundy.
Two years ago, when I visited Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park and witnessed just how fast and dramatically the tide changes, I knew I wanted to experience it again.
There is something mesmerizing about standing there at low tide, knowing that the place where you are walking will soon disappear beneath the water. And then watch it come back… It is so, so cool! Not to mention that both Susan and Janet recommended I stop here.
I get a campsite for one night because the weather is calling for rain tomorrow afternoon.
I know I better be in a city where I can escape during the day to a library or a mall instead of being stuck inside my car. So I return to Moncton, where I know I can park at Walmart and use the YMCA for a shower. Right now, that is all I need.
A week on a farm without plans. It is not an easy task for me, but absolutely necessary.
I write and write, trying to understand what I am so afraid of. And when I finally understand it, my fear gets even louder. I am not ready to give up my freedom on the open road, but I also cannot sustain long periods of travel in extreme weather. I am simply not set up for it. At the same time, the thought of staying in one place for longer than six months feels suffocating.
The future right now feels too big for my little feet. I constantly catch myself spiraling down. But interestingly enough, I also catch myself, stopping very quickly and reminding myself that all I truly have is now.
I try to focus on the little steps. I promise myself that I will at least give it a chance.
Goodbye, Canada. I enjoyed your beauty for 112 days, crossing from west to east and covering more than 9,000 miles (14,500 km). I witnessed your incredible wonders and found myself speechless so many times in front of your breathtaking landscapes. I had the privilege of reuniting with dear friends and making new ones.
Canada, you pushed my boundaries on so many levels.
I am grateful for all of it. You encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and challenged me to soften my heart even further to the greater universe around me.
I will always feel deeply grateful and honored to have been invited as a guest speaker at the Wings Over the Rockies Nature Festival.
Until next time…
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