A Big Week

Last week was spent driving around Nova Scotia. Now before anyone gets all bent out of shape because I didn't visit remember I was there for work and only spent two nights in a row in the same place. Things were busy but enjoyable.

I had a quick visit with the Hennigars in Kentville to start. A night in the Valley, and then two nights out by the airport. The hotel was central to the tour I undertook with 22 other participants on a whirlwind visit of the three Nova Scotian Michelin plants. Friday was back in the Valley and a day in the plant in Waterville after picking up a rental car. Ohhhh but not just any car.

Usually muscle cars aren't my thing. I'm more of a practical wagon or SUV/crossover with a good roof rack kind of guy. However I couldn't turn down the car they offered me. The 2010 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 was pretty fun to drive and turned some heads. if only it had been red! I ended up with it all weekend and got to take my Dad and a few others out in it. It certainly wasn't the most practical car for my activities on Sunday but I'll get to that later.

Friday night was back to the city for the Reel Paddling Film Festival. As Paul Pilon put it: "it never ceases to amaze me the lengths that whitewater 'yakkers will go to toward ending their lives in some spectacular way." I have to agree, although some would say the same thing about me sometimes.

Saturday I caught up with my parents and attended a lovely celebration. Most people would call it a wake but this one was special. I came away from it thinking everyone should go to a funeral, particularly a young person's funeral, at least once in a while. It's an inevitable tragedy that people have to die but when they do we should celebrate their lives and take it as a reminder to make the best of our own lives.

Sunday was a good day despite the pouring rain, although there are no bad days on the water. Paul Pilon and I headed out from MacCormacks Beach Provincial Park and made our way north to Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park. This, the latest 20 km, is part of my quest to slowly circumnavigate the province counterclockwise. I just want to be able yo say I've paddled the whole thing, and since I can't take two months off to do it all in one go I am going to pick away at it one piece at a time. (How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time of course!)

By the time we got to our destination the sun was out and the temperature had risen by 10 degrees. Alas, in the end Lawrencetown Beach did not live up to it's reputation for surf, at least not on that day. I did play around a little but by far the beach just before Lawrencetown, called Stoney Beach, was way more fun. The long regular waves made for some good surfing and playing. Even Paul got "into" the action.

My last night in Nova Scotia was spent at Sodero House in Halifax. Everyone was in bed early having all had big days and good feed of Peter's Pizza. the next morning it was off to the airport, home by 2:00 (the corporate jet is the only way to fly) and back to the girls. What a week.