Riding with the ROBOS -- Asheville and a Blue Ghost Firefly Tour

The ROBOS on the steps of the Grove Park Inn 

Note to self: Riding an electric bike isn't quite as easy as it looks. It's one thing for cyclists to use the extra assist to pedal around Punta Gorda and quite another to negotiate an e-bike's thrust to cycle up a hill in city traffic. And that's without taking into account the leader having to keep track of his nine little charges all in a row (more or less).  But the ROBOS are always up for an adventure.

Enter The Flying Bike (aka Touring with Torin). Torin is an old hand at e-biking. He commuted to work in Asheville on his electric bike for six years before finding an e-bike business opportunity on Craigslist when looking for a new battery. It seemed meant to be.

Interior of Basilica of St. Lawrence

After an exhaustive orientation (the details of which I promptly forgot once I was on the bike), we headed onto the streets of Asheville. It was only slightly nerve-wracking as we made our way -- in fits and starts -- to the oft-overlooked Basilica of St. Lawrence.

The Basilica was designed by Rafael Guastavino, a Spanish architect who was a contemporary of Gaudi. While you may not know his name, I suspect you're familiar with some of his designs. Guastavino is credited with creating the ubiquitous subway tile design that graces many a shower. This likely comes from the faience tile work Guastavino did for the New York City subway station when it was built in the early 1900s. His most significant work for the subway system was the City Hall station, now used as a turnaround for the 6 train. Guastavino and his well-trained son are also responsible for the McKim Building at the Boston Public Library and the Oyster Bar at Grand Central Station. For some great pics of his work, click here.

Our guide Torin

Back to Asheville and the Basilica of St. Lawrence. The interior features the largest unsupported elliptical dome in North America. It's quite an amazing structure made of terra cotta tiles molded together with thin layers of mortar. There's nary a piece of steel or wood in the dome. Guastavino is also responsible for the stunning blue tiled pool at the Biltmore Estate.

From there we were off to the glitz and glamour of the Grove Park Inn.  No trip to Asheville is complete without taking in the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the hotel terrace.

Torin shared a couple of noteworthy tidbits about the Inn with our group. The sprawling structure required 200 tons of stone for its still-original exterior. If I understood Torin correctly, most of the stone was hauled up the hill by mules. (Talk about being a beast of burden.)  And here's the kicker -- the Inn was built in just 362 days. The story goes that Henry Ford bet E.W. Grove the Inn could not be built in under a year. Grove employed 400 men who worked ten hours each day to accomplish the feat. Their daily pay of $1 was the best in town. Sadly, I failed to ask what Grove won for besting Ford other than some serious bragging rights.

Dinner at a picnic area on the Blue Ridge Parkway

That evening found us at the Cradle of the Forestry for a Blue Ghost Firefly Tour. While darkness fell, we were given the lowdown on fireflies, which are actually soft-bodied beetles. If I'd thought about it, I probably wouldn't have been surprised to learn that the fireflies' lanterns serve a reproductive purpose. (We were informed the number one pick up line for fireflies is "You sure look flashy tonight." Groan.)

Male fireflies hover one to four feet above the forest floor with their two lanterns on (unless, that is, they are in "private mode," in which case only their lower light is on). Their lanterns can emit light for up to a minute. Female fireflies stay in the leaves where they will nest for their gestation period. Perhaps it is because they are frequently hidden from view that females can have up to nine lanterns.

I got a bit nervous when we were warned we might not actually see any fireflies on our walk through the forest. It was early in the season (which only lasts two-three weeks), and fireflies aren't fond of temperatures under 60 degrees. The Cradle's location at an elevation of 3200 feet made it cooler than it was in Asheville. But my fears were abated when walkie talkies started sounding off as guides already in the forest reported, "I have visuals." Whew!

The ROBOS and our vehicle

As we entered the forest, we immediately saw a few fireflies flitting around. It was fun to hear people use their newfound knowledge as they excitedly announced the sex of the firefly they'd seen.  Before long the crowd spread out, and I found myself walking alone for much of the mile long path. It was a special experience to be amidst the trees with a nearly full moon shedding light on the path. Seeing some fireflies along the way was just a bonus.

All too soon, it was time to bundle ourselves back into our ten person passenger van and head home. I'm proud to report that I did much of the driving, including on the winding road back down the mountain. It was no harder than riding an  electric bike, except when it came to parking.

A huge thanks to Pam for organizing the ROBOS' South Carolina adventure with near military precision. The planning paid off, with every day full of friendship, the beauty of nature, and new experiences. Who could ask for anything more from a getaway?

Riding with the ROBOS -- Greenville

Back row: Lynden, Pat, Jeanne, Carol and Brideen

Front row: Gaye, Meike, Pam and me

A couple months back, I received an excited email from my friend Pam. "The ROBOS are coming to South Carolina!" it declared. The missive went on to ask if I wanted to join them for their U.S. cycling adventure. Needless to say, I was in. But a bit of background might be required....

Back when I was married, we had a home in Chester, Nova Scotia. It is an incredibly beautiful place on Mahone Bay filled with interesting and fun people living life to its fullest. The days were spent golfing and biking and -- gasp -- even doing some sailing.  No matter what the activity, there was always lots of great comaraderie.

Meike, Pam, Pat and Lynden at Swamp Rabbit Trail Café -
the Stecca bread was amazing!

In 2008, some of the more avid cyclists organized the ROBOS, or Ride on Buns of Steel.  (It never hurts to be aspirational, does it?)  Each year since then, the group has gathered for a cycling-oriented trip. Sometimes they've braved the elements and ridden from inn to inn with their gear in panniers. Other years they've done bike and barge tours or more urban adventures. I was finally going to experience a ROBOS adventure firsthand.

Our first day of cycling took us to Greenville. We rented bikes in Travelers Rest, a town whose name comes from the days when stage coaches would stop there to allow travelers time to rest and reprovision before heading over the mountains.

Pam on the Swamp Rabbit Trail

It's a straight shot on the Swamp Rabbit Trail from Travelers Rest to Greenville. Not surprisingly, there's a story behind the name of the trail. In 1887, the shortline Greenville and Northern Railroad was established to ferry goods (and perhaps people) the 11.3 mile run between the two towns. It didn't take long for the railroad to become known as the Swamp Rabbit due to its route through the wetlands of the Upper Reedy River. (That explanation doesn't totally clarify things for me, but that's how the story goes.) The multi-purpose trail follows the same path taken by the Swamp Rabbit and thus goes by the same name.

While the name Swamp Rabbit Trail doesn't exactly evoke visions of beauty, the trail is quite lovely. We pedaled under a canopy of trees for much of the ride. Who knew (or at least remembered) that there were so many colors of green?  And I loved the signage along the way, including the four signs that reminded us, "Don't worry/about your hairdo/it's better for you/to wear a helmet." Point taken.

Meike seems to be conversing with Nobel Prize winning

physicist -- and Furman graduate -- Charles Townes

It didn't take long for us to reach Greenville. The former mill town has been revitalized and is now a seriously up and coming city. It was fun to revisit the spots Pam had introduced me to last summer, including Falls Park on the Reedy and the awesome M. Judson Booksellers. The town is filled with sculptures and flowers, and the attentive pedestrian can contemplate the quotes engraved in sidewalk pavers on Main Street. My favorite, compliments of Joseph Joubert, read, "Never cut what you can untie." On my next visit, I'm hoping to do the self-guided public art tour.

All too soon, it was time to ride back to Travelers Rest. After all, there was happy hour to be had at the top of Glassy Mountain, elevation 1647 feet. (Yes, the views were incredible.)  Stay tuned for a recap of our adventures in Asheville and the Blue Ghost Fireflies Tour at Cradle of Forestry.

Touring the "Town that Died"

I've been pretty good about exploring the South Shore of Nova Scotia rather than just enjoying Chester summer camp as many CFAs ("Come From Aways") do when they come for their summer vacation.  I have been remiss, however, about learning about Halifax (which people refer to as the "City," which always cracks me up since the "City" is New York, isn't it???)   In one of those small world coincidences, the brother of one of the tutors from our adult literacy program in Florida owns an Ambassatours tour company in Halifax, and she arranged for me to go with some friends on a three hour tour of the City last week. (I can hear you humming the theme song to "Gilligan's Island" now!)   I thought I'd share some of the highlights: 

• Halifax was settled by Cornwallis and a bunch of city folks from London in 1749.  The City's name was changed then from Chebooktook (the Mi'kmaq Indian word for "big harbour" which had been used for the past 10,000 years) to Halifax after the Earl of Halifax. 

• Four hilltop forts were established in Halifax so that the British could protect the City. The fort on Citadel Hill has been preserved in its 1869 iteration, complete with a guard at the entrance and soldiers marching in the courtyard. The fort includes a bunk room, kitchen, dining room and a school. Soldiers were encouraged to attend school in their non-working hours and all children of soldiers living at the Citadel were given free education, which was a big deal at the time. The teacher used a projection device known as the "Green Lantern" to give slide presentations that were used both in school and for entertainment.   There is also a tailor shop where tourists like us can try on uniforms, which of course I insisted we do.  (To my eye, the hats make us look like the flying monkeys in The Wizard of Oz!)
• Sam Cunard ran his start-up cruise line business from Halifax.  What he should be best known for, though, is his invention of the universal navigation system of using green lights for starboard (right) and red lights for port (left).  
• Halifax was only 700 nautical miles away from where the Titanic went down and consequently served as one of the major recovery centers.   Haligonian searchers recovered 328 bodies from the disaster. 
• In December of 1917 SS Mont-Blanc,  a steamship chartered by the French government to transport munitions to Europe, collided with the freighter Imo and caused the largest man made explosion in the history of the world until Hiroshima.    The impact of the explosion was quite gruesome, with people within 100 yards of the explosion being totally vaporized.  The aftermath of the explosion included a tsunami that was over 50 feet high and fires that raged throughout the City for over a week.   Over time, the City was rebuilt, but it thereafter became known as "the town that died."
• On a happier note, Halifax is a popular location for shooting movies and TV shows.  Not surprisingly, some scenes from Titanic were filmed there.  When we went on our tour, Pearce Brosnan was in town filming a mini-series of Stephen King's Bag of Bones.  This was not news to me, since I had run into Pearce at the pro shop at Chester Golf Club earlier in the week!  (Not to burst any bubbles, but he looked very old and wan, wasn't friendly and his group was so slow on the course that people played through.) 

The guide for our tour was quite the raconteur and, as we found out at as we headed back to our starting point, a singer as well.  He ended the tour by serenading us with Farewell to Nova Scotia, a popular folk song that is believed to have been written around the time of the first World War.   The chorus goes:

                                      Farewell to Nova Scotia, the sea-bound coast
                                      Let your mountains dark and dreary be.
                                      For when I am far away on the briny ocean tossed,
                                      Will you ever heave a sigh or wish for me?

As my time in Chester has drawn to a close, I too say my farewells to Nova Scotia and my wonderful friends there (although I will definitely not sing--that would be entirely too painful!)   It is truly a special spot, and I am already plotting next year's adventures.  For now, though, it's back to sunny (okay, hot and incredibly humid) Florida and what passes for my "real life."   Already on the calendar for September are the first Peace River Film Festival and a kayak outing to Sanibel Island so there will be plenty of fun mixed in with my adult literacy work (which is fun in a different way).   Watch this space for updates! 

Shakespeare by the Sea Presents The Comedy of Errors

Chester's environs are just full of little gems if you take the time to seek them out.    Having enjoyed the outdoor production of Beowulf so much, I was keen to check out Halifax' own outdoor theater, Shakespeare by the Sea.   The bar had been set a bit higher for this production than for some of the other shows I've seen this summer, both because Beowulf was so terrific and because I've had the opportunity to see Shakespeare performed outdoors in the past.   Years ago when I was living in New York, I went to a couple of shows at Shakespeare in the Park put on by Joseph Papp's Public Theater.  Since the cast of these productions often include big names and the shows are put on by, well, Joseph Papp, they are pretty spectacular.   Then there was Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Massachusetts.  While it was a larger and more permanent venue, I remember the experience as being quite special. 

Cut to the Cambridge Battery at Point Pleasant Park in Halifax.  For those of you with a historical bent, Cornwallis founded Halifax in 1749 as a strategic settlement for the British.  Seven "batteries" (fortifications) were established in order to protect the harbour from enemy ships and Cambridge Battery was one of these fortifications.  Cambrige Battery is now the home to Shakespeare by the Sea, and I can only imagine that the actors occasionally channel some of the history of this place when performing Willy the Shake's darker plays.   No such channeling would have been required for the production of The Comedy of Errors, though, Shakespeare's first comedy and one of his earliest plays.    

The theater is located about a ten minute walk into the Park and we arrived just in the nick of time for the performance, armed with chairs, blankets and fleece jackets.  We set up our chairs and joined the ranks of what I'd estimate to be a crowd of 100 or so theatergoers.   Despite my good intentions, I hadn't read anything about the play and we didn't have time to read the program, so I was a bit apprehensive as the show started.  After all, it can sometimes be a bit hard to figure out what the heck is going on in Shakespeare.   I realized I didn't need to worry too much when the opening scene was overseen by a would-be executioner wearing sunglasses and sporting a farmer's tan!  The potential executionee was a gentleman who told a sad tale of two sets of twins separated at birth (Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus and Syracuse, respectively) and his search for one of his sons.  The Duke took pity on the man and granted him a day long reprieve if he could come up with the cash to buy his freedom.   This was the set-up for a day of confusion and hilarity as Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse visit the village and are confused with Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus (or was it the other way around???) 

Despite the executioner's get up, the play was done straight up for the most part (or at least as straight up as a farce can be done!)  The director did include some unexpected updates that added an extra level of fun to the performance.  My particular favorite was when one of the Anitopholuses (Antipholi?) was trying to escape from a lunch with the wife of the other Antipholus and sneak away--back to the wall, rolling on the ground as necessary--humming the theme song to "Mission Impossible!"

Antipholus of Ephesus (rear), Adriana,
Nun and Driomo (of Ephesus?) (L-R)

I found the acting quite good, with particular kudos to Carly Chamberlain, who played Adriana, wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, and Tom Gordon Smith, who played Antipholus of Syracuse.   Both of the actors who played Dromio were great as well, and they looked so much alike that I thought at first they were the same actor.  (The way that you could distinguish one Antipholus from the other was that the colors on their shirts were reversed (brown on one side, white on the other); for the Dromios, it was which sleeve on their sweaters hung down below their hand.)   As with Two Planks and a Passion, it was great fun to be so close to the actors.  This shot was taken during intermission as the actors relaxed at picnic tables behind the audience.  I wasn't brave enough to ask for a real photo opp but suspect that they would have been more than willing to accommodate. 

While The Comedy of Errors wasn't my favorite theater experience of the summer, it was definitely a fun night out and well worth the $15 voluntary contribution.   The great thing is that you don't have to choose between going to the Chester Playhouse or Two Planks and a Passion or Shakespeare by the Sea.  They are all readily accessible and just waiting for theatergoers to enjoy their offerings.   If I weren't heading back to Florida this week, I'd check out one of Shakespeare by the Sea's other productions this season--Measure for Measure and Robin Hood (I guess they branch out a bit beyond Shakespeare, which is probably smart marketing).    The bottom line is that if you find yourself in Nova Scotia, get thee not to a nunnery, but to some of the excellent theater that is being put on in this magical province! 

  

Two Planks and a Passion Theater Presents Beowulf

For the past couple of years, I've wanted to see a production at Two Planks and a Passion Theater.   The theater is located in Canning, though, which is over an hour away from Chester, so it hasn't been easy to decide on the spur of the moment to go.  Plus their productions haven't been overly enticing to me.  Last year they put on "The Crucible" (which I've seen on numerous occasions) and the year before it was "Our Town" (again, been there, seen that). This year's production was "Beowulf," which on its face sounded like it would be about as enjoyable as going to the dentist.   Nonetheless, I floated the idea to my gal pals and we decided to make it part of our week-end away.   

You might be wondering why I've been so keen to see a production at Two Planks if the shows haven't sounded that interesting to me.  The reason is simple:  the "theater" is in the great outdoors.   I've been to outdoor theater a couple of times in the past, and I am always amazed--and thrilled--at how creative directors can be at using the surrounding environment as their set.   It  adds something incredibly special to the performance, and this production was no exception.  We arrived a few minutes before the 6:00 curtain and took our seats on the second row of stadium bleachers (quite similar to what you would find in a gym).  There were four sets of bleachers, and the entire "theater" accommodated only about 100 audience members.  Talk about an intimate venue!  We had come prepared with bug spray (which we happily did not need) and blankets (which we did).

The audience silenced as the actors started coming onto the (dirt) stage from the surrounding woods to meet around a fire pit and talk about the ships that were in the harbor gathering their forces for an attack.  Were they willing to send their sons to battle?  Should they flee the lives that they had built and head to the mountains?  Enter Beowulf, the reigning warrior and leader of Geats for the past 20 years (and, I might add, quite a striking figure).  As he is making an impassioned plea for their help, a foot soldier arrives with a golden pitcher that he discovered in the forest.  He suggests that they send a team to scavenge for more gold to pay soldiers to join their forces.  Beowulf and the town elders quickly realize that the pitcher came from a dragon's den that has now been disturbed and that Geats suddenly has two battles to wage--one against the soldiers seeking to pillage their homes and persons and another against the dragon. 

The story builds from there, with Beowulf's illegitimate daughter arriving to seek Beowulf's help in defending her homeland against the marauders who have been attacking it.  He agrees, so long as she first acts as a "peacemaker" in their current battle.  (Come to find out, the peacemaker not only becomes the face of the nation, but is also required to marry the head of the attacking legion if they win, thus binding the two forces and creating peace.)     I could say more about the story, but I don't think I can do it justice in the retelling.  Suffice it to say that it kept us all glued to our seats. 

The acting was top notch and the production was very powerful--moving and dramatic but with a good measure of humor mixed in.  There is an immediacy to this type of theater experience that is hard to convey in words.  The actors were literally right in front of us, and the audience became part of the conversation (which, I'm happy to report, was not in Old English!)  The costumes were great and the music was unique and haunting.   The fog rolled in about two-thirds of the way through the performance, adding an atmospheric element that cannot be created with a fog machine.  I'd be remiss not to mention the giant puppet horse and dragon that made appearances during the show.  The horse in particular was fantastic, and is just one indication of the creativity that went into this production.    All in all, a most enjoyable evening.

I wanted to share part of the letter from the Artistic Director of Two Planks and a Passion Theater (also known as "Theatre Off the Grid.") that was in the program for the show.   "... On a secluded farm far from the bustle of modern life, we choose to evoke a time when the theatre was central to the sharing of ideas, aspirations and emotions.  It didn't require computers, amplicification or electricity.  It only required that we come together and witness something passionate and true."    Lofty aspirations, but if "Beowulf" is representative of Two Planks and a Passion's productions, they are living up to them.

I heard from a friend that next year's production will be "Lysistrada," one of Aristophanes' eleven surviving plays.  The play was written in 411 BC and is the story of one woman's efforts to end a war by withholding sex.  Realizing that the play might need a bit of updating, it will be set in the era of the Civil War.   I can't wait!



 

Fun on the Bay of Fundy

Last week-end I had a little get-away with three of my women friends up to Annapolis Valley.  This is our second annual adventure, and it seems that we get in a week's activities in the 36 hours that we are gone! 

We started off bright and early and headed to the Wolfville Farmer's Market.    (I am feeling a bit like a farmers' market junkie these days!)   The market was full of the usual suspects--produce with dirt still on its roots, flowers and organic products galore.  I enjoyed a breakfast of fish cakes with chow-chow, a real treat.  (Chow-chow is a relish made of green tomatoes, pepppers, cabbage, onions, vinegar and more and is a much tastier complement to fish cakes than tartar sauce.)  Thus fortified, we headed out on our explorations.

Pat, Jeannie and Pam at the Gardens

Our next stop was the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens at Acadia University.   (Given the price of gas at the local Irving station, I'm glad to see that the family is giving back to the community!)   The gardens are open from dawn to dusk each day so that students and other Wolfville pedestrians can wander through them.  There was a beautiful pond with lilypads (in full bloom) and loads of blueberry bushes that we took a nibble from.  This quaint little bridge crossed over a stream and screamed out for a photo opp--we were more than happy to oblige!  The Gardens also have a conservatory that is adjacent to one of the most beautiful reading rooms I've ever seen.  Oversized leather couches and chairs, a huge fireplace and an incredible panelled ceiling made me want to curl up and read a while.  But we had miles to go before we slept so we carried on. 

After an afternoon of wandering the towns in the Valley, we made our way to the Farmhouse Inn to get settled before heading out to see the production of Beowulf put on by Two Planks and a Passion Theater.   (The show was great and will be the subject of a separate post.)     A lovely evening was had by all before we retired to our coach house accommodations to rest up for the next day's activities.

We generally like to build some physical activity into our get-togethers, and this outing was no exception.  Our first adventure of the day was a hike in Blomidon Provincial Park.  (Trust me, massive amounts of exercise were called for after our breakfast at the Inn of blueberry grunt--basically blueberry dumplings swimming in cream--and spinach and bacon quiche with some greens.)   We had hoped to have some great views of the famous Bay of Fundy tides during our hike, but the fog had settled in so we just had to apply our imagination to the look-outs.  We did, however, have other viewing opportunities during our journeys, including this dock with its working fishing boats "on the hard."  The Bay of Fundy has incredibly high and low tides that are on a six hour and 13 minute cycle.  When the tides are high, they are really high; when they are low, you can walk out onto the sand/mud beaches for quite a distance.   It's a pretty remarkable sight to see (although the smell that goes along with these tides leaves a bit to be desired.)  

From there we were off to Hall's Harbour, a fishing village best known for its lobster pound.  Amazingly, we had worked up an appetite during our hike so we split a couple of lobster rolls with fries.  (When in Rome and all that.)  It was actually my first lobster of the summer and it was quite tasty! 

The day had slipped away and it was time to head back home.  We stopped at another farmers' market and Guy's Frenchys (an indescribable chain of used clothing stores that are a fixture in Nova Scotia) on our way back to Chester where our husbands were eagerly awaiting our returns with open arms and lots of questions about our week-end.  (OK, not so much, but a girl can dream!)   Those of us with sailor husbands had one activity left before we could rest--a showing of the documentary "Deep Water" at the Chester Playhouse.  This movie chronicled the first single-handed round-the-world sailing race that took place in the late 1960s.  It was quite a sad movie, with one participant faking his coordinates rather than facing the financial ruin and humiliation involved with quitting the race.  The choice ended up driving him mad, and he committed suicide.  The high price of obsession.  

Needless to say, the week-end was fun and filled with lots of interesting and varied experiences.  The best part, though, was the luxury of spending time away with good friends.   We're already considering itineraries for next year's adventure.  An outing to Ship's Company Theater in Parrsboro?   Music and hiking on Cape Breton?    I'm already looking forward to it! 

Poetry Party

I received an invite a couple of days ago to a poetry party being hosted by my friend Lynne.  Her sister (an annual visitor to Chester) recently had a book of poetry published and Lynne was hosting a reading of her work.  Would I join them?  I have to admit that my first thought was, "What if it's really terrible and I'm trapped there?"   My second thought was, "Poetry?  That can be pretty intimidating."   The invite was so gracious, though, that I decided to throw caution to the wind and go to the reading.  

Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon

Anne Baber, our poet, kicked off the evening with a reference to CBC radio show talk host, Stuart McLean.  McLean has a show called "The Vinyl Cafe" on which he muses about everyday life.  He says that he finds himself writing down "marginalia" (what a great word!) and being on the look out for things that other people might not notice and that it is these morsels that often become the subject of his shows.  Similarly, Anne shared that she views the world through the lens of a poem waiting to be written.  This makes her mindful of what's going on in the world around her in a way that she might not be if she weren't a poet.

The poems that Anne read to us were often funny, always smart and just downright enjoyable.   Her presentation was terrific and I'm enjoying reading her poetry (because of course I bought the book!) with the memory of her voice and intonation in my mind.   I'm running the risk of a copyright violation, but I can't resist sharing some lines from her poetry with you.  The first excerpt is from a poem entitled, "Love in the Time of Twitter." 

                                                 In the interval between
                                                 "Once upon a time..."
                                                  and
                                                 "Happily ever after..."
                                                 electronic foreplay--
                                                 the tweeting of trysts,
                                                 abbreviation and interruption.....

The very last line is a catchphrase with which we have all become familiar:  'Sent from my Blackberry."  Love in the 21st century indeed!   And here are a few lines from a poem entitled "Singing Endlessly":

                                                 In my family, the slightest cue
                                                 evoked a song.
                                                 As in the old musicals,
                                                 one raindrop had us
                                                 sloshing through the puddles,
                                                 swinging 'round the lamppost,
                                                 singing in the rain.....

                                                 I like to think of our voices
                                                 somewhere over the rainbow--
                                                 strong, together always,
                                                 singing endlessly out among the stars.

As I was reading Anne's poems today, I remembered a session I attended at a literacy conference about incorporating reading--and writing--poetry into adult literacy programs.  Poetry is personal and there is no "right" answer about what a poem means.  This makes a carefully chosen poem a great conversation starter when working with ESL (English as a second language) students.  And since poetry doesn't adhere to rules of punctuation or grammar, working with a student to write a poem is a great way to help them get over the fear of putting pen to paper.  As I'm getting back into work mode, it's great to find a nexus between my work and such an enjoyable evening.   Who knows, maybe one of Anne's poems will find its way into one of my lesson plans????

Chester Playhouse Presents Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris

Each year the Chester Playhouse hosts a Summer Theater Festival, and it always surprises me to find such interesting and well-done shows in our small seaside community.  Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is the first show in this season's line-up.   For those of you who aren't familiar with Jacques Brel (neither was I), he was a Belgian singer-songwriter whose songs were performed by the likes of Edith Piaf and Maurice Chevalier.  In 1968, a musical revue of his songs was created and performed at the Village Gate Theater in New York, where it ran for four years.  Since then, revivals have popped up periodically, including the one in Chester this summer.

I was captivated from the first song, "Marathon."   The music is upbeat and it's easy to get caught up in it and miss the kaleidoscope of historical events covered by the lyrics.  In fact, I didn't fully appreciate their depth until I came home and looked them up.  The song is about a dance marathon, and the dancers have to keep going.  As they dance, they cover the passing decades.   Early on in the song, they "must dance because the Twenties roar...The road to whoopee and a whole lot more, Charles A. Lindbergh, tons of confetti, Dempsey-Tunney, Sacco and Vanzetti, Black, black Monday and the market drops, But we keep dancing, dancing, We can't stop."  The lyrics for the Thirties cover everything from Orphan Annie to breadlines to Hitler to the Siegfield follies in one short stanza.  Then we get, "The Forties burn because the trumpets blare, Yanks are coming, coming over there...Manhattan Project, Robert Oppenheim, God makes mushrooms just as God makes time...."   Very powerful, almost sneakily so.   As I took a look at the lyrics, I wondered if Billy Joel's found his inspiration for "We Didn't Start the Fire" in Brel's "Marathon."

While there were a couple of numbers that were pure fun (like "Carousel," whose words are sung faster and faster as the carousel spins), many of the songs had a message, be it global or relational.   The song "Old Folks" was incredibly poignant, with its lyrics about a couple who have lived "too long". 

                             They just put down their heads and go to sleep one day
                             They hold each other's hand like children in the dark
                             But one will get lost anyway
                             And the other will remain
                             Just sitting in that room
                             Which makes no sound.   

In some instances, I knew the lyrics carried a message but I wasn't sure what it was since it was the first time I'd heard the song.    Three days later, I'm still thinking about the show and am considering going a second time.

Now that I've fawned over the songwriting, let me say a few words about the cast and production.  The singing was fantastic.   All four cast members were strong but Cliff LeJeune stole the show for me.  This is his third summer in performances at the Playhouse and I am looking forward to seeing him in the future.   The direction of the performance and choreography were outstanding as well, with nuances that gave life to the words being sung.  (Are you getting the feeling that I liked it???)

In the interest of full disclosure, I'll tell you that my review of the show was not shared by my companions. My friends' reactions ranged from lukewarm to intrigued.    That's one of the great things about art and theater (and life, for that matter!)  We all bring our own tastes and experiences to the table, so it's inevitable that we will have differing reactions.   For me, though, it was a great outing with friends enjoying a stirring performance.  My hat is off to the Playhouse for including this production in its this year's Summer Theater Festival.

Miss July

After enjoying ladies' day golf for the past few years at the beautiful Chester Golf Club, I decided it was time to do my bit and be the Member Host  for the month of July.  (This is the genesis of  the "Miss July" moniker, although no self-respecting beauty queen would have a baseball cap permanently affixed to her head as I seem to!)  All I had to do was organize four tournaments, so how hard could it be?  Little did I know!  It was actually a lot of fun and allowed me to put names with faces while using my organizational skills and creativity.  And since I've declared this summer to be "all about the golf," it fit perfectly with my mantra.

First a word about the golf course, which has to be one of the most beautiful in the world.  It's gorgeous whether the sun is shining or the fog has rolled in.  The course has water views from over half of the holes, which can be a bit distracting!  Some ospreys have made their home on a pole by the first green, and each year we watch the growth of the baby birds and celebrate when they leave the nest for the first time.  My recollection is that the Pew Charitable Trust donated the land for the course to the municipality with the intention of making the course affordable to all municipal residents.  (Annual membership is about $500 and there's no minimum so it is really one of the best deals you could possibly find!)   It's not a long course (which certainly suits my game) but the greens more than make up for it and the greenskeepers are quite devilish with their pin placements! 

My responsibilities for the month were to determine the format for each Tuesday, organize the pairings, and tally the scores.  There's a luncheon on the last Tuesday of the month at which prizes are awarded and the Member Host happily turns the reigns over to the next month's czarina.   My first Tuesday went swimmingly, with 50 ladies signed up.  The weather was great, people enjoyed the "various pars" format, and everyone was happy.   The second Tuesday was a different story altogether.  Two tournaments were being played--the Nunn Trophy for players with a handicap of 37 or higher and the Bronze Trophy which would determine the five players going to represent Chester Golf Club in a province-wide tournament in August.  Forty-four players had signed up and the panic set in when I woke up to rain and a forecast for thunderstorms throughout the day.   I spent my morning in the pro shop scratching people's names off the list as the cancellations flowed in.  Only ten women ended up playing that day (and I have to admit that I was not one of them!)   The Executive decided that we would replay the tournaments the following week, with the players who went out in the rain having two bites at the apple.   We decided that we would also play the regularly scheduled format day--the tombstone tournament--because it is a favorite.

Happily, the weather cooperated the following week and we got the tournaments played.  The Tombstone Tourney is always a fun one.  You add your handicap to par for the course and if you reach that number of strokes during the round, you "die."  The Club provides tombstones and crosses that you can put your name on and plant in the event of your death and there's a competition for players who design their own.   Some people are quite clever and elaborate with their designs.  The only year I made my own I went with an urn for my ashes.  I was stunned (not) when I didn't win the prize for creativity! 

The final Tuesday of the month is always a team format, and I introduced the concept of team best ball last year.  The team score on each hole is the best net score on that hole of the team members.   It's a bit of an exercise to determine how many strokes each player gets per hole, but it's a format that allows higher handicappers to participate in the team score when they have a good hole.   Plus people get to play their own ball, which is always a plus.  The rain held out until we had four holes to go and then the skies opened up.  It's a shotgun format and some of the players who were close to the clubhouse bailed and went in for an early lunch.  My team continued on and ended up winning with a net score of 55!   After a great lunch and the awards "ceremony," my job was done.  Whew! 

I thoroughly enjoyed my tenure as Member Host but have to admit that I'm happy to go back to the ranks of the mere players.   I have a little over three weeks left before I head back to Florida and am hoping to break 100 for the second time ever before I leave.  (The day I broke 100 was a fun round, only to be followed up with a couple of truly ugly rounds.  The golf gods giveth and they taketh away!)    I have the golf bug pretty bad now, so I might have to break down and play over the winter.   Too many fun things to do, too little time! 

Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct Park

For the past few years, I've wanted to check out Kejimkujik National Park (which is thankfully referred to as "Keji" for short) but have never quite gotten there.   The Park has two locations--the national park proper, which is located in the center of several canoe routes between the Bay of Fundy and the coast of the Atlantic Ocean that were used in bygone days by local indians, and the seaside adjunct park.  The Park proper is both a National Park and  a National Historic Site and looks more than worthy of a day of exploration.  Visitors can engage in all sorts of outdoor activities there, from biking and hiking to kayaking and birdwatching.  In addition, the Park boasts some petroglyphs that were created by the Mi'kmaq Indians in the 18th and 19th centuries and look quite cool.  The property for the Seaside Adjunct Park was added to the Park in 1988 and is one of the least disturbed coastal properties on the southern coast of Nova Scotia.  The idea of hiking along the water sounded quite enticing so visiting the Seaside Adjunct was a higher priority than going to the park proper. Last week I finally got there with my friends Pam and Johanna, and what a beautiful spot it is! 

There were no cars in the parking lot when we arrived at "Keji" and no ranger on duty at the guard house, which was a bit curious.  We had decided to go with the longer 9K walk and walked to the trailhead (maybe ten minutes at the most) when we came upon signs saying that the trail was closed "for maintenance."   Now, I am the quintessential rules girl and generally color inside the lines but I wasn't about to turn around and go home because of some silly trail maintenance signs!  What kind of maintenance could we be talking about?   I easily persuaded Pam and Johanna that we could turn back if it looked dicey so we ducked under the saw horse and headed out. 

The first bit of the hike is down a boardwalk which, as advertised, was torn up in places.  Not an issue for us but (donning my legal hat for a moment) I could understand why the Park wouldn't want kids to run headlong towards the beach and get tripped up.    Eventually we made our way onto a rock strewn path that had lots of sea urchin remains.   The fog had rolled in and we were quite happy that we'd had the foresight to pack jackets.  It was very pretty and quite atmospheric, and I was convincing myself that it didn't matter if it wasn't sunny because the scenery was nice just as it was when the sun broke through the clouds.  I have to tell you, with the sun shining, the park was downright glorious! 

By this time we had made our way from the rocks onto a beautiful white sand beach.   The water was gorgeous and it was somewhat reminiscent of the Caribbean--but for the water temperatures!  As we walked we could hear the waves crashing onto the shore--one of my favorite sounds in the world. From the beach we could see a small island where a few seals were sunning themselves and we watched for a while as other swam frolicked in the Ocean.  There were some great rock outcroppings that reminded me a bit of Peggy's Cove (a must see if you are ever on the South Shore of Nova Scotia). 

The park has some interesting vegetation that Pam and Johanna pointed out along the way.  The most unusual was the pitcher plant (which I took a very out of focus picture of so I can't include it here--sorry!)  It is quite striking and carnivorous, sort of like a venus fly trap.  I would have loved to have seen one in action!    

After our walk, we headed down the highway to Shelburne to have lunch at Charlotte Lane.  (In case you haven't noticed, I think it's important to counteract any benefits of exercise with food as soon as possible after my work-out is over!)   Charlotte Lane is a sweet little restaurant with eight tables inside and a few tables on the patio.  The staff was dressed up in 18th century Loyalist attire in honor of the Founders' Day celebration that was going on and music wafted up from the waterfront to accompany our meal.  We had a great lunch and capped it off with a fabulous lemon panna cotta with raspberry sauce that I'm hoping to replicate.   All in all, another great day spent with good friends in the great outdoors! 

Have Camera, Will Shoot

Jay is the photographer in the family.  He actually used to take pictures professionally, so needless to say his standards are significantly higher than mine.  In the days of film, he would go through an entire roll and save one or two pictures--if he was lucky and feelng in a generous mood!  Anyway, digital cameras do make it a bit easier, and I love carrying my clumsy point and shoot with me on my outings.  Here are a couple of shots that I  wanted to share.

This is a fun one from a bike ride along the Aspotogan Peninsula.   The water lilies are just about to bloom.  Water lilies of course remind me of Monet, which reminds me in turn of when my sister and I visited his home in Giverny.  On our way back to Paris, we realized that we were on a train going the wrong direction and ended up having to make a jump for the platform.  Suzanne leapt off and landed gracefully like the ballerina she was.  Me, not so much!   Just one of those memories that will be part of the Crist family lore forever. 

People in Nova Scotia are really into their gardens, and my friends Pam and Peter's gardens are some of the most beautiful I've seen. In addition to the gardens, the backyard sports a trellised pergola where they were married!  Pam and Peter are quite the hosts and had our gang over recently for a wonderful dinner. We had appetizers and cocktails down on the dock overlooking the LaHave River and moved up to the screened in dining room for dinner (which ended with homemade vanilla ice cream that was truly to die for). Anyway, these lilies--while not the most exotic flowers in the garden--really pop against the backdrop of the blue house and practically screamed out to have their picture taken.   Who was I to refuse?

Back to a more evocative shot.  Hopefully the resolution is good enough that you can make out the spider web attached to this post.  I came upon this photo opp one day on a walk on the Rails to Trails from Martin's Point to Mahone Bay.  It was about a 6 mile walk (and the leaders kept up quite the pace) so I didn't feel the least bit guilty enjoying a life sustaining muffin from the Biscuit Eater Cafe.    Life--or at least my time in Chester--is just too short to count calories!   

Biking with the HeartLand Tour

Nanette, Pam and Pat wearing our 
HeartLand Tour teeshirts

In 2007, 20+ doctors decided to ride their bikes across Nova Scotia to raise awareness about heart disease.  With that ride, the HeartLand Tour  was created   (http://heartlandtour.ca/).  My friends Pam, Pat and I participated yesterday in the fifth annual ride along the South Shore.  What a great day it turned out to be!  The weather looked a bit questionable at the start.  Having golfed the day before in what I consider British Open-like conditions (temps in the 50s and windy), I was a bit apprehensive when I woke to a dark sky.  But I layered up and headed to the meeting place, figuring that the first portion of the ride was a loop and I could bail at the end of that if conditions worsened.  Of course, I ended up being glad to be able to go back to my car after that portion of the ride--to get rid of some of my layers!  (One of my sailor friends here has an expression relating to the changeable Nova Scotia weather--"Go to the boat."  You really never know what the weather is going to be like until the moment of your activity so you should always go to the boat, go to the golf course, go to the ride.)

The best apart about the ride (other than being with my friends!) was that it was along the water almost the entire way.  In fact, we biked with views of three bodies of water over the course of the day--Mahone Bay, the LaHave River and the Atlantic Ocean.  The first leg of the ride was from Mahone Bay out to Indian Point and back.  I've driven out to Indian Point before to go to a friend's Friday "shareholders' meeting" (no shareholders, no meeting, just a bunch of guys talking mostly about sailing) and it is a gorgeous spot.  Rolling hills but nothing too extreme.  On the way back, I looked away from the water to find a surprise carving of a Canadian bear.   (I know he was Canadian because of the flags!)

The next leg of the trip was from Mahone Bay to Lunenberg.  We did this ride last year, and it is really nice.  You ride along the water for a good bit of time then head into farm country.   It is always a bit of a surprise to me to see these rolling hills and barns in a seaside area.  We came upon a pasture with some cows grazing (and a sign about hamburger meat for sale--kind of puts a damper on that burger!)  Before long we arrived in Lunenberg, a working fishing and boatbuilding community and home to the Bluenose II.   We were treated to an incredible lunch on the waterfront outside the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.  (Here's a teaser--I bought a ticket on Groupon to go to the Museum, so I'll be posting about that later in the summer.) 

After feasting on the delicious wraps (I had the seafood made with lobster, crab, shrimp and scallops) and resting our legs, we headed out for the last portion of the ride--Lunenberg to Riverport.  The group headed out on a route that took them up a massive hill by the local golf course while we took advantage of Pam's local knowledge to go a back way that, while a bit less scenic, was less strenuous on our legs.  We made a stop at a little known gem along the way--Sand Dollar Beach.    (Note to riders--always use your hand signals when turning.  I made a left turn to head down to the beach without signalling and came extremely close to crashing with a rider who came up behind me.   Luckily he yelled out and we were both able to veer off and avoid what surely would have been a huge disaster.)    From there we made our way to the LaHave ferry and crossed the River.  We rode from the ferry landing to Pam's house  and ended up clocking between 30-35 miles.   (Trust me--that's the equivalent of at least 50 miles of Florida flatness!) 

One amazing note about the ride--the whole thing was free!  The HeartLand tour is all about raising awareness about heart health by getting the community moving.  The entire event, including the swag support vehicle, the lunch and the post-ride activities, is made possible by the generous support of sponsors and the help of a lot of volunteers.   A number of the riders do the entire week of rides across the province.  Next year we plan to participate in at least one additional day of the tour (although we're going to skip the 120K day in Antigonish that has 60K of hills--if the woman who has clocked 2000K this year on her bike thought the hills were worth mentioning, count me out!)   Come join us!

All Jazzed Up

Each year in mid-late July, I remember that there's a Halifax Jazz Festival and go online to check it out only to find out that it's already over.  This year I got the Festival on my calendar early and made plans to go for an aftenoon of free--yes, free--concerts at the Festival Tent venue.   What a great afternoon it turned out to be!

There were four acts, each performing for about an hour.  The Chebucto Big Band kicked things off.  They are a 20 piece community based band and were lots of fun.   Their numbers covered a lot of ground, from Duke Ellington to Glenn Miller to Latin jazz.   People were up and dancing, including a bunch of folks that I later learned were from the Dalhousie Swing Society.   Some women were dancing together, reminding me of when I took ballroom dancing at Mount Holyoke to fulfill one of my phys ed requirements.  (That is sad on so many levels I can't even begin to contemplate it!)  In any event, it was a promising start to the day. 

Next up was Doris Mason's Ella-Vation backed by the Nova Scotia Nine.   I was a bit wary going into this part of the program--Ella was so fabulous and when you say you are doing an Ella tribute, you've set the bar pretty darn high.  I am happy to report that Mason and her band were swinging big time.   One of the highlights was their rendition of "How High the Moon" that included Mason doing some scat singing which one of the brass players would then replicate.  The Dalhousie Swing Society (and other audience members) lifted the performance to an even higher level with their dancing--it was hard to decide whether to watch them or the musicians!  I definitely had not had enough Ella-Vation when their time was up and would go see them again in a heartbeat.

Mike Cowie and the Waterbabies had a hard act to follow, but they were up to the task. Cowie is a trumpet player and vocalist and started off with a great version of Ellington's "Do Nothing Until You Hear from Me." His use of the mute in this number was fantastic--his trumpet was making all sorts of sexy and sultry sounds that you don't typically associate with that instrument. The band alternated from jazz standards to their own arrangements of Sting and Beatles songs--a risky proposition but Cowie has the voice to pull it off. This group performs regularly at Niche Lounge Supper Club in Halifax and I'd love to go there with my trumpet playing stepson next time he's up to visit to get his take on their act.

Last up was The Sanctified Brothers, a gospel and R&B band. You might not think that you'd enjoy this type of music, but having been to the gospel tent at JazzFest in New Orleans, I knew this had the potential to be lots of fun. The audience was on its feet dancing and singing for most of their performance. One thing about gospel is that there's a lot of repetition in the lyrics, so it's easy to sing along. I got into it with a song where the lyrics were "Call Him Up" as did most of the crowd (although the guy in the yarmulke sitting in front of us did leave during this number!) The dance floor filled up during this session, with people clapping and dancing like an old time revival. The spirit moved one woman to do moves much like the swim--causing one of my friends to recall the hilariously painful Elaine dancing episode on "Seinfeld"--but I have to give her credit for getting up there and going with it! These guys provide the music at one of the local churches, and I am almost tempted to go to one of their services!

Needless to say, it was a great afternoon.  The Halifax Jazz Festival is in its 25th year and runs until July 16th.   In addition to the daily free concerts in the Festival Tent, the Festival has nine other official venues (most of which charge admission fees) and several partnered stages and workshop spaces.  I haven't heard of most of the acts, but Preservation Jazz Hall was performing last night and the line up also includes Kenny Barron, Freddy Cole (Nat's brother) and Christian McBride.  Of course, I'd never heard of the groups that we heard yesterday afternoon, either, so I'd say going to see any of these performers is a low risk proposition. If there weren't so many other fun things to do here, I'd be spending my week in the Festival Tent.  As always, too much to do, too little time! 

Instruments of Torture????

Chester, Nova Scotia has a population of approximately 1000 people during the winter and 2000 people during the summer.  There's a reason why the population doubles during the summer--it is an incredible place that we CFAs (Come From Aways) have nicknamed "Camp Chester."  The area offers almost any type of physical activity that you can think of.  If you like to be on the water, you can spend time on the beautiful Mahone Bay. If you like to golf, there's a gorgeous golf course with water views on at least two thirds of the holes.  There's great biking (if you're into hills), hiking, and pretty much any other athletic activity that you can think of.  (For the year-round residents, there is even curling during the winter months!)  A couple of years ago, Chester's offerings were expanded to include Iyengar style yoga classes when instructor Leigh Milne moved to town.

Leigh is a very serious instructor, having spent several months in India taking classes from Mr. Iyengar and his family.  For her, yoga really is a way of life, not just a work out.  We start each class with a call and response chant of the Invocation to Patanjali.  (I am sad to say that my Sanskrit has not improved much over time.)   We then read from the Yoga Sutras, a text that is broken into four chapters that show the way to yogic enlightenment: samadhi (a blissful state), sadhana (discipline), vibhuti (power) and kavalya (liberation).  (I actually didn't know this until now!  In case you were wondering, our discussion does not extend to the kama sutra, although that text also finds its roots in Indian Hindu writings.)   We discuss the reading, which sometimes resonates with me and sometimes seems a bit abstract.  Then it's on to the practice. 

Iyengar yoga is all about the form.  You work very hard at getting into the correct posture (or your approximately thereof) and then hold it for what seems to be an interminable length of time.  I almost always come out of her class with an awareness of muscles that I never knew existed!  I  feel very centered, however, having left everything from my life outside of the studio behind for the time that I'm there.

Last year, I arrived to find that Leigh had put ropes up on the walls (which, at first glance, looked a bit like instruments of torture).  I was intrigued but somewhat apprehensive. How would they be incorporated into our practice?  Would I be able to do the asanas (poses) that relied on use of the ropes?   I now always feel a bit deprived if I don't get some rope time in each session!  In my first class this summer, we used the ropes for the pose that Leigh is demonstrating here.  It's a bit hard to tell but you actually hang from the ropes with your hands resting on the ground lightly.  Pretty cool!  Getting out of the posture was a bit more challenging, and I can only say that I'm glad I don't have a video! 

Having the opportunity to take yoga classes has rounded out the Camp Chester experience for me (and I think it helps my golf game to boot, with its emphasis on posture and twisting poses).   The trick now is to try and bring some of that zen attitude into the rest of my life!  Signing off from Camp Chester....