Moving at Island Time

We spent the next few weeks getting unpacked, sorted, and just hanging out with Mark. Mornings were spent sipping coffee, and watching the world through the big ocean-facing window. Seeing the Gallipoli go by is always a welcome sight. It’s our lifeline to the rest of the world.

Arriving in July meant we missed most of the ugly Ramea spring weather; Rain, Dizzle & Fog (RDF). Within a few days we had the kayaks out on the water, including Ann’s new (old) boat from Lake Superior days. This gave us three kayaks, so we all got out a few times, exploring the surrounds of our watery home.

We made good use of the BBQ , I got back into bread baking and beer making , and Ann discovered the joys of sewing, buying her first (but likely not last) new sewing machine. She proceeded to hem all my pants, fix some drapes, and most importantly, build new hatch covers for her kayak. Pretty amazing…

After a few weeks Mark decided he’d had enough Ramea, and packed his bags for the journey back to Ottawa. It was fun, and easy, having him with us. And it seems that Ramea is good for the Pesner soul. I think he’ll be back, even though he’s boatless, just like us.

The house seemed empty without the little pitter-patter of Lit’l Mark, but we got on, and settled into the rhythms of Island life. I bottled, and then started to sample, my first brews of the season, while Ann continued walking and sewing. She also got serious about our paintings and other arty stuff. Our house is taking on the feel of a small gallery. It looks great.

Not long into August the big tourism conference I’ve been helping to organize finally came to fruition. It was a two-day expo in the neighbouring big city of Burgeo. I roped Ann into coming, so we decided to camp for the three nights at Sandbanks Park, which is just outside the town.

We haven’t camped in over a decade, so it was interesting getting all the old equipment out, and seeing if we still remembered how to do it. Most of our stuff was still pretty good. The old Whisperlite stove needed a bit of servicing, and the light tent leaked a bit, but all in all, not too bad. Best of all, we got to spend time at this amazing provincial park. As soon as we got back home, we booked another longer stay for a few weeks hence.

The tourism expo event went off quite well. There were talks and presentations from other communities who have headed down the tourism path. And we also got treated to some hands-on experiences, including cod and mackerel filleting. Rope art. And cod painting.

We were only back home for a week or so when our kayaking group decided to head back to the main island to do some exploring just outside of Sandbanks Park. So we hopped back on the ferry, this time with our two kayaks on the car, and headed off to a place called Aaron’s Arm.

We caught the early morning ferry, and came back on the evening one. In between, we had an amazing day paddling and walking around these spectacular dunes. It was incredibly fun, but rather exhausting for two old codgers (not me 😁).

Summer was slowly giving way to the hint of a coming fall. Temperatures were starting to cool, and the winds and RDF were coming more frequently. My little motorcycle, which had been sitting largely unused out in front of our house, needed a winter home.

Happily our Town had a storage shed with just the right space for my little bike, so two days after returning from Aaron’s Arm I had the oil changed, and moved the bike into its winter home.

The next day was dry and calm, so we hauled the boats down to the closest beach, and headed off down the coast. Weather was predicted to take another turn for the stormy the next day, so we found a safe spot a few beaches down, and pulled the kayaks well above the tide line . The plan was to get back to them in two days.

We hiked back to our campsite and settled in for another day of wind. Unfortunately, while the serious weather only lasted a day, the seas stayed high enough to keep us stuck on the beach the following day . The day after it was calling for more wind and rain, so we expected to hang out under tarp and inside tent, just reading. But Ann came up with a brilliant plan for staying dry and warm; she got what appeared to be a tick bite . So… we got to wait out the worst of the weather while being treated to a very nice hospital in Burgeo.

The facility is top-notch, although much like Ramea’s oversized school, the Burgeo hospital feels like a space that was designed and built for a population that no longer exists in our shrinking communities. The hospital felt kinda empty of staff. But everyone there was amazing, and Ann got treated fast and well. The bite was never confirmed as a tick, but caution being the choice of the wise, she was prescribed a round of antibiotics.

The next day we’d really hoped to get off the beach, but the wind and seas continued to conspire to keep us landlocked. We spent the day reading, and generally getting to know our little beach.

On our second-last day we finally found a window to get off the beach. Even still, it took some serious planning and effort. Because I had to enter stern-in, Ann helped me off first. It was close, with some big rollers hitting me just as I got going, but I kept it together, and kept the water out of the boat.

Unfortunately, this left Ann to launch on her own. She managed it, with a little help from a camping neighbour, but it took her three tries, including a haul and pump-out.

We made it back to camp, spending one last night under the stars. Then we loaded tents and boats back in the car, and headed for home.

It took us a few days to sort out, and dry out, all the camping gear. It was fun to be back in a tent, and gently roughing it a bit. The body definitely feels creekier than I remember, but I (we) can still do it. Hopefully next season we’ll get back to motorcycle camping.

Back home, and back to beer making. This latest batch is the first one I’ve done from whole grains. It was trickier than the canned malt kits, but the results seem to be good. I’ll know it in a few more days…

It’s the end of September, and the days are getting short here now — as is our remaining time. Ann is continuing to sew up a storm, and is really working hard to spruce up our place with all the art. She’s been re-matting and framing, and printing, and mounting all the great art we’ve been given or (in her case) created. It makes the place more homey, for sure.

We’re hoping to get one more big project done before we leave; installing soffit vents in the attic. This is in preparation for the added insulation we plan to blow in next season. The vents need to be set up to ensure proper air flow. Should be a fun job 😵‍💫.