CLAFC – Creativity, Learning, Adventure, Freedom & Cessation

Our hosts, and in many ways our protectors and safety blanket, have been Donna and Sam. They have been kind and generous beyond compare, letting us stay at their house in Calgary, and also at their cabin on Beauvais Lake near Pincher Creek. So it was with pleasure that we landed on their doorstep in Cow Town, where we spent a few days sorting ourselves out, cleaning up, and generally getting ready for Ann’s Mother’s memorial service. It was a beautiful event that allowed family and friends to say their final goodbyes to a woman who has meant so much to so many. I miss her deeply…

With the formalities over we settled into the cabin at Beauvais like fleas on a dog. It’s so peaceful and relaxing (and warm and dry…) that we might never have left. We read, paddled and fished,  and had great discussions, covering Life, the Universe and Everything . It was great just hanging out with family, relaxing, and getting ready for our next steps.

 

BTW, I should add that we are now expert hanging ceiling installers. Check out the work! 

 

A few months or so into the journey has us lingering on Vancouver Island as we await our travel insurance to kick in, and hopefully continue to avoid the white fluffy stuff. We left Southern Ontario what seems like years ago, but was really only in August. Since then we’ve driven across the country, encountered winds that could blow a motorcycle laterally across the road, enjoyed the grandest company and generosity of family and friends, and learned that everything looks better from the seat of a bike: even the Prairies.

Northern Ontario was spectacular as ever. We visited with many good friends, including Cathie and Joe who fed us (too well!) and shared their slice of heaven with us once again. Ben, Sherilyn & Olivia, who are generous and fun beyond compare (and who are kindly watching over our few remaining household items), Pat our old (er, I mean previous) neighbour who is holding down the Sandy Beach fort, and our great friends and mentors Paul & Julie who put us up (and put up with us).

Driving across the Prairies was a pleasant surprise. I’ve done it a few times by car, and I’m sorry but it is Capital-B BORING. But from the seat of a bike it was completely different. The smells, the sights, even the curves (yes, there are curves … at least in the secondary roads we took) made the journey quite fun. We found the rare and difficult-to-kiss Prairie Camel,

met some fellow travellers, including Mohamed from Australia (originally from Iran),

who was headed east on his motorcycle, and of course plenty of good eats and food. 

And, I discovered that I look even older than I thought — I was offered the “Senior’s Rate” at a motel in  Swift Current! Ah well, whaddya gonna do … 

 

 

 

We discovered Al Capone’s Hideaway,

Ann’s lake,  and found out that Dog River is real,  but kinda small .

After enduring hurricane-force winds from Swift Current to Alberta, we finally made it to Calgary, into the welcome and safe arms of Donna and Sam. We cleaned up, slept well, and got ready for Ann’s mom’s memorial and the next steps in our journey.

It’s both fun and a little scary to say we are now land-homeless, and basically without any significant income. I guess we officially started our full-time cruising lifestyle a few months ago when we said goodbye to our house in Thunder Bay, and made our way down to southern Ontario where our boat lay waiting. A sudden (but not unexpected) family death derailed our sailing plans for this year, so our first year of “cruising” will be spent exploring the continent by motorcycle and tent.

We have a few friends and family members we plan to visit along the way, but most of the time will be spent living simply and (hopefully) cheaply, all the while visiting interesting and warm places. We’ll get back to the boat in early April and carry on from there.

Our cruising plans quite intentionally have a certain philosophical approach; CLAFC: Creativity, Learning, Adventure, Freedom & Cessation. Each of these terms expresses a world of ideas that are important for how me and my partner choose to live. We live with these ideas whether we are off wilderness sailing, or living on land.

Creativity is a life-giving view of the world. For me it means seeking new ways of doing things, and simply enjoying the aesthetic of the here and now.

Learning … never stop learning. Living off the prescribed path is a great way to foster this.

Adventure comes in all forms, be it the big sail, or the small walk. I will never shatter records, discover new things, or challenge the gods of nature in any way, but I do enjoy poking into that unknown cove, or trying that weird looking vegetable.

Freedom drives much of what we do. To me freedom is the ability to do what I want, when I want. It’s an ideal which is never full reached, but I can do some things to go toward the Form of Freedom. For me (and not necessarily for anyone else):

• I avoid debt (b/c this is one of the ways our society keeps people chained to the treadmill).
• Keep mechanical & electrical systems simple (b/c I’m not much of handyman).
• And live inexpensively, (b/c I’m kinda lazy and don’t like wage work).

Cessation is my active way of ceasing to be part of the problem. From over-consumption to financial greed, my society does great harm to the planet we all call home. I don’t have the energy to try and save the world, but I can stop being part of the problem (at least to some degree).