So we got back. A day late because I couldn't finish all the jobs I wanted to do. So, who cares? We can travel when we want. Just delayed it 24 hours which gave us time to protect the plants in DC's garden, build shutters for the 7 screened-in-porch openings, install a couple of security cameras, pack up our kitchen and get on the road to Central to get credit for all the bits and pieces we didn't use. Then on to an evening with Anna and Conor (and Jelissa?) and Logan. Feel very old talking to these 20 year olds... Then an easy drive to Notre-Dame-de-Portage where we had a solid but not spectacular meal in the Auberge de Portage (incidentally full of female clients presumably using the spa facilities during the day and scoffing by the fleuve at night...) Great to be back speaking French and in a room full of francophones...
Someone in St Peter's asked me if Quebecers were really different: the answer is yes. A big yes.
And how come we always have rain driving up the St-Lawrence? And a big storm in Edmundston too. Pottering along at 90 kph with the trailer-box behind full of tools.
The B and B looked like a 19th century cottage, but it's only 12 years old, made with recycled wood and full of elaborate kitschy bric-à-brac. The owner, Yves Ponsard, comes from this bit of land. His parents are still alive and living just below him. Beautiful view of the fleuve.
Then back into Montreal and traffic and resting in a great bed and getting ready for the trip to Toronto and Ben's 4th birthday.
You can see the difference in the views from windows in the two places where we live. I like both. It's good to be back with a lot of people and their problems. Good not to be working in the chalet 8-hours a day.
Planning for next year and by Monday Wayne will have our security cameras working and we'll be able to see what we built.
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
16 October and we're connected at the house
So here we are in the new chalet, floor newly stained by DC on her knees for 16 hours while I worked on cutting battens, fixing drains in huge rains which now go into our cistern to provide us with water, and we are connected. Enrique from the Dominican Republic 24 years ago comes down with Robert from Newfoundland, both working for Seaside the internet provider and puts up an antenna to pick up the signal from Chapel Island, the Mic Mac center of worship to Saint Anne. So this is the first message going out from this modem: we are in Cape Breton, by lake Bras d'Or and connected! This place in the woods is alive with connection. Now we'll install a couple fo cameras to be able to look at the place on our i-phone.
Friday, 12 October 2012
October 12 and near the end of the year's effort
For those readers who are still with us as we finish the second season building this chalet in the wilds of Cape Breton, I can only say that your patience is matched by my own as I slog through 8-hour days, measurements, counter-measurements, improvisations, saw by saw... And I hoped you've enjoyed the images and words as much as I have the experience. This has been, is and will be a summation of the very physical life I led as a rugby player for all those years. I am enjoying my strength and stamina again. Not quite invincible, but ready for the bears.
Time to get ready to go back to Montreal and Toronto, and Benjamin's 4th birthday,but not until we have this house in livable shape (water, electricity, internet and heat). We have applied for insurance as of next Wednesday, we have Seaside coming to connect us to the internet so that we can monitor the house from a distance, we have water now as the rain is being processed through three crocks and our electricity is buzzing along its wires. We have a new stove and dishwasher and an old fridge. We have a few beds and chairs. We can live here now!
The gutter installers do their job in 2 hours: an impressive display of relatively simple technology. If I were to attempt the same job, it would take me a week and I'd probably screw it up. I'm busy applying the battens to the boards, regretting that I UNDERestimated the amount of wood we'd need. Hope Mike Higgins has the same wood for next year. I need the same again, 2500 linear feet!
Off to Port Hawkesbury to get the floor sander which almost gives me a herniated disk: 90 pounds at least. I can see why it works: it brings a huge weight to bear on the wood being sanded. Gather up our last supplies, then back to the Cape to admire the lake and eat steak.
Life is okay really. Not eternal, of course, but pretty good.
Time to get ready to go back to Montreal and Toronto, and Benjamin's 4th birthday,but not until we have this house in livable shape (water, electricity, internet and heat). We have applied for insurance as of next Wednesday, we have Seaside coming to connect us to the internet so that we can monitor the house from a distance, we have water now as the rain is being processed through three crocks and our electricity is buzzing along its wires. We have a new stove and dishwasher and an old fridge. We have a few beds and chairs. We can live here now!
The gutter installers do their job in 2 hours: an impressive display of relatively simple technology. If I were to attempt the same job, it would take me a week and I'd probably screw it up. I'm busy applying the battens to the boards, regretting that I UNDERestimated the amount of wood we'd need. Hope Mike Higgins has the same wood for next year. I need the same again, 2500 linear feet!
Off to Port Hawkesbury to get the floor sander which almost gives me a herniated disk: 90 pounds at least. I can see why it works: it brings a huge weight to bear on the wood being sanded. Gather up our last supplies, then back to the Cape to admire the lake and eat steak.
Life is okay really. Not eternal, of course, but pretty good.
Thursday, 4 October 2012
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
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