Magical Mystery! just down the road...

From CBC News website on Thursday February 6:

"Like Magic: The mystery behind Wolfville's makeshift outdoor rink"

And from the Wolfville Reservoir Ponds blog (see link on right side of this page):

"Thursday, 6 February 2020

Large Pond (whose name might be "Darlene")

We recommend against skating until the current weather 

system has passed.  Local ice enthusiasts might wish to 

assemble Saturday in Guy Fawkes or Salvador Dali masks to 

reassess tactics and hopefully free the track and rink from 

their crusty new overlord.  Once conditions allow, Mayor 

Cantwell, honourable members of Wolfville Town Council, and 

their robustly-taxed flock are (UNOFFICIALLY) invited to 

skate (AT THEIR OWN RISK) on this ghost of town water 

committees past, maintained on a skate-lace budget.

Small Pond

Deep and unstable; do not use!"

I might just have to go skating, despite back problems!


Ice storm overnight has left everything encased in ice, including my car. Unfortunately I cannot open the doors when they are icy so I just have to wait for warm temperatures again. Physiotherapy appointment this morning has unfortunately not been cancelled but just about everything else has.

Sunday September 6 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville.

The last day of socializing in Nova Scotia. I had coffee with Dennis at the Coffee Merchant and he gave me some names of people in Vancouver that I might contact. I called Marilyn to leave Isaac's address and phone number for Marilyn's daughter Ariana. Heather answered so I went up there to return her thesis, which I had borrowed when I had lunch with her on Thursday.

Heather became interested in alternative communities when she was living in my old house at Wenega. Unfortunately it burned down and she had to move; she ended up going back to school at Acadia and studying sociology. Her thesis was on the Wolfville and area scene, focussing on Eos and Wenega. She collected quiestionaires and did interviews; when she completed her thesis she made six copies for distribution. When I returned the copy I was borrowing she asked if I had any comments and I did. I also relayed some of what was said last night, especially some of the reminiscences. She wished she had been there.

I stayed for tea and cookies and by the time I got back to Fritz and Carolyn's it was almost 7.00pm. We had pork chops for dinner.

Saturday September 5, 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville.

We spent most of the morning chatting. Isaac and Gretel left to go visit Wenega (in Baxter's Harbour) and I did some baking and food preparation for the next leg of my journey. I wasn't feeling well and had an earache which I have been treating with ear drops that Carolyn gave me. I was talking to Dennis yesterday who was really sick with the flu so I'm taking lots of vitamin C, echinacea and garlic in hopes of not coming down with it.

Isaac and Gretel returned from the Harbour around 7.00pm and we all had lasagna for supper. Then people started arriving: Lin, Aunah, James, Chris and Trish, as well as Fritz and Carolyn, Isaac and Gretel, and myself. It was a really nice time reminiscing, looking at old photos, discussing Heather's thesis about intentional communities, and so forth. Chris brought beer and Isaac contributed wine.

Friday September 4, 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville.

I wrote some email at the library and then met Carolyn and her sister at the Baptist Church, where Heather was trying to pick music for the Sunday service. I enjoyed sitting in the church listening to her play different pieces. Then we went to the Coffee Merchant for lunch on the patio; I had chili and a bagel with cream cheese. Carolyn had to go to Rafuse Building Supplies to pick up some gyprock and I was going to stop by The Odd Book and meet her later at Rafuse. On my way to Rafuse I ran into Sam Vander Kloet who suggested I come by the Biology Department for coffee at 3.00pm.

We loaded the gyprock onto my truck roof rack. Erica wants to trade rooms with Kurt and Carolyn is removing all the shingles in Kurt's room and replacing them with the gyprock. It is turning into a bigger job than expected and she wants it all done by the weekend. I am kind of reluctant to help because it is such an unpleasant job. Anyway, after we got the sheets into the basement we drove over to Heather's place to see her floor. They have a family room with a rough plywood floor which they have stained to look like tiles. It is quite impressive, it looks like the real thing.

I went to the Biology Department for afternoon coffee at 3.00pm. I recognized most of the people there and some of them even remembered me. Sam was talking about whether to retire, he says that if he does they won't be replacing him and there won't be any botanists in the department. But he will probably get to keep his office space and his blueberry plants.

I started cleaning up the truck in preparation for leaving and Isaac and Gretel showed up around 6.00pm. They made sandwiches and then we walked down town with Yohan to get fruit drinks at The Main Squeeze. We walked back after dark (a nearly full moon) and Gretel went immediately to bed. Isaac, Carolyn and I watched "Fierce Animals" then I went to bed on the livingroom couch. Fritz had gone out and returned around 2.00am.

Thursday September 3, 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville.

I had lunch with Marilyn and Anh Hua at Marilyn's place on Pleasant St. Anh is planning to move to Vancouver in September or October. Marilyn gave me Ariana's address in Toronto to pass on to Isaac. Heather Holmes arrived because she is going to move in with Marilyn. She let me use her computer to check email and I had a message from my friend Baz in Vancouver who said he was in London England right now.

In the afternoon I walked with Yohan to the library to respond to Baz's email. Afterward I returned to Fritz and Carolyn's and started phoning people to come to a party on Friday night to see Isaac.

Wednesday September 2, 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville.

I booked some time on the computer at the library and then went to The Odd Book and picked up a couple of books, "The Great Code" and a book on crewel embroidery. Fritz and I spent some time talking about Ken Wilbur's and Daniel Dennett's ideas about consciousness. I also read a book by Colin Wilson on Atlantis and the Sphinx which provoked a discussion on scientific method, reductionism and so forth. Wilson is fascinating and frustrating—very interesting ideas and total disregard for logical argument. Unfortunately Wilbur is similar, in my opinion. Since I have lots of time now I am doing a lot of reading. I finished "Fall On Your Knees" which was good, and tried to start "Angela's Ashes" but couldn't. I called Marilyn to arrange lunch tomorrow.

Tuesday September 1, 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville - warm and sunny.

I went to the library to book some time on the computer at noon, then spent an hour doing errands in town until then. I was going to return to Carolyn's via Highland Avenue, but ran out of gas half way up the hill. I had been running on near empty until I could get cheaper gas in New Minas but I guess I didn't make it. I walked over to Judy's to phone Carolyn who wasn't home. Judy drove me over there and I picked up a half liter of lawn mower gas and then we went to where I had left the truck. With the half liter of gas I drove to the gas station to fill up and replace the lawn mower gas. I went back to Judy's to thank her and she invited me in for lunch. She also gave me a whole bunch of tomatoes for Carolyn but I ended up eating most of them because they were so good. Carolyn returned home later and we went to New Minas to shop for groceries and pick up some camera film I had left for developing. We rented the movie "Kundun" which we watched that evening. I phoned Isaac in PEI and he agreed to come to Wolfville on Friday, so I will be staying here until the weekend. I did a big laundry.

Monday August 31, 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville - warm and sunny.

In the morning I had another scone and devonshire cream at the Tea Room, and bought a raincoat, rainhat and housecoat, as well as some postcards and a copy of David's book on whale watching. Geoff and RL gave me a large discount but I still spent close to $300. When I left I drove down the west coast. I did not go to Lake Ainslie but was wondering if I should have.

After leaving Cape Breton I stopped in Antigonish to see if I could get on the internet but the library there was closed on Mondays. On a whim I stopped in Mt. Denson to see if Dennis was home, and he was. He was just preparing supper and invited me in. I was able to check email on his computer.

Dennis had had an angina attack in Toronto last winter which was a bit of a scare for him. Since then he has become a vegetarian and has lost some 20 lbs of excess weight. He also had done some thinking about lifestyle and how he got to where he was. He also asked a few personal questions which kind of put me on the defensive, I was kind of glad to leave.

I arrived at Fritz and Carolyn's place late. They were still up and I told them all the news from Geoff and RL, including about the new puppy. Carolyn had visited RL just before I did so they were pretty up-to-date except about the puppy. Carolyn had planned to stay at Geoff and RL's until I arrived there, but ended up leaving early to meet their daughter Erica in PEI. Erica had gone skydiving while I was away and they had a video of her jump.

While I was at Dennis's, I read email from Isaac who was writing to say that he was in PEI now and would be staying there until Thursday. I thought he was going to be there until Sunday or Monday and I was thinking of maybe visiting him there but if he's leaving earlier, then that will be difficult. I would have to leave here on Wednesday if I want to see him in PEI.

Sunday August 16, 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville - humid, sunny and hot.

In the morning I had breakfast with Mel and we chatted. On my way back to the Valley I stopped for gas and saw that my gas mileage was way down. When I got back to the Valley I stopped at Kelly's Irving in Grand Pré and arranged to bring the truck in first thing Monday for a new oxygen sensor. Got back to Fritz and Carolyn's, did some laundry and packing, and watched a video, Eve's Bayou and then parts of a second video, Bonfire of the Vanities. They were both good. Carolyn went to a concert with her sister and I took Yohan for a walk on the dikes. Later, like around midnight, we visited Carolyn's sister and her husband for a brandy. They live in Harry How's old place, just down the road from my old place.

Friday August 14, 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville - humid, sunny and warm.

I was supposed to meet a friend, Carol for coffee in the morning but we didn't really connect till 12.45 pm. I sat around with her for awhile at the Coffee Merchant and then I puttered through the afternoon. I was going to go up on the North Mountain but I got an email from Sam about money problems that I thought I should phone him about.

Wolfville reservoir

Took Yohan for a walk around the Reservoir, then into town via the dikes. He's doing pretty well.

In the evening I went with Carolyn back to the Coffee Merchant to hear a group of women who were singing there.

Thursday August 13, 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville - sunny and cool.

I booked some time on the public library computer for 11.00 am and then went for a drive just because I was feeling restless. I booked a ferry trip to Newfoundland for next week, August 19, and returning on August 27. I had thought I would go to Port aux Basques and return from Argentia, with the intention of visiting both the west coast and St. John's. But a friend advised me to just do one or the other and his opinion was to skip St. John's. So I booked the return trip out of Port aux Basques with the intention of just staying on the west coast of Newfoundland. And it seems like it is a lot easier to change a ferry booking here than on the west coast, so I could return earlier if I wanted to.

I drove down to the South Shore to visit Peter and Barbara who live just outside of Mahone Bay. They weren't home but instead there was a young fellow with no hair and a nose ring who said that Barbara was at work at the Lunenburg Public Library. I drove down toward Lunenburg but turned off just before at Second Peninsula. About 3.5 km in there is a provincial picnic park, with a stoney beach and picnic tables in the woods. There was only one other car there. I decided to stop awhile and ended up spending several hours there: tidying the truck, having a cup of tea, sitting on the beach, lying in the grass. Made me realize how much I like being on the road, camping in the woods.

Around 5 pm I left the picnic park and continued down the peninsula road. I saw Peter on his bike. I stopped and met him at the beach that Barbara and I had spent time at the last time I visited them, a few years ago. We chatted and went for a swim, he invited me back to their house for supper. Peter biked home and I drove, but I stopped in Mahone Bay to buy dogfood. We ended up arriving at their house at the same time. Barbara arrived home from work a little while later. We drank beer and ate a nice supper and reminisced about the old days living in the Valley. I left their place sometime after 10 pm and drove back to Wolfville.

Wednesday August 12, 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville - cool and wet.

It rained all night and was cool, cloudy and windy all day. I visited Ladny and JP again and then went to Stirlings for lunch with Lin. Marge and Ralph are gone but the place is the same, even the same menu. After lunch we went back to Lin's place in Gaspereau and listened to a hilarious recorded conversation on their answering machine, between Peter and his boss Helen at CBC. Aunah came by with her son Alex. Lin's kids Ariel and Yvan are tall and skinny.

Got caught up on lots of gossip: Kate's death, Bob and Carmen's split-up, etc. Lin said not much has changed, which is probably true. In some ways I haven't changed either, I feel thrown back into old feelings I thought I had left behind when I left here. But no, they are still there, waiting under the surface. But I think my view of the place has changed.

In the evening Carolyn and I played scrabble with another friend, Karen, who came to visit. Fritz and I talked about the old days and about Heather Holmes thesis' about alternative community based on interviews she did with Wenega members.

Tuesday August 11, 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville - cloudy, hot and windy.

I phoned a couple of friends, Judy and Ladny. I went over to visit Ladny and JP for a bit and then went for a beer with Judy. She filled me in on her brother's adventures in Victoria BC. I called another friend Lin and arranged to meet her tomorrow. She told me that a mutual friend Gaby is now living in Castlegar.

Towards evening it started to rain and the temperature dropped noticeably.

Monday August 10, 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville - sunny and hot.

Today I was downtown and met a few people I remembered from when I used to live here. I took the truck to Kelly's Garage in Grand Pré to get an oil change to check out a vibration in the truck since I left Edmonton. It turns out that one of the front tires was shredding. I bought a new tire down the road at Avon Discount Tires and they put it on at Kelly's. It seemed like it took hours, it probably did. Yohan and I just sat there, too hot to move. I forgot his water bowl there and when I went back at 6.00 pm to see if it was still there, they met me at the door with it.

Sunday August 9, 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville - sunny and hot.

Fritz went up the North Mountain to Baxter's Harbour with his friend James. Later Carolyn and I did the same thing. We stopped at their house in the Harbour for water and conversation, and then walked to Mike and Ruth's, the clearing where my old house used to be, and the old garden house. We looked at herbs in the garden out front. It was a really nice day, way too hot in the Valley and some warm in the Harbour. For local farmers this weather is too hot and dry.

Fritz and James left before we did and were going to start a chicken barbecue back at the house in town. Carolyn and I got home later and Fritz had made vegetable and potato salads. Kurt (their son) started the barbecue and I did the chicken. Careolyn rented a movie, Good Will Hunting, which eventually she and I watched. James went home and Fritz went back to the Harbour to watch the sun set with their daughter Erica.

It was nice being on the land in the Harbour, frustrating not remembering plant names. My old house location looks very bare, even the birches that were around the house are gone. The fire took it all. The house burned down five years ago but I had not lived there in a very long time, so the feelings of loss are long since abated. It's too bad but oh well.

Saturday August 8, 1998 - Nova Scotia

Wolfville - sunny and hot.

Today I pretty much just hung out at the house. Fritz went off to play war games at Jungle and Angie's and Carolyn and I eventually went to the Co-op grocery store. We got ice cream cones at Elderkin's and walked around downtown after 5.00 pm. I did some laundry and unpacked the truck a bit, but mostly I spent the day laying about.

November walk with Hapi

It started out a foggy day, but the fog cleared and it became sunny and warm.

Currently...

Sun., Nov. 21: Arrived in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, yesterday shortly after noon, an hour before the snow. Spent one warm night at a friend's place in Ottawa and one very cold night at an Irving Big Stop just south of Fredericton, New Brunswick. Cold enough to get me out of bed and back on the road long before dawn.

The snow was beautiful in Wolfville, especially knowing I didn't have to drive in it. Huge soft flakes filling the air, and very quickly a thin white blanket covering the ground. Last night the downtown was beautiful with Christmas lights and decorations in the snow.

Speaking of snow, I saw snow geese in Quebec. Driving by farmers' fields, one field in particular looked like it had its very own snow storm, the whiteness filling the field and boiling in the air above it. Not snow, but snow geese. Wonderful.

It feels a little strange now, this time I am not visiting but here to stay. Just waiting to get into my home.

Tues., Nov. 16: Still in Toronto, but planning to leave tomorrow. First stop Ottawa, then on to Nova Scotia. Had a pleasant time here visiting with family and my Toronto friends, the Dog Ladies. The truck is almost all packed---I am picking up a few last possessions still remaining in Toronto---and I am almost ready to leave.

Sun., Nov. 7: In Toronto for a week or so, got warm greeting from Dobby and gave Tristan his birthday present.















Thurs., Nov. 4: After 3 days on the road I am in Barrie at my brother's place. Truck did fine, I guess the Winnipeg 'snake oil' was just the ticket!

Mon., Nov. 1: I will most likely leave Winnipeg tomorrow, and if all goes well I should arrive in Barrie very late on Thursday Nov. 4. Expecting lots of weather over the next few days, but right now it is sunny and warm and at least a few of the trees are leafy and green.

Sat., Oct. 30: I am leaving Edmonton, planning to spend Saturday night on the road somewhere in Saskatchewan and arrive at my niece's in Winnipeg on Sunday.

We went for lunch near where Inger works (the Maz), walked on Whyte Ave and checked out some funky stores, and then later went to see "Red" at the cinema. It was fun. In honour of the movie we had vodka shots when we got back to the house, Dale downed his in a single gulp. I sipped.

Wed., Oct. 27: I am posting a little behind, so if you're interested, I am currently in Edmonton, waiting for weather further east to improve...