Travelling Lumsdens

Okay… Hitting the road (or at least catching a flight) to change the scenery! Destination TO… I think one of the Blue Jays calls Toronto the “6”! For us, a chance to recharge the batteries, after a very busy first term of school, over a long Remembrance Day weekend. A flight, relaxed accommodations, some sports and “foodie” stops are to be agenda highlights.

We’ve got some upfront plans… Including visits to the new aquarium, stops at Kensington and St Lawrence Markets, and, selfishly, a Leafs game. Not hard to fill in any blanks in the schedule, that’s for sure. Lots to do in Toronto… North America’s third largest city! Further, going to blog all the while to share what we experience with our travel friends. Got a couple of eatery tips from Hinchey that I’d love to try and follow up on! You are welcome to follow along and feel free to drop a note…

… Toronto ’16

Work, work, work, PLAY! September in a nut shell! When the weather cools, the bugs recede, and the days shorten I find my stride… And Guysborough County is my playground. Others are doing it too… I was horribly curious about the Gran Fondo held mid-September on Route 16 while I was making my way to the camp! I know it’s no secret… But September is prime time at my tiny camp and in all of eastern Nova Scotia.

Often desperate, September is that point where you realize last gasps of camp time slipping away. Opportunities after Thanksgiving are remote. Tasks, such as firewood, removing the waterline, schlepping supplies through the woods and down the lake, or just organizing the shed, take priority. However, still nice enough outside to enjoy the fire pit in the evening or a meal from the charcoal BBQ! Not much fishing in September either, beyond our growing population of loons, so the lake is extra quiet in the evenings and on the weekends.

I especially enjoy the movements of the sun this time of year, from rise to setting things seem extra spectacular. Beyond that… Evenings are cool and the moon shines brilliantly. This summer we were treated to extravagant bird and wildlife. Of note, amidst the Whiskey Jacks, hummingbirds, Eagles and osprey, we saw two River Otters late summer that were the highlight of the season. Never in my forty odd years of visiting had I viewed the species. I’m hoping it speaks to the health of the area and the capacity of the lake to retain and support such a visitor. I was feeling privileged to share the space.

Each fall we usually connect to share music at the camps as well. Although we haven’t had the opportunity yet, I’m hoping that it can shake out in some sort of event before the snow flies! Regardless, I count on the few weekends I have left to replenish before the next season and the grind of winter.

July of 2016 has been a busy endeavour! Music, rest & relaxation, great food and lots of time exercising outdoors. Even better, it’s all been done without charges for flights, fixed roof accommodation, or meals beyond trips to the grocery store/market/craft beer locations. Yep… We’ve been enjoying summer in the relevant comfort of the maritimes with family and friends.

Kicked off with moving from the throes of year end / graduation in our respective schools to Stanfest! The 2016 edition of the festival proved excellent, with solid crowds, favourable weather, and a tremendous entertainment line-up. Our entire family continues to volunteer for the event leaving expenses minimal, not much beyond the campsites that Janie purchases. We’ve been involved in the festival since its inception, and have shared the experiential opportunities it fosters with our children over the past several years. We need not drive further than an hour to partake in the best music festival the East Coast of Canada offers (no bias intended).

Weekend number two of July saw a reunion of sorts. Off to the heart of New Brunswick with several friends (instruments in hand) to visit Mt A Alumni and reconnect. Music, drink and food were ambitiously unfolded over the entire three days. We visited the Rexton area, and found our excellent host Andrew up to the task welcoming our particular brand of “foolishness” with open arms. We ate like kings, sampling delicacies like bottled lobster, bar clam dip, young carrots and BBQ’d pork/beef done to perfection. Music in the evenings, fostered by drink, closed out each day with favorites from a wide range of artists. Walking through fields of hay and skirting the river provided excellent contrast to the “salty” nature of Stanfest!

Monday saw full on Smelt Lake! In a driving rain (much needed I might add) I sailed the lake and opened up the cottage for a week’s stay in Guysborough County. We find the coastal location an excellent reprieve in July/August from the heat of the inland and from Tuesday through Sunday we experienced temps an average of 6 degrees less than Antigonish. We used kayak, paddle board, floating dock, fire pit and kitchen table to host several visitors. Simply put, a very relaxing 7 days. Even the couple of jobs I took on were more like fun than work. Can’t say enough about how fortunate we are to be entrusted with such an isolated and beautiful location. After a short stint in Antigonish, July saw a second, 7 day excursion to the cottage with excellent weather and several more projects completed.  The whole month may have been sponsored by Rare Bird IPA and Hanham’s XTR!

I’ve thought a lot about my last trip… Especially the concept of mobile device use in preparing and while away. To be upfront, we’re not teenie boppers with thumb tapping at every occasion, but pushing 50! However, we have experienced a real leap in capacity and confidence as trip planners with the advent of these technologies. I’d like to use this entry to share some of the tricks we use to leverage the power of our iGear while on both short and long excursions. In essence, the tool has become irreplaceable for us abroad and on stay-cation.

First and foremost… When we book accommodations wi-fi access is an essential. We would most often, when moving as a family, have 3 iPhones and at least two iPads (all owned/no work devices). We would normally not book a room unless wi-fi was included in cost (bypassing data cost issues) and fully accessible. This becomes especially important with family travel… Being teachers we understand better than many how “connected” kids are today and mobile device use within that generation. We are trying our best to keep in tune with the present apps of social media accounts (fb/snapchat/Instagram) and ensuing conversations our two have with their friends. No easy chore! Our philosophy, however, has always been that it’s a tool that needs implicit teaching… When used improperly someone gets hurt!

While on the move I utilize my iPad fully as an organizational tool. It allows full research access to web information via travel websites/apps for accommodation, attraction, and transport. This includes times, locations (StreetView, Maps), and costing, all important prior to arrival and throughout ones stay. Have to book something or adjust? Do it yourself in a jiffy online! Further, through cloud drives (we use Google) one can maintain back up / fail safe access to pre-purchased tickets (flights, transport, attractions, room confirmations) and any important files (ie: Passport Copies, itinerary, insurance docs) to be considered. Preparedness, in this case, supports efficiency and ease of mind.

Of course, all these machines exude versatility with highly functional cameras… Making both still picture and video possible. We’ve all experienced the over-the-top, selfie-sticked tour groups that would render a porcupine defenceless! I consider that an extreme. However, I think almost everyone does wish to capture images that reflect what they’ve seen and done to share with others. We do… And enjoy our pictures time and again. We have thousands. For the bulk of travellers these multi purpose devices replace the camera of old… We now don’t even consider packing a camera!

And how about a couple of tips for iGear cameras a bit outside the box? Try taking a picture of your car, when you’re parked with a thousand others at the airport, that shows the section sign. Then forget about it! Ever store your luggage among row upon row of lockers at a European Train Station? Snap a pic that includes the locker number and instructions on your device. Even better… Know that UPC ticket or QR code that you can’t lose? Click! No maps when you arrive? Take a shot of the signs/layout at the entrance! It just makes things easier. Checking out of that rental with a damage deposit placed… Couple of photos of the excellent shape the space was in when you walked out the door could come in handy!

And of course, one would be remiss if he didn’t incorporate something in regards to these devices and their capacity as a tool for communication. Although a fully functional phone, we rarely use it for calls outside of our region of coverage. Data and roaming costs are not to be fooled with! We do, however, regularly communicate via text, email and social media while connected to wi-fi when travelling. It doesn’t overtake our trips, but we like to touch base, share images with family and friends, and make sure things at home are good.

More recently, I’ve taken to “Blogging” while away. We have shared our last several trips via blog (this site) with those close to us in real time, with daily write ups and posts of pictures that include just about everything! Readers will sometimes “comment” back with questions and suggestions, wherein the conversation continues. The blog serves as a great, fully editable memory piece as well… Replacing a journal, photo album and slide show in one grand swoop!

Here are a few more tidbits for iGear use that can add value to your trip;

• Step Counter: Last trip, to Paris, we were in the midst of some lifestyle switches. In essence, trying to get healthy through eating and exercise… enter, Step  Counter! Great fun counting our daily movements around Paris. All made possible with an iPhone App.
• Bring multiple chargers: Have a set pattern/routine for where and when you charge (it’ll help you with NOT leaving it behind)
• Twitter: We follow multiple accounts prior to travel (in English) from local tour operators.  Great source of info on unique tips, as well as up to date reports on potential interruptions, closures, events, etc delivered directly to my iPad.

It was three pulls, but my trusty Honda (pulled directly out of storage) powered Peter and I to the camp in early-April. On a cool, bug free Friday after school we met the end of the lake seeing everything much as it looked late fall. After an excellent, but all consuming, March Break vacation my thoughts had turned to our tiny space at the water’s edge. We spent a chilly evening… Tackling a bit of cleaning, some work outside, and a real blasting of the space with the wood stove!

All wintered well… No critters, buildings intact, and no seasonal damage beyond a few windfalls. We settled quickly into the business of “wood”, including bringing some inside, blocking already felled trees, splitting and piling. Spent a great evening listening to CBC and seasoning some fancy new cast iron ware on “Blanche”! Great early start (last year my first trip in was a month later) and looking forward to a longer season. Overnighted to this impressive sunrise!