Travelling Lumsdens

Back at it! School started full on for me on Jan 4th with most of my students attending (post-recent Covid interruption). We enjoyed (kids included) having the run of the school for 2 weeks before any other students returned. Got some extra programming in with lots of lifeskills time for activities such as cooking, PhysEd, grade transition and healthy living. So, in short, all is good at school/work and I continue to get paid for that gig 😉!

January was also a big camp month… getting 1/2 dozen solid nights on Smelt Lake in sub zero temperatures. All was made possible by a trustworthy sheet of ice allowing safe passage across the lake for us and supplies. Even noticing the creep of daylight earlier in the morning and after 5:00 PM stretching out the day. Projects at camp included some work in the wood bin and an indoor baseboard trim install. However, January was mostly about getting outside and enjoying what seemed like a series of ”Friday / Saturday” winter storms on consecutive weekends… ”Loves me a good storm”! The iPhone clocked in at over 13,000 steps a day, which I thought was a pretty decent result! 🤓

Thus, we brought in the New Year without serious fanfare or being laden with resolution. I think its more a ”stay the course” mentality. We are living and, hopefully, aging gracefully. Janie and I are working to be well, carefully looking after our overall health (physical & mental aspects). In short, doing our best at things we can make positive change and shedding the “noise” of negativity that is out of reach!

“Perhaps wisdom. . . is realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have yet to go.”

– Anthony Bourdain

Wake up call this December, whether we needed it or not! Covid, Covid, Covid was the alarm. Beginning with 2021 X-Ring Ceremonies, the virus ran rampant the entire month impacting home, school and community life. Antigonish, which for the most part had steered away from any real outbreak, soon became all too accustomed with terms such as quarantine, self isolating and exposures. We got to the point where the morning java was accompanied by a nose swab. Yet, a bright spot remained in the fact that hospitalizations and major sickness hadn’t been part of the wave, leaving us hopeful that the initial viral load was waning and better days are ahead.

The nature of this blog was indeed, at one point, all about family travel. For almost two years I haven’t really mentioned the possibility and, with recent developments, it looks as though it will not be any time soon. I had entertained the thought that we might get something small in over Christmas, but that went out the door when X marked the spot. Yet, ol’ faithful (Camp Lumsden) was a welcome distraction and weather allowed for multiple weekends and even task completion in short days nearing winter solstice. I got a winner photo of arriving at camp after a fresh snowfall. Janie and I have come to enjoy this previously avoided season as much as all the others!

Thus, December was spent between work/home/camp. As the end of the school year disintegrated, I spent more time hunkered down at Smelt Lake and continued in my methodical pursuit of selective wood cutting opportunities (basically collecting fallen/discarded trees), transport (non-impact carry out), and processing (block/split/pile). Further jobs included installation of wind break plexi on the front of the camp and some old school spruce bough insulation across the front of camp. Results, beyond a warmer camp, included steady exercise, respect for the woods and fresh air & isolation. Of note, I also did a beach sweep in Cooeycoff Lake that collected a solid bag of glass, plastics, ropes and metal cans. More work to be done there but great start!

It has to be said that 2021 (in all its angst) was good to me! When things fell short, we made better things happen. Although we weren’t able to travel formally, I got 128 nights in at Camp Lumsden… a record year during my tenure as landlord 🤓! Further, the building and property are in far better shape than any time during our ownership. We count ourselves among the “fortunate few” that are afforded an option where we can isolate, enjoy the outdoors and experience nature at such a meaningful level. In essence, privileged enough to alter course from restrictions (in regard to events & indoor gatherings) and focus our energies on adopting a more healthy lifestyle. Results have been regular daily exercise, healthy eating and outdoor activities. I find myself down 1/4 of my body weight and nearing a year without “the drink”. I’d like to think we’ve slapped the adversity encountered with a handful of resiliency! Bring on 2022… I’m ready for it!

November can be a testy month when it comes to weather… a pivot from fall to winter. Temperatures and conditions can/do vary wildly. Mother Nature is unpredictable as below zero mornings are contrasted by double digit highs in the afternoon. Doubtless, this November seemed warmer than it has in past years, being less apt for snowfall but more prone to storm and fronts that blow and soak. Maybe I will get some December visits in before ice takes hold! Yet, one fact absolutely remains… there is less daylight every day! The nights at camp were long, and made for handsome sleeping snuggled in beside the La Nordica wood stove.

Chores this month @CampLumsden were many. The short list included removal of the waterline (🥶), storage of porch screens (🦟), packing out of power 💥 (batteries/generator), and especially the replenishing of firewood 🪵 which happened over the span of two weekends! Managed, through lots of steps and some careful chainsaw use, to harvest a nice stash (5’ softwood/hardwood lengths) without touching a standing tree. The windfalls and trail side salvage will get purpose and reach well into 2022 as dry wood.

Turbulent weather in late November also saw some dramatic conditions in and around Atlantic Canada, including Eastern Nova Scotia, Cape Breton and NFLD. Here, in Antigonish, we had heavy wind/rain resulting in flooding, washed out highways and several days away from school. The river passing by our front yard saw waters licking the top of its banks, and just a short km from home a local trailer park was evacuated with many homes left in ruin. A high water table, serious & sustained downpours, and higher than normal tidal flows all played a role in the convergence of causes! Tough on a lot of families, as most turn their attention to the upcoming holiday season. Our thoughts are with them…

“Soon the old autumn sun would bed down in cloud blankets and there would be weeks of gray rain before it finally decided to snow.”

– Katherine Arden, Small Spaces

Absent when bound for work and early to set, the sun’s impact on the waning days of October brings a sense of urgency. Although the days can be warm, nights get cool, leaves change & shed from the canopy, and inevitably have one readying for the transition to winter. We worked hard to wring the most out of each day… from early morning walks through to crash at bedtime. Keeping the “healthy living” groove on too… Daily exercise, jobs out of doors, and, of course, eating well!

In short, I got in camp trips on every weekend of October. Lots of friend visits too, with Scott and the Graham’s making the sojourn down Rte 16 to spend a few nights. The chores list this time of year is long… as prepping of firewood, winterizing of all plumbing materials at risk of freezing and shut down / pack up / trek out of summer gear is ongoing. The shed quickly closes in as the storage gets stacked higher, while hands are filled on trips out!

Looking ahead, I did do some preliminary work toward developing an outdoor kitchen area. That included pulling a substantial amount of roots, the prying of a “not so small” pile of stone, and levelling with locally sourced gravel. For several years the southeast corner of the property has been “best bet” as a potential site. It would be a super option, with July/August proving far too warm for indoor cooking. A covered site would provide some much appreciated protection during inclement weather and a welcome shaded lakeside space on hot days. I think the room is there to do it… with the greatest challenge most likely connected to sinking four large posts in what are some very rocky soil conditions. Maybe there is some 2022 magic that’ll get this idea from “grey matter” through to completion 🤪!

As the Covid situation continues to unfold, we remain hesitant in regard to any kind of involved travel planning. For starters… not quite sure it’s the responsible thing to do yet. Risk of exposure and exposing is still very real. Secondly, the thought of cleaning up after something that has been carefully planned due to cancellation (rescheduling / deposits / returns / bookings) is honestly sickening. Lastly, the more I’m hunkered down in Nova Scotia, the more I’ve learned to appreciate our situation. In essence, our health region has had scarcely over 40 cases since March 2020. I like those odds! Why “roam” when, most likely, one is in the perfect place to be 😉!

Perhaps the only month that rivals June as far as “being busy” in our lives is September. Coming out of August, it seems as though one is tossed in the spin cycle… school full-on with set up, schedules and new faces, classes resume for the “moonlighting” at StFX, and of course less daylight, as its dark to work and the evenings get shorter! Almost as though someone flips a switch and all the routines, expectations, roles & responsibilities meet you head on! My idea, right or wrong, is to try and change the pace and put on a “different hat” for weekends.

We definitely did that in September, using the month to our full advantage for canoe time. We got several great trips in, including an all day paddle from Cooeycoff Lake through Cole Harbour (Guysborough County) and back. Really an awesome adventure, as Janie and I paddled, portaged & picnicked the 16 km return trip. With the bugs having “done” their thing, favourable temperatures and the Old Town 169 Discovery stationed in Cooeycoff and there for the taking, it proved healthy outdoor recreation for mind and body of the first order. We got two solid paddling days in during September… finally, in many ways, putting the canoe through some meaningful paces! This has to happen again next year!

Mid-month saw the return of Stanfest for fans of the event! Troy had scheduled a community style concert (all Covid protocols in place) in Canso for Sept 25th… the likes of Gunning, Guthro, Dunn, MacLellan and our very own Steve Antle no less. It was fun to roll up the sleeves and help out, actually see people, fly pipe & drape, build a stage, and take an active roll. I’d taken a back seat during the summer to some hybrid in-person/ online concerts that occurred in Pictou… but very much wanted to chuck some heart at the event held at home. The whole family was on deck to volun-told 😁. Even got the chance to pitch in on stage…

Grabbed a favorite video (below) from the Cole Harbour Run canoe trip that I thought I’d include! It’s of the falls that connect the Cooeycoff Lake with Sand Lake. It’s a substantial flow of water and drop in elevation. On the portage one can carefully hop out on the rock face and get in the midst of the torrent, being totally surrounded by the rush of moving water and crush of sound that roars in the gorge. It’s been a highlight since I was a kid fishing with my grandfather… always a good spot to drop a line or get wet (either on purpose or by mistake)! 😉

August brought friendly visitors, hours of paddling, warm evenings, gorgeous sunrises and wildlife sightings to the swinging screen doors of Camp Lumsden! Simply spectacular days and nights in the cooler confines of Eastern Nova Scotia. Generally, we can subtract 8 degrees from the temperature experienced when leaving Antigonish. We made good use of the fresher air staying a solid 25 nights this month at camp.

I have some super photos/vids from this month, capturing the bird, plant and animal life that frequented our tiny corner of Smelt Lake. So far the summer of 2021 has offered some surprises, with up close deer encounters, beer tracks in several surrounding locations, daily partridge sightings on the trimmed path and less movement in the commute overhead of loons from adjacent lakes. These interactions have been a real treat!!!

Speaking of “Wildlife”, the Lumsden Boys Weekend went off without a hitch. Highlights included “washers”, Auction 45’s, grub off the Weber Smoky Mtn, “Just Us” coffee fuelled mornings, 80’s Playlists, campfire 🔥 and craft ales for the after hours! It seems that an annual event is making its way into everyone’s calendars!

In terms of chores, we tackled both Camp Lumsden as well as some neighbourly tasks. In our yard we took on landscaping/rock wall projects in back around the wood bin, beach cleaning, brush removal along NW corner of the property line, grass upkeep/maintenance, boat haul off adjustments/clearing and even some “squirrel relocation”! We also put the Stihl brush cutter to work for a couple of neighbours that could use a boost in giving their properties a little trimming!

Maybe our best decision this month happened out of the what might be best described as “pure laziness”. We decided to portage the “Old Town” through to Cooeycoff Lake for a day paddle. Instead of the return lug, I got permission to lock the boat up at Bert’s Camp in the next lake. Worked out awesome… as Janie and I spent almost every weekend after in the Cole Harbour chain of lakes exploring, exercising, and sucking up some really extraordinary outdoor views & experiences. Already planning to do the same in 2022!

Beyond Smelt Lake we got a couple of trips in, including a few very enjoyable nights in PEI with the Grahams. Had an amazing time! Built around what was to be an awesome “full on” Matt Andersen concert, our trip included hiking trails in PEI National Park, great dining in and around the Stanhope area, an evening in Charlottetown and of lots of “catching up” with friends. We also managed reciprocal trips with the Chittys, where we made our way to beautiful Mattatall Lake and their new cottage/home in Tatamagouche and they dropped down for an evening at Camp Lumsden. Thanks to our hosts during both our August summer visits for taking such good care of us and putting up with our shenanigans! Bring on the fall…

“Live in each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit.”

– Henry David Thoreau

July turned out to be a huge camp month this summer… snuggling in a cool 27 nights!!! Most of the time Janie was on deck too… and with this amount of time on the ground lots of great jobs accomplished. Camp improvements (just to name a few) included lots of work with the paint brush (inside & out), some hammer and nail trim work, brush/grass cutting on path and around camp, an overflowing wood pile, electrical improvements (solar/camp/shed), systems work on water & fridge, work on the lawn/landscaping and some organization inside of newly acquired (cozy) bed linens to the point of a sewing machine to fabricate new curtains! Between Janie and I, July was a huge effort!

The several nights we didn’t spend on Smelt Lake found us at Keltic Lodge in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The impetus for the visit was Janie’s ongoing work and commitment to the NSTU. With the thought of taking full advantage of the time away/location, we researched the local trail scene, finding 8-10 potential hikes within an hour drive. As a team and independently (I hiked alone while Janie was at conference) I got in just shy of 40 kms of trail time (ranging easy to difficult) over the three days. It proved rewarding, with expansive views, loads of outdoor time, plenty of exercise, and lots of learning on and off trail!

Of course… no Stanfest again this summer, so a bit of a hole in July for us! I did, however, land a 25th Anniversary commemorative festival book. Some real fun to read and reflect on the people, pictures and stories gathered over the years… congrats to Troy on a massive effort! All the work that we completed in July was in no small way a product of “replacement therapy” to fill the festival void, while at the same time being entirely complementary to our work to become more physically active and engaged in healthy living. We feel great!!!

June was focused on accomplishing two things… ending the school year and readying for summer at the camp! Both Janie and I have specific grading and reporting to accomplish, as well as a flurry of meetings involving student transitioning/parents/admin! We work hard to put it all to bed as soon as possible so that when summer arrives we can jump in with both feet. However, most every weekend we were at camp prepping for summer and tackling projects!

June is, in my estimation, usually the “buggiest 🦟” month of the year. We gear up in our finest bug gear and tackle outdoor work! Included was a refurbish of the fire pit area, more paint applied to the camp exterior, schlepping of swapped propane tanks from Dave’s, efforts at restoring the woodpile, the construction of a breakfast table for the screen porch, and some well deserved relaxation with quiet days/nights!

With Janie’s camera back onsite (and my phone deciding to never open again 😢), we did manage to start capturing some of the local flora and fauna as we explored the area during morning/evening walks! She snagged a really amazing photo of a deer that wandered into our cove while making his way lakeside (most likely avoiding black flies/mosquitos). While at camp, we’re sticking to our healthy eating/exercise regime and I was pleasantly surprised at weigh-ins on Monday mornings (after a camp weekend) to see things going my way! We got in a solid dozen nights… not bad at all!

This May was a tough ol’ slog! In-person schooling was shut down, travel between Municipalities against the law, retail outlets enforcing customer restrictions… not much fun! Janie and I continued with At-Home-Learning and launched online materials / Google Meets for our students, but it’s just not the same. Don’t get me wrong… very glad to be healthy, vaccinated and working. Just that it made for a month that seemed to go on forever!

But… wait for it… as things always seem to do, a crack opened just enough for me to legally spend some time at camp (made it the primary residence) at the end of the month! Enjoyed 10 days of some of the best social distancing / quarantine time available! Saved me… I was struggling with all the tie downs! Anyway… I found opportunity for solid exercising, outdoor recreation, property improvements, solitude and fresh air (thanks Janie).

Where to start… While commuting to work daily I also got some exterior painting done, finished front screen door, started a flagstone walkway, installed the waterline, raked in a grass seed blend, schlepped some windfalls home from local trails and even landed a beautiful 15” trout from the other end of the lake. All came to an end as abruptly as it started, with a June 2nd back to school. In the midst of all this, we continued with the healthy food/exercise routine setting ourselves up nicely for June, always the busiest work month of the year!

April turned out to be a super month for completion of tasks at the camp. Rituals such as the return of winterized equipment (ie. batteries / generator) and replenishment of firewood stores were undertaken. Further, bigger jobs such as the installation of new outdoor screens, deck staining and a new screen wall/door in the front of the porch (thanks for the help Dad) were accomplished and are going to support a bug resistant space for coffee, lake watching and afternoon kinks!

Even more essential, Janie and I undertook the excavation and relocation of the pit privy in an effort to refurbish our bathroom “facilities”. Turned out to be an all day task, one which not only did justice to the new site but went further to include the levelling / clearing of the Northwest corner of the property and clean up of a “one time” midden that included used building materials/scraps of metal/glass bottles/ old wood stove. Dabbles in tree limbing and introduction of “washed ashore” beach materials rounded out the project! Now officially a work in progress. We identified a requirement for a new light in that area which we’ve added to the list!

This, however, ended abruptly at month’s end with the initiation of a new lockdown and stay in community orders. School switched to “At Home Learning”. Janie and I have both been working to be more healthy since the end of February and I had been relying heavily on the camp & outdoor time / tasks / menus to rejuvinate during the weekends. Great exercise, clears the mind… and managing in no small way to continue improvements to the property. I guess we’ll have to put that on hold for a bit! The secret will be keeping busy at home for now I guess (as I write @ 5:30 AM on a Saturday, May 1st) and maintaining the excellent groove that we’re on in regard to a healthier lifestyle!