Gadabout 3

Big lunch at Little River

It's been, wet, wet, WET in Nova Scotia. We arrived In a downpour, tour in a downpour and will leave in a downpour. But onwards we venture, well into the depths of the island in search of Petite Rivière (or 'little river'). We note athat Adele is on the radio again. From The first turn ofthe ignition in Bangor, through PEI, onto St John and now Nova Scotia, this is the feature album. We decide that Adele is the soundtrack to this Canadian adventure.

We're en route to to have lunch with Norm and Francis who are long time (and probably suffering) friends of Richards. Doing things 'our way' we decide to use the GPS  rather than Norm's instructions and I get an unplanned tour of the countryside. The roads get thinner, more twisted, and the asphalt  is long gone. I'm thinking, Stephen king horror again...

We arrive at 'petite Riviere' just in time for 12 o'clock lunch. Francis and Norm show us around their 19the century 'country home', which they have lovingly restored and made habitable over seven summers. He shows us his latest 'add-on', a cosy and light-filled sun room. The materials, I am told are all second hand or thrifty finds, but I see no evidence of this. All my Canadian hosts to date have one thing in  common - they are home renovators or builders.  

I am fond of the 'doll-house-like' architecture of the Canadian maritimes. White walls and peaked roofs, quaint attic  conversions, coloured shutters, flowering window boxes, the occasional spire. I visit the homes of many as I gad around with my Canadian pals, and the conversations inevitably lead to their houses, which I thoroughly enjoy. Everyone is a carpenter, a home builder or renovator, and there seems plentynof 'mates' around to lend a hand. Every single person I visit has built a major part of their house, if not built it themselves. I feel enthused to go home and add another room to my 'Queanbeyan 'bungalow' , and bring some Nova Scotian charm to Queanbeyan. I'm sure I can follow Norm's lead and make do with  a few hundred dollars, some odds and sods from magnet mart, and a trtip to Revolve? Any volunteers? 

Norm and Francis are 'snowbirds', who drive to Florida for the Canadian Winter. They live six months of the year in an RV park (recreational vehicle park), and Richard quickly reprimands me each time I forget my manners and refer to 'the traileer park'. 'RV parks and trailer parks are NOT the same, here, Mel!' There's no evince of Trailer Park boys here...

We eat a hearty and wonderfully tasty meal of turkey sandwiches, and we get an 'advance tasting' of the most delectable  Cranberry sauce, specially prepared by Francis for upcoming Canadian Thanksgiving. The sides inclu fresh vegetables from the garden and potato 'crisp'. I eat some sandwiches with my cranberry sauce. Norm shares his love of history, and we leave with an assortment of gifts (including some -Alaskan gold), maps (norm suspects we may need these...) and heads and bellies full of soul food. It's still raining but we head on to Mahune Bay anyway, and once again, Adele sings soulfully in the background..