First South Travelogue

Last evening, I took a walk.

It's been a grueling month. Twice a year, I do a BIG typesetting project. It's my bread and butter and pays for most of the year's expenses, but it's a grind with 45- to 60-hour weeks and one day off in the past 30.

I'm tired.

Yesterday was the very last day, and as still more changes came in in the morning, something in me seemed to snap. I burned out. My brain stopped working. I couldn't focus. I sent a bunch of things back with errors. I was done.

But no rest for the weary! With plenty more work from other clients queued up and waiting for me to be available, I slogged most of the rest of the day out at my desk – fairly ineffectively, but still.

And then, as evening hit, I felt the call of something bigger. The VERSE. Bigger than daily cares, bigger than fiscal responsibility, bigger than me, all humans and the entire construct of human endeavour.

I live surrounded by the most gorgeous landscapes I have ever seen. And as an added bonus, yesterday evening was 9 degrees (Celsius) and sunny.

If you are like me, plowing away at your responsibilities, burdened by worries and cares, I invite you to come along with me on this walk.

The view of the Town of Lunenburg from the top of the
hill by the golf course. The house I've been renting in this winter
is just off the left edge of the frame.

As I headed up the hill, I heard rustlings behind me and realized that my cat, Salinger, had decided to come along.

Here is Salinger, stalking me. This time of year our landscapes
are excellently colour-coordinated for ginger camouflage.

My handsome fellow stayed with me quite a distance – well past the Topmast Motel at the crest of the hill. Fortunately, he is timid of cars and stayed off the road.

Salinger <3

At this point, Salinger decided he had reached the limits of his territory. I, on the other hand, felt like really stretching my legs with a good, long, cobweb-clearer of a walk.

Heading down the hill and out of town.

In a couple of months, this will all be vivid green, but right now, it is a restful golden brown, which I think co-ordinates quite nicely with the blue of the ocean.

On the flat between Hill 1 and Hill 2, looking out to sea.

Coming down the second hill toward Corkum's Island:

The curve at the bottom of this hill always catches me by
surprise when I'm driving. It's a doozy!

About a half an hour out from my starting point, I decided to turn back. Having climbed two big hills on the way out, I knew I would have to climb back up two big hills to get home (unless I called my housemate to come rescue me in her car – LOL!)

I didn't want to overtax myself after a very sedentary month.

I took this picture at the point where I turned
around to come home. Absolute serenity.

Back up the first of those big hills:

Trust me, it's steeper than it looks!

And back into town at the base of the second big hill:

Town limits. Where First South ends and the
Town of Lunenburg begins.

When I got back to the spot where Salinger and I parted ways, I gave a little holler — and look who was hanging around waiting for me to get back!

Salinger, playing "keep away" by the side of the road.

My holler startled three deer who tore off into the trees behind the golf course. I wasn't quick enough to get a photo. 

As Salinger and I came back over the crest of the hill, there was twilit Lunenburg with the first of the lights beginning to sparkle on the boats in the harbour.

Home again, hone again, riggety-jig.

This is a blessed place. 

Its peace eases my heart. It fills my eyes with beauty, my heart with love and my soul with gratitude.

Portrait of the (very tired yet refreshed) blogger
with her cat, Salinger, upon being happily reunited.