Tag Archives: road trip

Paths forward

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My week at a writing retreat at St. Peter’s Abbey, Muenster, Saskatchewan ended yesterday, but I have to say, I wasn’t ready to leave. I had finished the writing that I came to do, so it wasn’t that I needed more time for that, but perhaps one more day — to read in the College library, listen to the bells, join in Abbey prayers, walk? But, in the words of the cliche, all good things must come to an end. And there’s always the road ahead.

Is there anything more enticing than a roadway between trees? Any kind of path, in fact, that pulls into distance, into the future?

And so I followed the highway to Saskatoon, away from the roadways and nearby rail line of the Abbey, and now I’m at my sister’s house, where the bed is decidedly more comfortable than the somewhat monkish one in the Scholastica building. Another sister lives in Warman, so I’m spending the weekend here, and so far it’s been lovely to catch up with both of them. There will be more of that catching up and seeing nieces and nephews and babies before I set out Monday for Calgary, where I’ll stay at my brother’s place, and then, D.V., my trusty steed, aka my red Escape (currently covered in prairie dust, though my brother-in-law has graciously offered to wash it this afternoon), will be turned westward and home.

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Trusting that all will be well until then, let me thank you who came along via these posts. May whatever path you’re on open beautifully before you today!

A big exhale

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I woke shortly after 5 this morning and felt that what I had embarked on was crazy. However, nothing to be done for it but get up, have a cup of motel-room coffee, and head back on the road. It was a beautiful morning, and once again there was the grandeur of mountain and valley.IMG_2415 (1)

I need to say that I very much enjoy residing where I do, in the most southerly and westerly corner of the B.C. mainland, but, growing up on and living so much of my life on the prairies, the mountains of B.C., spectacular as they are, are not just a geographical barrier but a psychological one for me as well. So when I emerged, after several hours, into the plains of Alberta (Pincher Creek area) it was like a big inner exhale. The light both paler and brighter, the horizon visible, and there no obstacle to get over and around. Muted tones of brown, gold, green. Ah-h-h-IMG_2417

My “listen” today was the intro and chapter one of Rachel Held Evans’ Inspired, and then the 10-episode series, The RFK Tapes, described as “a trip down a rabbit hole surrounding the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.” I remember that event of 1968 but had no idea there were so many fascinating aspects to the story. After a while I felt it was veering into conspiracy theory but in the end the host backed firmly away.

I’m staying this evening and night in Swift Current with my lovely niece Tori, a midwife, and her dog Charlotte. IMG_2419

On the road with Sweet Bobby

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I left Tsawwassen close to 7 this morning and now, 7 in the evening, I’ve got my legs stretched out on a bed in a room at the Shimmerhorn Inn in Creston. Nothing luxurious but it’s a bed and the place is rather pretty in blue and white, and I’m very grateful indeed to have the first day of my road trip to Winnipeg behind me. I plan to attend a Mennonite history conference, visit some friends and relatives, and then double back through Saskatchewan for a week’s writing retreat at St. Peter’s Abbey in Muenster. More about all that later if I find time and energy to keep up a bit of a blog-diary.

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I decided to take the #3 out of B.C. On the map that highway  looks like an earthworm wiggling along the border. No end of curves, that’s for sure, and no end either of up and down, but it’s magnificent country in so many ways, the mountains and trees and valleys and rivers, and in Keremeos and Osoyoos, vineyards and orchards and bustling fruit markets. Traffic was relatively light and road conditions were good.

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Before setting out, I downloaded several books and podcasts to help the hours along. Today I listened to the last four episodes of a six-episode podcast I’d started at home called Sweet Bobby. It’s a harrowing true tale about some complicated catfishing, which is not, I learned, the action of catching catfish but “a deceptive activity in which a person creates a fictional persona or fake identity on a social networking service, usually targeting a specific victim.”

Here’s the description of the series.

Kirat is a successful radio presenter. On Facebook she meets Bobby, a handsome cardiologist. He’s a catch. Soon, they get tangled up in a love affair full of lies and manipulation. Then… Kirat discovers a deception of almost unimaginable proportions.

I like podcasts that tell a true story, and are journalistic in style. (Recommendations welcome.) I also listened to an hour of Writers & Co. Although Eleanor Wachtel, one of the best interviewers ever, has just retired after 33 years of doing the show, some of her favourites are being aired throughout the summer.

Day one nearly done then. My body still feels like it’s in motion, but I’ll go for a walk and then, hopefully sleep well, and be ready to drive again tomorrow. A few more mountains to get over or around.