Sorry I haven't been posting but I'm having a major rethink on the format of the book, more specifically, the Reflections chapters. If I go through with it, it's going to entail a considerable amount of work, work which doesn't really appeal to me in the summer months. Consequently, my self-imposed planned fall publishing deadline, simply isn't going to happen.

I also am a little disappointed in the number of visitors to these pages so don't know if I will even continue making entries. the purpose of this blog was to see if there was any interest in A Few Acres of Snow and I believe I have an answer to said question. At any rate, I believe the whole project will benefit from a summer hiatus.

To those of you who have been visiting, thanks for looking. Have a wonderful summer.

Update August 24, 2014
A theme which came out of the writing to this point, emptiness/sunyata, will, I believe, serve to give more substance to the spiritual aspect of the book as well as be the glue which holds it all together. I have begun researching the matter in earnest both from a buddhist and quantum mechanics perspective and am rediscovering some of the excitement I had when I began this project. 

Travels With Molly

Sunday, June 29 

Been on the road so no entries for over three weeks! Left for Friday the 13th in Port Dover on Tuesday. Too many black-flies to do anything outside so I figured I may as well be on the road as sit around here thinking about going. Took the Port Perry route again but missed a turn somewhere which added one half to one hour of travel time but it didn't matter. Arrived in London in late afternoon. This was Molly’s first extended trip in the rig and she did amazingly well. In London she was reluctant to get out of it in fact. Later as we were all in the back yard she disappeared. We found her lying in the side-car. Eric had told me to put the bike in the garage and when I opened the door to show him the rig around 10:00 p.m. Molly dashed in and settled down in the car again. It took some coaxing to get her out. I think she was afraid I was going to leave without her. 

Went by the school on Thursday – it was pouring rain so left Molly at Eric’s. Tim and I went to visit Paul that evening at his house.

Friday the 13th was overcast with intermittent light rain but we barely got wet at all. Picked Chuck up at St. Mary's High School in Woodstock and got to Port Dover about noon. Those attending included Molly and me, Eric, Mike and Dany, Chuck, Steve and his friend Dave. Also saw Brian Linn there. Molly stayed with us most of the time except for the last hour or so when I tied her in the side-car. When we got back several people told me that she wouldn’t let anyone near the rig. As soon as they got too close she would start barking and snarling at them. I guess this means she has taken ownership of her side-car. 

Chuck, ever the film student, somehow came up with the idea that it would be a good place to film a fight scene between a couple of ‘bikers’ as played by Mike and Steve. No sooner had they begun fighting, preceded by lots of yelling, than we were swarmed by a dozen cops, members of a swat team with automatic weapons at the ready screaming to break it up. It took some doing to convince them that we were just doing a film shoot and that we meant no harm. Come to think of it, it was a pretty dumb thing to do considering that we were in the midst of 50 000 or more bikers all there to have a good time. Got to say it was pretty scary and they were some pissed off, but they finally left with a warning not to try anything like that again or we’d all end up in jail. Welcome to Friday the 13th! 

Stayed for Father's Day at Lisa's insistence, Jen and the kids as well as Gale and Caitlyn came over. A really pleasant time. Came home Monday – a perfect day for a ride.

I left on June 29th for the Ride for Sight. Arrived in early afternoon. Mike and Dany arrived about 7:30 Friday and Jay, Steve and Rick arrived on Saturday as did Don, Mike's old neighbour, much to our surprise. The weather was perfect all weekend. Saturday night we all, with the exception of Don, did mushrooms. They added a nice touch to the evening. I lasted until about 2:30 am Mike and Don were up until about six so, needless to say, we had to wait around to get Mike up – about 2:30 or so, as the rest of us were up relatively early – me at eight. 

 After the Ride for Sight I went back to London so I could attend graduation at Cleardale. I'm glad I went because MacKenzie (have forgotten her last name) mentioned me in the valedictory address – something like "And then there's Mr. Birtch who taught us computers. There's just something about him that makes him so loveable." Quite a compliment! Got to admit it almost brought me to tears. Unfortunately I didn't get to talk to her afterwards as I was cornered by some former students and parents who wanted to say hi and hear about my exploits in the bush.

Returned on Wednesday accompanied by Gord Ritchy, the father of some of the kids I’d taught at Cleardale.. He stayed the night and left about 9:30 Thursday morning. The ride up was extremely hot, 35°C.

All this travelling is taking me away from here much too often and I still have the Bluesfest coming up next month. Oh well, I am having a great time and should be thankful, I suppose, that I have the freedom to do so. And even though I dislike riding the rig, it’s the only way I could attend all these bike events without leaving Molly behind. Well worth the sacrifice.

People

People

I have never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude

Thoreau

I went to Bancroft to get away, not just from the city but from people as well. Not that it was my intention to shun people entirely for I knew that family and friends would be up to visit me frequently and I welcomed their presence, to a point. The other consideration is that I would have neighbours who, at the very least, would be curious about me. For my part I did not plan on going out of my way to befriend them, nor was it my intention to go out of my way to avoid them. If my neighbours chose to seek me out, then I was fine with that but, beyond a polite wave or quick nod at chance meetings on the road, it would be up to them to make the first move. And it was pretty much of a sure thing that they would seek me out. Surely they’d be curious about the loner from the city living in the tiny house on the hill with no electricity or water. I don’t mean to sound antisocial here, but at that point in my life that’s where I was at. I was there to figure out just who this new me, this 55 year old, single, retired individual was and too many people too much of the time might get in the way of my quest.

The Neighbours

...

And so it was that I, accompanied by my son-in-law, made the inaugural trip in mid March of 2002 to what I came to think of as my little piece of paradise. As we were unloading the truck on the road and preparing to carry our gear up the hill to the cabin (the driveway was impassable due to accumulated snowfall) a truck pulled out of the drive across the road. The driver stopped, we introduced ourselves - his name was Sean - we talked briefly, ... what stayed with me was his declaration that I would now be living on Copperhead Road, a reference to the Steve Earle song of the same name. Seems a neighbour up the road a piece had been arrested for operating a marijuana grow-op. 

...

Getting back to my actual arrival, as predicted, it wasn’t long before the second of my neighbours made an appearance. 

As it turns out the whole incident gave me cause to fear for my life. I was outside puttering about in the clearing near the house when a movement on the drive caught my eye. Turning to take a closer look I beheld one very intimidating monster of a dog lumbering up the drive, a one hundred seventy-five pound Shepherd Rottweiler cross, I was soon to learn. His colouring and body shape most resembled a Shepherd, one giant of a Shepherd. The immense block that was his head had Rottweiler written all over it as did the squarish powerful looking jaw. I wasn’t sure if I should stand my ground or make a desperate dash for the house, not that the dog’s demeanour was threatening - I wasn’t even sure if he’d even noticed me yet. As I stood there frozen in indecision, a voice from somewhere down the driveway shouted out words of reassurance, anticipating my reaction no doubt, at the sudden appearance of this unknown and menacingly huge creature. The voice assured me that I was not in any danger, and none too soon because it was at that point that Buddy spotted me and loped over to offer a big sloppy hello.

And so it was that I met neighbour number two, Bancroft Eric as he came to be known, the Bancroft part to distinguish him from London Eric, a frequent visitor. True to his name, but belying his appearance, Buddy didn’t have a mean bone in his body. In fact, Molly, at about a quarter of his weight, was definitely in charge when the two of them were together. 

After introducing himself and his companion, Eric immediately proceeded to “Get everything out in the open.” explaining that he’d prefer to fill me in on his history before someone else did. Aha, Mr. Copperhead Road himself I presume. 

...

A Night Time Visitor

Friday, May 16

Startled out of a deep sleep at 2:30 this morning by Molly’s barking. And this was no ordinary barking. I had never heard her this excited before. Suspecting that something big was about to happen, I hurried to get out of bed, almost losing my footing on the ladder. Molly was going mad at the large window of the addition. As I passed the cupboard, I grabbed the flashlight and rushed to the window. When I looked outside the only evidence that anything was amiss was that the large plastic bin which had contained two large bags of bird seed had been flipped over. Both bags had been ripped open and the seed scattered every which way. Given the weight of those bags I immediately knew there is only one animal which could have managed to flip that bin over and even though I didn’t see it, I knew that I’d had a visit from a bear. It’s also the only thing that would explain Molly’s reaction. I decided to venture outside and salvage what I could of the bird seed by placing it back in the bin. Don’t mind admitting that I wasn’t sure if that was a good idea at the time. For all I knew the bear was hiding out in the nearby clump of cedars waiting for things to calm down again and who new how it might react to my messing with its new-found food supply.

Back in bed, my adrenalin flowing, all kinds of scenarios began to run through my head. What if the bear hand’t been satisfied with just bird seed? What if it had caught scent of the other large bin in the screened-in porch which contained Molly’s food? From there it would have been a simple matter for the bear to break down the front door and enter my tiny little cabin leaving me with no means of escape. I have no idea how long I lie there, imagining all sorts of alternative endings to this little incident but I finally convinced myself that, just as Molly had succeeded in scaring the bear off at the back of the house, she surely would do the same should it return.

Found further evidence that our visitor had been a bear when Molly and I went for our morning walk. Just at the edge of the bush by the spring I found some fresh bear scat, bird seed and all. Mystery solved.

...

When I told Sean about the incident last night he said that he’d spotted a bear on my property the last two springs and wouldn’t be surprised if it had a den somewhere nearby.

Robin Song

Friday, May 2

...

Yesterday we received our first significant spring rainfall, a warm, gentle, cleansing, life-giving downpour which began in the early hours of the morning and ending an hour or so before noon. As the rain was subsiding, my first thought was that this might be the perfect opportunity to photograph the mosses and lichens coating some of the rotting logs which I’d been keeping an eye on. The same logs which, later on in the season, I hoped, would provide me with a feast of tiny puffballs as they had the previous summer. So I grabbed the camera thinking I would take advantage of the special light that follows a recently ended spring shower and which serves to bring out the rich saturated colours of the forest. I called Molly, who’d been snoozing by the door, and we headed down the well-trodden footpath to the bush. As we stepped into the shadows the rain’s impact was immediately apparent. Lush green mosses in an infinite variety of textures and shades of green were everywhere as were the newly sprouted wildflowers forcing their way up through the previous fall’s mat of decaying leaves. I was delighted to discover that the small spring that I’d nurtured last fall was flowing freely again. The air was alive with the scent of new growth.

I don’t know what it’s like in other parts of the world but where I grew up in southern Ontario there was, immediately following a spring rainfall, an occurrence which could always be counted upon to announce the joyous occasion that it was. True, there were, and are, other indications that spring has arrived, but none marks the season more joyously than the celebratory song of the robin which inevitably follows a spring shower. Certainly there are other songs such as those of the many variety of finches which are more variable and melodic, but it’s the absolute simplicity and repetitiveness of the robins’ call, the ease of recognition identifiable by even the most amateur of bird fanciers, that makes it the harbinger of spring that it truly is. And nothing brings out a robin’s need to sing more than a spring shower such as we’d had earlier that morning.

The border between my property and that of my neighbour to the west is marked by a change in vegetation, mine of much older growth, predominated by conifers - cedars, balsam fir, pine and spruce with a small percentage of hardwood mostly poplar and birch and aspen popping up here and there whereas the neighbour’s is entirely made up of hardwoods, maple being the predominant species.. The transition is by no means a subtle one as would be the case if nature had been solely responsible and is, undoubtedly, the result of intentional interference by man. But today there was another even more striking difference for as I approached the neighbour’s bush, the still silence at my back was replaced by a growing din. The sounds which drew me ever closer were unprecedented in my experience to the extent that I could barely believe my ears for what I was hearing was not that of a solitary robin or even two or three but, it would seem, dozens, possibly hundreds . But I was not prepared for the sight and sounds which greeted me upon breaking into the more open vegetation. The trees were filled with hundreds of robins all joined together in chorus, singing their hearts out. Scarcely believing my eyes and ears, I stood, mesmerized, in awe of nature’s splendour, of my good fortune to have witnessed such an event. 

As if this weren't enough to absorb, as I was relaxing on the hill by the solar panels later on, I heard an elk bugling off in the direction of a nearby meadow. Perhaps he too was celebrating the rain.

Incidentally, no sign of the porcupine again. I guess that's a good thing as I really do not want Molly tangling with one. 

Molly's Ride

Tuesday, April 15

...

The rig arrived Sunday about 10:30 a.m. Alison, being the only one of the three of us with any experience driving the thing, was the obvious choice to manoeuvre it up the partially frozen driveway. The ice stopped her once but with a little coaxing from her husband and me she managed to make it to the parking area about  half way between the road and the cabin. That would have to do for now and at least it’s not visible from the road. 

I have spent the last couple of days working with Molly to get her accustomed to the sidecar. She's still a little hesitant about getting in but with a little coaxing, and a treat or two, she’s been hopping in and is beginning to relax. This, of course, is with the bike not running. When I start it up it’s an entirely different matter. As soon as I start to crank it over she’s out of the car and headed for the house and no amount of coaxing will get her back down there again. I have now rigged up her leash such that it’s too short for her to escape.

A huge step forward today as we managed a small circle around the parking area. It would be stretching the truth to say she enjoyed it but she did tolerate it, looking extremely apprehensive the whole time but we got through it. All in good time. After all it’s only been a couple of days.

April 27

...

Started bike with Molly in the sidecar on Saturday and she didn't flinch at all – progress! Same thing today. 

Took the bike out today, no Molly, with the intent of going around ‘the block’ to practice turns but got less than half way round when I suddenly found myself in the ditch, still upright, but shaken. Turns out that the bolt fell off the bottom end of the shock absorber allowing the car’s fender to slam down onto the tire which had the same effect as slamming on the brakes. This in turn, swung me to the right placing me at right angles to the road and ultimately, as I said, in the ditch. Mustering up all my strength, I raised the car up with one hand while I jammed an allen wrench into the bolt hole and ever so carefully limped back to Sean’s to see if he might have a bolt that would fit. He didn’t, but he suggested I go to the service centre on the east side of town to see if they had one. Turns out they did. My stomach still does flip-flops when I think about this little incident and what might have happened if I’d been barrelling down the highway at twice the speed. It's also a good thing I didn't have Molly with e as an incident like this might have frightened her off the sidecar for good.

April 28

In the afternoon Molly and I went to town on the rig! She’d mastered sitting in the car while I started it up so I figured we'd give it a shot. I tied her in and she did make a feeble attempt to  make a break for it once but that was it. She did amazingly well. A few times she tried lying down but she got up as soon as she was down so her comfort zone is a little narrow yet. Stopped for gas and no problem. Also no problem all through town. Went to Birch Creek to show Robin the rig, let Molly out and when it was time to go she barely hesitated to get back in.

April 29

...

Molly did well again on the trip although she didn't really want to get in the sidecar initially. Whenever we stop however she’s always in good spirits and, when I’m ready to go, she jumps in readily. 

...

On a more pleasant note, when I was at IGA earlier there was a family standing around their van. There were a couple of young girls not looking very happy and then one of them spotted Molly in her side-car and she was transformed, got a big smile on her face, then told the rest of the family to look and they all stood there grinning ear to ear. Whenever I think I'd like a regular bike - I really don’t like the way the rig handles - I only have to think of all the people who, upon seeing Molly in the sidecar, crack a smile and I know that it's worth it to bring so much happiness to so many people. A regular bike is fine but for me and me alone – selfish I know, but I do think about it.

...

Also stopped at the butcher shop and bought frozen organic hamburger, bison sausages and a couple of pickerel filets. Hope I can eat them before they go bad. The lady there made a big fuss over Molly, of course, and everyone was smiling and commented on Molly and the rig at IGA.

...

Went to town on the bike for a few groceries including a prime rib steak from the butcher. The butcher lady really looks forward to my visits it seems, nothing to do with me, but she adores Molly and the fact that she has her own ride. She, Molly, came out of there with about a quarter pound of baloney. A little later, still in town, some guy got all uptight, honked his horn, gave me the finger and had a few choice words, which I echoed right back at him. I’m not at all certain what his problem was. Something to do with pulling into the driveway at the grocery store. I think he may have thought I was going to pull out on him or something. Anyway, I'm sure I did nothing wrong so screw him. Why is it that for every warm, caring person we meet, there has to be some asshole to try and ruin our day. Well, sorry to disappoint asshole, but the butcher lady wins this one. Enjoy your day.

...

Been on the road so no entries for over three weeks! Left for Friday the 13th in Port Dover on Tuesday. Too many black-flies to do anything outside so I figured I may as well be on the road as sit around here thinking about going. Took the Port Perry route again but missed a turn somewhere which added one half to one hour of travel time but it didn't matter. Arrived in London in late afternoon. This was Molly’s first extended trip in the rig and she did amazingly well. In London she was reluctant to get out of it in fact. Later as we were all in the back yard she disappeared. We found her lying in the side-car. Eric had told me to put the bike in the garage and when I opened the door to show him the rig around 10:00 p.m. Molly dashed in and settled down in the car again. It took some coaxing to get her out. I think she was afraid I was going to leave without her. 

...

Friday the 13th was overcast with intermittent light rain but we barely got wet at all. Picked Chuck up at St. Mary's High School in Woodstock and got to Port Dover about noon. Those attending included Molly and me, Eric, Mike and Dany, Chuck, Steve and his friend Dave. Also saw Brian Linn there. Molly stayed with us most of the time except for the last hour or so when I tied her in the side-car. When we got back several people told me that she wouldn’t let anyone near the rig. As soon as they got too close she would start barking and snarling at them. I guess this means she has taken ownership of her side-car. 

Winter's Back

Wednesday, April 2

Snowed today, all day! Temperatures hovering around the zero mark. In London they’re in the mid to high teens - unfair. The long-term forecast changes so drastically from day today that I'm simply going to start ignoring it. I may have been overly optimistic in celebrating spring’s arrival.

No walks today. Molly cut the large pad on her left front paw yesterday over at the girls’ place. It was bleeding pretty badly so we came straight home where I put iodine and a bandage on it.

...

My beer is partially frozen despite storing it in coolers under the shed. So today I brought it in and will keep it in until the cold spell is over. I think I need a root cellar. 

Thursday, April 4

Snowing still! Prediction says we could get up to 20 cm. tonight.

...

Did laundry while I was in town and bought a few groceries. Used the sled to haul everything up the hill – at least the snow is useful.

...

Saturday, April 5

My radio broke the other day. It gets its power either by plugging it into my main power supply, directly from the sun through its own photo voltaic cells or by turning a small crank which then slowly unwinds charging the internal power source. Because I've had very little sun or power, I've been winding it up this week and yesterday, as it was unwinding, something must have snapped inside causing the radio to literally leap off the shelf where it was perched and crash to the floor making the crank totally useless, bending the aerial and damaging the case. This is the third radio of this type I have had, the other two suffering similar fates. 

...

Sunday, April 6

Thanking the powers that be that the sun has returned - and just in time. I have been feeling down the last couple of days mainly due to winter’s return. By yesterday evening my batteries were totally drained and it snowed off and on all day and was very dull. Add all this up and I started thinking about Val and a deep longing for things to go back to the way they used to be. I guess days like that are bound to occur from time to time. Happy to report today that I'm feeling better again. 

...

It doesn't look good for receiving the new bike next Saturday. It may just come off the trailer and have to sit there as my drive is not in any condition to receive a motorcycle even if it does have three wheels.

...

I finally got around to making baked beans this morning, something I’ve been meaning to do for some time now. Another comfort food which will taste even better with home baked bread. I used a recipe in Val’s recipe box for Canadiana baked beans – onion, green pepper, substituted beef salami for bacon, and the Canadian touch, maple syrup. 

...