The Crown Jewels

One last time I will launch into praising this island by just showing off the crown jewels as they appear on a beautiful sunny day like today. I just couldn’t stay on my home turf this morning.   Somehow I just had a feeling that I could be missing something by not going out and taking in the well-known sites and views which captivated us one day back in 2009.    Yes, my first destination of the day was Raccoon Beach and Liberty Point. They are part of the Roosevelt Park Natural Area and need to be seen by any visitor. A visitor who is not being taken by the magic of these spots should not even consider Campobello as a destination. No, he/she should stay in the big city and enjoy traffic jams and noise. Besides of a gentle splash originating of the waves hitting the coastal rocky shore and a gull crying loudly, there is not really any noise. At least wasn’t today, when I was standing there spell-bound. But stop….there WAS activity out there. A bunch of small fishing vessels went back and forth between the Coast of Maine and Campobello Island. What a sight! Detouring over one of the internal park roads I ended up at the main highway atop of a hill, overlooking the International Bridge, Mulholland Light and Lubec. It was then time to head back and stop at the post office to get our mail forwarded. Great service here at the local Canada Post office. After lunch we went visiting with friends and neighbours who had not been coming by yet. Welcoming smiles all around! Life is so good.   2 more crown jewels were to be visited in the afternoon. First off was a visit to the Roosevelt Park Visitor Centre, where the flower beds were still in pretty bloom. Bea bought Eleanor Roosevelt’s Cookie book, a true collection of the most delicious cookie recipes. The cookies can be tasted by anyone when attending the “Tea with Eleanor” session arranged daily at the park.     The day would not be complete without visiting another crown jewel. It’s red and white and On The Rocks - the Head Harbour Lightstation, (1829) which is the oldest lighthouse in New Brunswick.      A couple of other day visitors had gathered for the first guided lighthouse tower tour of the day. A young man from the island was the guide. Lighthouse volunteers have done an outstanding job with decorating the interior of the keepers dwelling.   Who wouldn’t want to spend a night near the ocean, waking up to a new day by looking through the tiny windows. Humpback whales are known to hang out in these waters and before you know it you’d see one breaching the surface right in the line of your view.        It is an intriguing place, which will never cease to captivate us.

Precious Days

Sometimes we have the wish to preserve the days for ever. That is when we are exceedingly happy and content. It is just that what I would like to do right now. A great big peace seems to have settled in me. Walks through the beautiful forests of the Roosevelt Park, views across the wide waters of the Bay of Fundy, the splash of waves rolling ashore, a last songbird singing his melody. Bea’s garden is still showing flowers and we are indulging in a rich fish stew, prepared from garden vegetables topped with sour cream, completed with a California white wine…. Most of the summer visitors have left this blessed island, but friends are dropping by to say hello. What a great pleasure to see everyone healthy and well. God, what great love I feel towards this place. I was surprised that I slept until 8:30am today. That is not me on a normal day, but the quiet Saturday morning and a grey sky might have been contributing. Yes, we had a drizzle which subsided throughout the day. But that’s part of coastal living, and it makes me appreciate the sunny days even more. You may say “you appreciate all this because you are now at the age of 62”, but I have to tell you that I always have appreciated and preferred a quiet country life versus the huzzle-buzzle of any big city. I think I was born like that. You may offer any world-class entertainment in a big city, and I would thank you no and trade that against a walk in a beautiful natural area – like Campobello. But I’m bragging…..you gotta come yourself and see.