Oct 16, 2019
Today will be our last day in Halifax. We need to get heading west. We received a knock on our trailer door this morning and the manageress told us that they are closing the campground totally today. The forecast calls for extreme rain and wind conditions starting late tonight. They don’t want anyone in the campground for fear of toppling trees that may have been compromised by hurricane Dorian late last month. That meant we had to take our trailer out one day earlier than planned. We made the decision that Debbie can go and visit Ann while I return back to the campground, hitch up the trailer and find us a place to boondock for the night. Our closest option is the Wal-Mart parking lot close to this campground. It is also a short distance from the hospital. The nearest campground still open is the KOA where we had previously stayed, but it is a 40-minute drive one way. I had told myself that we would never need to stay in a Wal-Mart parking lot. I guess you never say never…..
So off to the hospital we went, and Debbie went to see Ann. I hitched up the trailer and went to see our next boondocking site. I was surprised to see that there were folks in similar situations as us. I spoke to one man, who was setting up his mid size motorhome. He explained that they had just unloaded their motorhome off of a freighter that they had come across the Atlantic on! They were re-equipping it and were heading out on a one and half year adventure of North America. They are from Switzerland. There are also several other motorhomes, three other trailers and a fifth wheel trailer. Some of the trailers appeared to have been here for some time. There are also three vehicles that the occupants were obviously living out of.
Before going into the hospital, I made a phone call to my dear friend Ken in Nanaimo. Ken is turning 100 years old today. I had wanted to be at his birthday party however, things being what they are, I opted to call him instead. I had set my alarm to call him first thing this morning, and the alarm went off at 9:00. Debbie reminded me that we are four hours ahead of Nanaimo, and our centenarian would not appreciate a man singing happy birthday to him at 5:00 AM!! I reset my alarm for 1:00. Ken and I had a great talk and I congratulated him on his birthday. In our neighborhood it is a tradition to sing Happy Birthday to any neighbor who is celebrating a milestone birthday. We all gather at the home of the person and sing Happy Birthday and then leave. Later in the day I received an e-mailed photo of the neighbors with Ken. I look forward to seeing him again and wishing him a happy birthday to his smiling face.
I then returned to the hospital and spent the remainder of the afternoon with Ann and Debbie. Ann had been napping throughout the day and was in good spirits. She is still waiting for the results of pathology tests. We talked between her naps and just visited. During our journey across Canada, Debbie had spent the time during our drives, knitting a wool afghan. She had just completed it and was pleased with the results. She remarked that it would be a perfect and special gift to Ann. Prior to us leaving she gave it to Ann. We then said goodbye to our friend and left at around 7:00.
We decided because of the late hour to have supper out and found a restaurant near us. We then returned to our trailer and got ready for a forecasted stormy night.
Quilting in a Kayak 