| Back Home Again |
| Flat Stanley hadn't seen the Gaelic College yet so we took a little detour off the TCH in St. Ann's. It was a beautiful evening and the sounds of the pipers in the piping sheds wafted across the lawn. The pipers aren't "allowed" to play inside unless it's a ceilidh. Especially those learning how to play! LOL! You either love bagpipes or hate 'em, I guess. No middle road. Stanley enjoyed the wonderful sign which marks the College and the little piper outside the gift shop. An ad for the Barras show that Sheumas and Kyle had told me about in Baddeck hung on the wall. *sigh* missing them by a day! And apparently, the two younger MacNeils, Boyd and Ryan, are now members of the group too. Stanley made me promise to come to Celtic Colours some day. I fully intend to the year after I retire.
I reluctantly left the Gaelic College and continued towards my destination for the evening - the Comfort Inn in Amherst again. I stopped again in Antigonish at the Snow Queen for Garlic fingers and oatcakes but didn't sightsee this time. At least this time I knew what exit to get off so I wouldn't be driving all through Amherst! I signed in at 11:30, thoroughly tired. It was here I checked my bank balance and nearly had a fit! It was much less than I realized and I'd have to spend as little as possible to make it to Boston. I didn't even shower before bed this evening. I was soooo tired! Wednesday, July 13th Woke up early the next day and enjoyed the continental breakfast. In fact, I stuck a couple of cinnamon rolls in my pocket in case I didn't have lunch money. I had no problems through New Brunswick except I had to buy gas. I made good time through that lovely province and spent my $12 in Canadian change on gas in St. George. I figured that would get me to the other side of the border where gas had been $2.25/gal when I left. I was right, but not on the price of gas. The border guard stopped me and asked, "Do you have booze?" No. "Guns?" No "Antiques?" No- just me, I answered. "Don't be so hard on yourself," he grinned. "Go ahead through." The warm fuzzy feeling went away rapidly when I saw the border patrol vehicle riding down the road in front of me. The United States/Canadian border has always seemed so innocuous, so safe, so friendly, even after September 11, 2001. But this almost ranked up there with the night we were met by the tank pointed towards us. Well, I had a shocker when I saw the gas station sign - $2.45!!!!!!!!!! Oh man! I'd be lucky to get to Boston at that rate. Now I fervently prayed for my $12 Cdn worth of gas to last me to the place of the pink hotdog. It did. Gas there was much cheaper at $2.32/gal. Still more than I wanted to pay but it was better than the $1.03 Cdn/liter I had been shelling out in Newfoundland! They were starting to protest in Newfoundland about the price of gas. After all, they are pumping it from their oil field and pay the most at the pump. Go fig. One of the gas stations on Topsail Road was the home of a jokester. They had on the sign, rather than the price per liter, the words Arm + Leg. LOL! I put the car in cruise control mode to avoid tickets and took Interstate 295 instead of 95. I was "going coastal." It was a much nicer ride and I enjoyed it much better than the BORING Maine Turnpike. But they put you back on 95 just in time to pay the toll. What a rip off! I got off 95 in Portsmouth to get gas with my last 6 bucks. I hoped it would get me to Columbine's. Well, there are no good ways to get back on 95 and I got lost in Portsmouth several times. You would not believe how many one-way streets there are! On one of those times, getting out to ask, I locked my keys in the car. My spare key was also in the car. Took 45 minutes and the help of a very nice fireman named Paul to get me back on the road. He gave good directions too. God bless the Portsmouth firemen. I arrived at Columbine's at 7 PM and she seemed glad to see me. I figured I hadn't worn out my welcome yet. I brought her some Puffins since she has an affinity for them. I do love visiting Columbine but there is only one thing wrong with Somerville. You can't park on the street at night and it was past the time we could get a permit. So this nice Cambridge policeman told me where I could park a block away and not have to put any money in the meter till 8 AM. THAT was refreshing! We ate at the Burren again. I had fish and chips. It was good but it wasn't The Big R's fish & chips. I'm spoiled now, I guess. After eating we came back to the apartment and listened to Jim's new CD. Columbine has a most wonderful sound system and she doesn't even turn it up. Then bedtime came and I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. We woke the next day early and I went out to put in some quarters. Columbine made a delicious breakfast and we listened to Clare's CD and talked about roadtripping. Too soon it was time to leave. But we'll see each other in the not-too-distant future in Buffalo - roadtripping. The ride home was uneventful. I had money because my pay was automatically deposited in the morning and I just immersed myself in Musaik:In This World when the ride got hairy. Takes away all your tension, that CD of Jim's. Reality set in as I got to Pennsylvania and was requested to attend a big meeting with my brother-in-law's doctor. *sigh* Vacation over but never to be forgotten. Addendum: August 5, 2005 Not Leaving by Anne Tenaglia I'm not leaving this land She's a part of me now Foggy shores have claimed me as their own. I'm not leaving this place I know her quite well She wraps her arm tight around me, refusing to let go. I'm not leaving this place She dwells in my heart and head Memories swirling around me constantly. I'm not leaving this land She follows me, unyielding I've claimed her as my own. |