Rural Renewal

Sue and Reg have full time jobs. Then, in the morning they go to work. So me showing up (hey: it's all about me) at their farm could be quite interfering with any couple's lives in a similar situation, but not here. Their warmth and welcoming nature would never allow that. Then again, I did make myself somewhat useful. And no, they didn't put me to bailing hay, hauling water or brushing horses. Reg has for several years been dabbling in the art and science of wine making. His emerging skills and successes have been rewarded of late with numerous medals not to mention cultivating a growing reputation in the area. On this particular day, his cavernous wine cellar required impartial palettes and "voila!" just in the nick 'o time, the Glide and I show up. It's a long and highly technical story but basically it's been very hot, so hot in fact that his wine carboys needed to be dropped in level somewhat. I was simply doing my part helping a farmer.
God, you feel good to be alive whenever you can help a farmer.

On a personal note, the transition is certainly underway. While I've been at Sue and Reg's farm for the last couple of days, the calm of rural living combined with extreme temperatures have provided me with the environment to sit back and notice the subtle shift away from feeling like I'm on a typical 2-3 week vacation. I'm roughly only 1/4 into the mileage I need to cover but after nearly 4 weeks on the road, the nomadic nature of this journey is gradually creeping in and with it a certain strangeness that is new to me. Not to mention certain elements are beginning to emerge validating the importance of the effort and pushing me to continue.
It will be interesting to see how the next leg of the trip evolves as I travel through Quebec and towards the Maritimes.

Thanks for your hospitality S & R, and the "ol' time religion".