Today we visited my sister and her husband at a cottage south of Thrashers Bay on the Madawaska River near Combermere. Time spent with family is always assured to be enlivening. This was particularly so today because the weather was superlative. From the moment we awakened early this morning until the time we returned home in the setting sun this evening the sky was perfectly cloudless. In addition the temperature was ideal for a summer day in late July and there was a pleasant breeze throughout the day.
We began our venture this morning by putting on the nose bag at the golf club in the Village of Appleton. My sister had warned us not to arrive at the cottage before ten o’clock. Though we speculated it would require at least two hours to travel from here to there, we nonetheless further quelled our ambition because it was a Sunday morning and we had in our minds already devoted the entire day to the outing. So there was no rush, certainly not to the point of disturbing people before they had had an opportunity to attend Matins.
Upon our arrival at the cottage we immediately settled at table and began our collection of the latest familial gossip. A portion of that confab included the rough details of an upcoming European jaunt by niece Julia and her husband Matt. Later in the afternoon we were joined by my goddaughter Jennifer who happily enlarged upon the numerous titbits surrounding her latest intelligence both professionally and romantically.
Naturally my partner and I profited by the fortuity of these accounts. As we later privately surmised it must be heartening to my sister and her husband as parents to know that their children are circulating propitiously. I had as well taken the opportunity to share with my goddaughter what little wisdom I have developed over the past ¾ century; noting especially that there is an enhanced duty upon those such as she who have been blessed with capital of every description to employ the same to advantage. I reminded her parenthetically that there is nothing singular about encountering obstacles along one’s personal pathway or conscription of Canterbury Tales. But – without tossing at her the “Don’t worry, Be Happy” fruitless logo – I pointedly observed that there is nothing one can do about anything other than what is to follow. This I find eliminates unnecessary melancholy and encourages that which is sustainable. My partner, niece and I then had a spellbinding detour upon the sometimes unpleasant customs of high-stake equestrians, about which I reminded my niece of her uncommon and valuable acquaintance after in excess of 20 years in the saddle.
On our way out the sandy drive from the cottage we encountered Kimmie and her 6-year old son who were staying at a nearby cottage on the lake and who were about to visit with my relatives. We apologized for having to leave abruptly but it was time for us to go. Nonetheless we chatted briefly and exchanged more than a few pleasantries.
This then brought us to Combermere Road to initiate our return home. Thanks to my partner’s unfailing persuasion for novelty and experimentation we had already agreed that we would allow ourselves to be directed by our on-board map along what was for us a hitherto unfamiliar route.
The pilot study could not have been more delightful. I hesitate to employ mere words to describe the euphoria of the ensuing passage. We rose up mountainous hills to crests overlooking verdant valleys and azure lakes below; we siphoned through volumes of forests; the smooth (often newly paved) roadway wound beautifully through fields. In the end we landed at a recognizable beginning without having had to confront traffic or noise.
It seemed serendipitous to me that this highly picturesque conclusion to our day also marked the last day before my partner’s birthday. Nurtured by the welcome news surrounding my sister, her husband and my nieces, I was perhaps especially buoyant about the affairs of me and my partner, of whom I have always observed – and about whom I spoke again today with my family – that I have spent the best thirty years of my life. Considering that my partner and I have never made a fuss over birthdays, it is the best I can do to acknowledge his birthday to thank him for what today was another notch on the limb of life, another perfect day in our long-standing relationship, another memorable adventure together.
Combermere Road, Hwy 515 Palmer Road, to Hwy 68 Rockingham Road past Diamond Lake, to Harriet’s Corners along Letterkenny Road past Gorman Lake Beach to Hwy 66 Opeongo Road to Hwy 512 Foymount Road past Lake Clear to Hwy 41 then Hwy 132 through Lower Dacre past Ferguslea to Renfrew down Bruce Street to the TransCanada Hwy 17 onto 417 then through Arnprior, Antrim and Panmure home. By-pass Barry’s Bay and Killaloe, Golden Lake and Eganville