Rhoda Wailin's

Well, it’s been 2559 miles since our beginnings in Caronport, SK almost three weeks ago now. We are currently in Fredericton, New Brunswick with Elsbeth, (Carrie’s Canada World Youth host 11 years ago). It is a beautiful clear and crisp fall morning full of hope for this new day! It is so nice to have time and space along our journey to stop in a place for more than one night! The events, views, and experiences of the past few days are enough for one to stop and reflect on for weeks.

While in Montreal we had the opportunity to go to see The Wailin’ Jennys show (check out www.thewailinjennys.com - if you are near a show - GO!). Here’s a window into my journaling from that evening: “Tonight we soaked our entire beings – mind, body, and soul – in the melodic harmonies of The Wailin’ Jennys. A three-woman band with a plethora of instruments: an acoustic guitar each, a mandolin, a fiddle, banjo, ukulele, accordion, harmonica, stand-up bass, bodhran drum and more! The whole experience felt as though we had stumbled upon a treasure at the end of some community rainbow and were invited to share in the riches… reaping the harvest of what others had long sowed… We stood at that bar tonight while our depths were ministered to… embraced by something beautiful… a love between strangers shared and understood for its largeness, intensity, potential, and its ungraspable nature. I know that I can’t handle such love… wrap my fingers around it… fully understand it or view its many dimensions… I know that I will not yet be able to fully express or experience it… but I am so thankful for moments like these where I am allowed to be encompassed by it, unafraid to embrace it, that we may dance together with such ease and freedom. – Good night and thank you my Love”

From Montreal we drove along the St. Lawrence River into Quebec City and practiced some French on the local little old ladies for directions to Old Town Quebec… after some confusion and lots of laughs we found our way to the cobblestone streets, cathedrals of block and stained glass, and those old copper roofs of green! After Quebec City we headed further east to our destination for the night on the banks of Cabano. Our travels have been full of spectacular views of multi-coloured forest, and large bodies of water. Coming into Cabano and leaving yesterday, the dangers we faced were not moose lurking in the woods, rather it was in the food that we ate… Carrie and I snacked on some wasabi peas driving into Cabano and nearly drove off the road due to the intense shock waves the wasabi was shooting to our brains and eyes which were weeping profusely. Yesterday morning I experienced the rare taste of laundry detergent in my oatmeal! It’s kind of a long story, but let’s just say that the white powder in the nalgene wasn’t milk! Thankfully we made it through these two food adventures and were able to enjoy the delicious cooking of friends, Steve, Becky, and baby Kallie, in Florencville, NB, and Elsbeth in Fredricton, NB. So we will rest here at Elsbeth’s today and head over to the Bay of Fundy tomorrow. By the end of the week our stomachs will probably be full of lobster and our horizon views of the Atlantic!

Thanks to all of you who share these adventures and stories with us… it means so much to feel your presence going with us in spirit. Also, a big thanks to all of you who have given of your homes, food, and good company to us, you are in our hearts and prayers!
Until next time, peace and adventure to you all,
For the Rhodatrippers,
Leslie