Posted on June 26, 2024 under Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom with one comment

A Tor Bay Treasure

 

There are hidden treasures in every nook and cranny of Nova Scotia.

When I was younger, I was always in a hurry to get from point A to point B. I rarely chose the secondary highways in my haste to get to where I was going. These days, I have shifted gears and now I crave slower speeds and “the road less travelled”.

I was eager to see my daughter perform with Shiretown, a band based out of the town of Guysborough. Jess and Greg Favaro are well-known locals who have been performing and teaching music for decades. I have discovered (once by accident a few weeks ago when I took a wrong turn after getting off the Country Harbour ferry) that one can get to Charlos Cove a number of different ways. On this particular day recently, we chose to drive down Highway 16 through the unspeakably beautiful Boylston, hugging the shores of Chedabucto Bay, the town of Guysborough and onwards towards Larry’s River.

Perched on the rugged shoreline of Tor Bay in Guysborough County, sits a little slice of paradise. In a setting that can only be considered idyllic is the iconic Seawind Landing Country Inn.

I only knew of Seawind by reputation. Many locals (and international travellers) go there regularly for a quiet getaway, a fine meal or a concert. Or you can do as I did and go for the whole package.

The first sensation one gets is tranquility. The property is immaculate and expansive. I can’t imagine that it ever feels crowded.

We were given a warm welcome by co-owner Ann Marie Bagnall and her dog, Teddy. Our room was well appointed and cozy. Prior to dinner, I walked around the grounds and found several small paths leading through the woods to bluffs overlooking the Bay. I hummed a few bars of “Peaceful Easy Feeling”.

Ann Marie and David discovered Charlos Cove seventeen years ago. It might have been a case of “love at first sight”.

Many years ago, the couple were living in Edmonton with challenging jobs. Ann was working as an accountant for an oil and gas company while Dave was in radio. Both jobs were demanding.

It all started with the purchase of a bell.

When Ann Marie and Dave started dating, they bought a bell at a gift shop in Kingston saying that it would look good gracing the front desk at an inn, a la Bob Newhart. When the stress and demands of work became too much, Ann Marie started scouring the net looking for an inn for sale.

“When we came out to see Seawind Landing, it was one of those beautiful September nights. The moon was huge and hanging in the sky over Tor Bay, creating a moonlit path. The buoy was doing its bong bong in the water, the seals were barking on the far shore, a gentle breeze was blowing – we were hooked. We looked at each other and could hardly believe that this could be ours. So, we dove on in.”

A recent addition to the Inn is a fabulous new dining room which doubles as a performance venue for musicians. My friend and I got to sit with the band for dinner. How good was that! Entering the dining room, we got to meet the other part of the ownership team. Ann Marie’s husband, David, is a warm, gregarious chap and a hell of a cook to boot! The food was simply sensational. I had the fennel arugula salad with red onions, glazed pecans, crumbled feta and zesty orange vinaigrette. For my main, I chose the breast of duck with Blackberry Chambord sauce. Succulent and very tasty. The dessert bordered on sinful! I chose the Bailey’s Irish Cream Crème Brulee. I happen to be a crème brulee fanatic and this was easily one of the best.

The food and company were exceptional. At an adjacent table, I spotted Jeff Adams, distinguished paralympic athlete. Someone told us that he has a quiet getaway in Guysborough County. I would have loved to have had a chat with him and congratulate him on his many gold medals but realized that he probably chose Guysborough to be “far from the madding crowd”.

As a senior, one of the things I appreciated most about the dining experience was the exceptional wait staff. They were all older women who know exactly what clients of the Inn desire. Their attention to detail was unparalleled as was their quiet, unhurried manner. Not a lot of texting on cell phones or drama from these experienced women.

After a delightful dining experience, we were treated to a fine concert. The opening act was Kyle Delorey. He strutted onto the stage wearing a black cowboy hat. He didn’t say much but let his music do the talking.

There weren’t any young women in the crowd which might have been a blessing because Kyle might have caused a “swoon fest”!

Shiretown, the headliners, did not disappoint. They had a delightful mix of original tunes and oldies, including some from the legendary Neil Young. My daughter peered out at me from the stage when they sang “Old Man”.

A quiet night of rest was followed in the morning by a delicious breakfast. I’m a sucker for Eggs Benedict. After one bite, I knew with certainty that the Hollandaise sauce was homemade. My waitress informed me that this was one of David’s creations.

Great location. Exceptional service. Terrific value.

Put this one on your “must go” list.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

The Road Not Taken – Robert Frost.

Have a great Canada Day weekend.

Posted on June 19, 2024 under Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom with no comments yet

Bedtime stories

“Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?

It took me years to write, will you take a look?

It’s based on a novel by a man named Lear,

And I need a job, so I want to be a paperback writer.”

Paperback Writer – The Beatles

Bedtime stories.

Librocubicularist. “The sesquipedalian librocubicularist (say that five times quickly after a glass of merlot!) is the name of a person who reads books in bed.”

If you were one of the lucky ones, your parents (usually your mom) read to you in bed. Not only was this a sure-fire way of getting you to close your eyes and go to sleep but it was also the start of you imagining the world in shapes, colors and sounds through the magic of books. Any reputable study will show that children who are read to at an early age develop language quicker than those playing a video game.

And then, along came Dick and Jane.

To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t an avid reader for much of my life. I tended to go in fits and starts. When I was a teenager, I was far too interested in sports and girls and had little time to read. I had modest success in sports but failed miserably in the other pursuit.

I read a lot during my university years, but my marks indicated that I obviously didn’t read enough. I was too busy playing sports and chasing young women. I played golf, Junior B hockey and even made the St.F.X. football team as a kicker. Still wasn’t able to make the grade with women!

“The years passed us by like a soft whispered sigh,

Not noticing youth as it flew.”

Now that I am retired (am I retired?!), I consume books almost as fast as sugared donuts. I have become a true lectiophile – a lover of reading. So far in 2024, I have read 25 books and am on pace to read 50 for the year.

Those of you new to my writing (all you Guysborough Journal fans) will soon discover that I have written and published 7 books of my own. If you’re having trouble sleeping, pick up a copy at The Curious Cat or 5 to $1.00. Certain to cure insomnia!

Turning the page…

I’m still conflicted about the notion of eternity and paradise. I’m pretty sure I know what hell is all about. Most days, I’m convinced that paradise is on earth. If life hasn’t left you too harried, think about the things around you. I fully expect that if there’s a heaven, there will be lilacs blooming every day of eternity. We’ve just come through lilac season in our part of the world. Is there a more delectable smell? How about the soothing sounds of a gurgling brook? The awesomeness of a sunrise or sunset. If there is a menu in the great hereafter, I am hoping that the angels serve Bailey’s Irish Cream crème brulee.

And Mozart, all day and night.

Epilog.

I just finished a 4-day stint as a music teacher at a P-8 school. In this school, music classes are 30 minutes long so there is steady traffic every minute of the day. For these four days, I had a steady diet of ukeleles and boom whackers. Now I know why liquor stores were invented. I’m usually game for a substitute job in music because if all else fails, I still have my trusty guitar ready to play Country Roads or Sweet Caroline for the 1000th time.

And speaking of paradise, stay tuned next week when I will be publishing a story about Seawind Landing Country Inn, a slice of heaven perched on the shores of Tor Bay.

Have a great weekend.

Posted on June 5, 2024 under Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom with one comment

 

 

Len’s Lovely Liscomb Lodge Lunch

 

“There are places I’ll remember,

All my life, though some have changed.”

In My Life – The Beatles

And, some places never change.

I love to travel. Seeing new places and experiencing different cultures is the best education possible. I’ve seen a few wonders of the world including the Taj Mahal and the Grand Canyon. Since Covid, travel has reached new heights when it comes to unpredictability. Sometimes it’s easier just to stay home and travel in your own backyard.

I have travelled across Canada at least eight times. It is a vast country and extremely diverse. There are three places that have left a lasting impression on me. I have a visceral reaction when I return to these places from time to time.

In the summer of 1972, I travelled to Victoria, B.C. for the very first time. My brother, Don, fetched me from the ferry terminal at Schwartz Bay in his 1958 MGA. On a magnificent May morning with the sun shining and nary a cloud in the sky, we headed for the city with the roof down. Cresting a hill near Royal Oak, I stared in awe. In the distance, I witnessed the snow-capped Olympic Mountains across the Juan de Fuca Strait in Washington State. Each time I return to Victoria, I look forward to this drive with the anticipation of a child on Christmas morning.

In the late 1960s, I played in a band. The Escorts performed at dances in Antigonish and Cape Breton. We had a regular Saturday night gig in the summer at St.Peter’s Hall in Ingonish Beach. Traversing Cape Smokey and coming down the back side, it was like arriving in Shangri-La. It was magical. There’s something about the Cape Breton Highlands National Park that is very difficult to describe. “More than a feeling” in the words of Boston.

It’s a short jaunt from Sherbrooke to Liscomb Mills. Most of the drive is through non-descript forest. Crossing a bridge with gentle water falls on your right, you arrive at one of the most scenic and idyllic places in Canada. According to legend, Liscomb Lodge was a hotel built in 1960 to cater to fishermen chasing salmon spawning in the Liscomb River.

Liscomb Lodge has a unique feel to it. Perched near the banks of the Liscomb River, it is a blend of rustic and modern. It has some of the original buildings including quaint cabins but it also has traditional lodging. It has tennis courts, shuffleboard, a sauna and a swimming pool but for my money, it is the restaurant that is the centerpiece of the operation. The dining room hovers on the banks of the river. It oozes tranquility with several bird feeders nestled near the windows where patrons can see an infinite variety of birds. Over the years, I have come to Liscomb for conferences, family gatherings and quiet getaways. I am completely enamored with the setting.

Recently, I travelled to Liscomb for lunch. I hadn’t been there for some time. I was aware that the lodge had hired two distinguished chefs. John Haines and his wife Tracy Wallace have 55 years of combined cooking experience. John and I go back a long way. I met him over forty years ago at his grandparents’ home on West Street in Antigonish. Even as a young man, he had a knack for cooking, preparing meals for Brian and Jean.

We started our lunch with an order of onion rings. I must admit that I don’t normally indulge in this often-greasy appetizer. We were not disappointed. The coating was light and crispy. Easily the best onion rings that I have consumed. I had a bowl of seafood chowder which was generous in portion size and delicious. The broth was exquisite. There’s always room for dessert. I’m convinced that there’s a separate chamber in the stomach reserved exclusively for this purpose! The blueberry creme brulee was simply heavenly.

If you’re not too full after leaving the restaurant, you can always stop and have a game of chess at the giant outdoor chess set.

Special places. Special memories.

It’s your move.

Have a great weekend.