MORE THOUGHTS: Bob Maher

1) Ways of Knowing (Zita Cobb)
The perception of landscape is quite different if you drive a car at 100km per hour on Hwy 101 and go from one 'urban' centre to the next. The in-between piece becomes 'dead space'. Compare this, with walking through the landscape on an abandoned railroad. Here the surrounding space is full of interest and alive.

We all wear different 'coloured glasses'. This influences what we do and don't see in our landscape. This is one of ideas behind Maitri Space Awareness.

2) Language
There is a wonderful book by Trudy Sable and Bernie Francis called The Language of the Land, Mi'kma'ki'. I highly recommend it, from CBU press. It shows how language influences what we are able and how we are able to describe our environment.

3) We talk about abilities. We should also talk about dis-abilities. A strong team contains a mixture of both abilities and disabilities.


PS ...

on post-secondary institutions and rural communities. I think that Nova Scotia must have the highest density of post-secondary institutions/per square kilometre than any other jurisdiction.
What an opportunity !

CLOSING OBSERVATIONS: Edward Wedler

Media celebrity and moderator of the "Focus on Future 'Doers' and 'Producers' panel, Shaun Majumder said "never underestimate the power of the story".  We heard a lot of stories. We love stories. We love stories because they entertain us and teach us. They "stick". For me this conference was about "the story".  I leave the Georgetown Conference ready to create, tell and show -- no matter how small or grandiose.

From Bob, my trekker colleague, I learned that a better term than 'youth' (in referring to our future entrepreneurs) was 'next-generation'. Next-generation entrepreneurs go beyond just youth. They include those ready to cut a new path to make things happen. They include those willing to try, to "just say yes" and not be afraid to fail. They also include the mentors and motivators for those pioneers.

Most conferences I have attended I know that when delegates return home the event quickly becomes history. No so with Georgetown. I felt in my bones we would return home to 're-jig' our projects. We would return home re-invigorated to persist and create something special. To get things done and lead by example.

Our trek was a story, yes, but it was part of something much bigger; a bigger story -- the Georgetown story.

CLOSING OBSERVATIONS: Bob Maher

Here are two lessons I gained from the Georgetown Conference:

1) Annapolis Youth Delegation.
Don't judge on the basis of age, sex, ethnicity. Diversity and inclusiveness are critical.

2) Wicked problems (from Zita Cobb) ...
can be solved by 'chunking them' into manageable pieces or tasks. Try to optimize the special skills and abilities of the group.Collaborate and be open.

Here is a third lesson:

3 How do you avoid being a victim of a "volunteer vampire"?
You maintain your independence as well as your integrity.

COMMUNITY PRIDE. MEADOWVILLE circa 1950.

QUARRYING BEAR EARLTOWN

WELL-MANAGED DECIDUOUS WOODLOT

GETTING READY FOR COLDER WEATHER

GULLY LAKE WILDERNESS

POTHOLE SECTION OF HIGHWAY 236

Deep ... deep ... deep are these potholes. The road edges were often broken and dropped off steeply. Not something you'd like to drive over at night -- especially in a motorcycle. A Pothole Map of Nova Scotia might raise awareness of where and how badly some of the highways are in need of attention.

WHERE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD

Where rubber meets the road, for sport or for stopping sharply to avoid an animal or other vehicle.

GULLY LAKE KIOSK

COMMERCIAL BLUEBERRIES

WINTER RECREATION

WILLING AND ABLE TO WORK

This sign represented to me the resilience of rural life ... simple as that. While not exactly part of the "creative rural economy" touted in the media this reflects the willingness and ability to build a sustainable lifestyle in a beautiful environment.

FOREST MANAGEMENT

ROADKILL HIGHWAY. ANOTHER VICTIM.

Another victim along Highway 236. Note the boot at the bottom of the photo. I'd love to create a Roadkill Map of Nova Scotia.

EDGE SIGNS

NO, TO DRILLING & FRACKING

DEATH BY ROADKILL OR BIRD?

One of several type of dead animals seen laying beside the road on Hwy 236. No tire tracks were visible here so I am wondering if this was caused by a bird.

CROSSING THE SHUBENACADIE RIVER

Group of tidal rafters were just packing up as this photo was snapped with a boat still in the water. Note the current pass by those abandoned railway bridge supports across the Shubenacadie River. The current was swift and the wind strong. Walking over the roadway bridge (see shadow in the foreground) seemed precarious. The railing was not high.

RURAL ADVENTURES AND PLACES TO VISIT

Things to do for the body and mind. If a car was available these sites would be checked out. Anyone been on those tidal rafting adventures? Absolutely wonderful ... and you get to meet people from all over the world. Creatives dot the rural landscape. Gallery 215 intrigues me. Next time I come by ...

ROADKILL LITTER THE ROADWAY

Roadkill was common along Highway 236. You knew something was up as you approached a wicked smell. Looking at the ditch this deer was seen, hollowed out by scavengers and maggots. This made for unwelcome suppertime conversation.

PREPARING FOR RISING SEA LEVELS?

Now these people have their work cut out for them. This boat is in rough shape, but perhaps it is a boat builder's delight o take on this challenge.

HEARTS & ANCHOR FOR THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST

Out in the "middle of nowhere" you come across these gems. Makes you want to come back and spend more time -- maybe next year.

AMERICANS WATCH THE TIDE RACE IN

Almost all the people who watched the tide roll in up the river were from the USA -- New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida and Maryland. With charts and tables on hand they figured the tide was set to roll in in about 10 minutes.

OOPS!

PICTURESQUE ROLLING COUNTRYSIDE

This represents the typical rolling countryside along Hwy 236; a treat for cars, motorcyclists and cyclists but a little harder for walkers. The beating sun made for a more gruelling walk on the Windsor-Truro leg.

TOPOGRAPHY OF HWY 236 A MOTORCYCLISTS DELIGHT

On Highway 236 many types of vehicles shared the road with cars and trucks, including motorcycles, cyclists, and tandem cyclists.

THE LEGACY OF WORLD CHAMPION GIANT PUMPKIN GROWER HOWARD DILL

Dill giant pumpkin seeds are known to be the source of giant pumpkin growers worldwide. The iconic statue of the late Howard Dill stands on Water Street in Windsor along the annual giant pumpkin parade route and on to the giant pumpkin boat regatta across Lake Pisiquid in mid-October.

TOURISM PHOTOGRAPHER ON ASSIGNMENT

Travelling from Halifax, this professional photographer was placed on a travel assignment to take tourism-related seasonal photos in the Annapolis Valley. Here she views one of the many spectacular fields of sunflowers.

ROAD BED PREFERRED OVER RAILROAD BED

This photo illustrates why the railroad track between Wolfville-Windsor was avoided. Experience near New Minas indicated that this leg would have taken way too long if the railbed was followed. Not only are the tracks and ties still in place they are covered in tangles of bush.

BLOMIDON LANDMARK SEEN ALONG THIS LEG OF THE TRAIL

Blomidon Peninsula dominates the landscape along the Wolfville-Windsor leg of the walk, as seen from the dual-bridges on Hwy 101 near Avonport. This was the busiest section of roadway walked to date.

PAINTING A RURAL LIFESTYLE

Creatives dot the landscape in these rural environments; enjoying the lifestyle that helps stimulate creative juices. Long time resident artists here converted the home of what was, one time, a vibrant publisher of books, Lancelot Press, that was sold to another successful publisher in Nova Scotia.

QUIET, SERENE AND JUST PLAIN STUNNING

Some scenes just take your breath away. This is one. In one month's time these trees will be in full colour -- worth the trip to Hantsport this fall.

A SUNNY DAY IN FARM COUNTRY

Farmers prepare for winter as shown in these neatly stacked bales. This is not only wine country. The rolling hills in this area made for a pleasant walk.

HUNTERS. DUCK DECOYS FOR SALE

At first these looked like the real thing until all the ducks appeared to face into the prevailing wind. What an interesting way to display decoys for sale! In any case these were scrutinized for any ducks trying to blend incognito. Adjacent to the duck pond were two trees laden with home-made christmas tree baubles, weather vanes and whirligigs -- creative rural at its folksy-art best.

TRACKS DISAPPEAR INTO THE DISTANCE NEAR WOLFVILLE

A trail was built for walkers and bikers adjacent to the yet-to-be-removed train tracks in Wolfville. Thank goodness the two or so kilometres into Wolfville did not require having to walk the rails. Note the coffee cup placed ON the garbage bin and not IN the bin.

A TOUGH SECTION TO WALK

Not all sections of the Waterville-Wolfville leg were easy to navigate. Along this section tracks were not yet removed and bush covered much of the railbed. Raspberry and blackberry canes often reached out and grabbed a hold. This resulted in scratched arms and legs. A machete would have helped here.

APPLE AND PUMPKIN SEASON IN THE ANNAPOLIS VALLEY

Annapolis Valley prepares for the annual harvest of apples as shown by stacks of large apple crates, ready to be filled and shipped to processing plants. LOVE apple juice!

WELL-USED SECTION OF THE WALKING TRAIL

Looking back on Kentville shows how the town greets those walking on a very groomed trail. Many people were met along this section, including those from Vancouver, Montreal and St John's.

LOOK-OFF A TREAT FOR TREKKERS

Few places catered to the trail-trekker like the Waterville-Kentville leg as with this small look-off into the Cornwallis River valley below. With so many kilometres to walk little time was left to enjoy such pleasures.

A TRAIL KIOSK WORTHY OF A STANDING OVATION

Tourism destination guru, Roger A. Brooks, wrote in his book "The 25 Immutable Rules of Successful Tourism" that 'movie credits tell the real story'. The Sentier de Clare Kiosk tells a truly remarkable story about a 'supporting cast' that went out of their way to create something special -- to create something "worthy of a standing ovation", as Brooks would say.

GREAT KIOSK GREETS TREKKERS

A wealth of information is posted at this well-built kiosk on the Yarmouth-Hectanooga leg of our trek. Not only are we presented with flora and fauna expected to be seen in the area, we are treated to the area`s railway history and to the many contributions that went into making this trail special.

SPECTACULAR COASTAL SCENERY

The Yarmouth-Hectanooga leg provided some spectacular scenery, almost 500 km from our final destination of Georgetown, PEI.

SAULNIERVILLE STATION

Though there are some roads along the Hectanooga-LittleBrook leg, Google Street View lacks coverage here. We have some access points to the Sentier de Clare photographed.

SENTIER DE CLARE IN THE ACADIAN FORESTS OF NOVA SCOTIA

Sentier de Clare passes through Acadian forest that stretches 44 km from the Yarmouth County Line in Beaver River to the Weymouth Bridge -- connecting trails at each end.

SCOTIAPRIDE TOLLERS STORY

We had been on the trail from S. Ohio to Norwood when we came to a
section that said "Quiet zone" and we thought maybe we were nearing a
bird sanctuary, or were near hospital grounds we walked quietly along
and saw someone ahead of us coming our way with what looked like a lot
of dogs. We leashed up Bodhi our trusty sheltie/german shepherd and
shouted that our dog was friendly but the group steadily came forward
and we saw that there were three duck tollers on a lead and two other
lab/dogs behind.
The dog walker rushed past us and into a driveway. I was curious so I
followed her in and Bob took Bodhi down the trail. Once Barbara
Blauvelt (Scotiapride rollers) settled the dogs we talked about life
along the trail. She walked the dogs to Brazil Lake regularly but had
some complaints about ATVs travelling too fast past where her dogs
were. She also had problems with dog owners who don't leash their dogs
when they come past the kenneI. I found out that she had one of the
remaining lines of Duck Tollers from the original stock and that
breeding these dogs were an important part of her income. When I
mentioned Road to Georgetown and the reason we were making this trek
she was familiar with this conference and said that Yarmouth was
sending 3 delegates and she hoped that something would come out of it.
We talked a bit about the challenges in rural communities and I
continued along the trail to the end of the Quiet Zone where Bob was
waiting with Bodhi. LINK: http://www.scotiapridetollers.com/
-- Heather Stewart

ADULT SERVICE CENTRE

This Adult Service Centre provides jobs in the service sector. Service, construction and farming are the predominant sectors found so far on our trek. These support a resilient rural community.

WORKING THE LAND IS A COMMON THEME ALONG OUR TREK

RAIN OR SHINE ON OUR WAY TO GEORGETOWN

A rainy September morning portends the coming of fall. The early morning myriad of pools of water had to be navigated along the Greenwood-Waterville leg, increasing the length of the trip. Rain gear kept our upper bodies fairly dry. Footwear was soaked.