Home always sweet Home.

Paul and I had a very successful, very long road trip back to my home in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It took us in total 44 hours if you count stops and traffic delays.

Paul had never been that far east in the United States other than a quick trip to Boston when he was younger, I had been to Maine once with my parents when I was 13 years old and don't recall much of it other than I thought it was hilarious that butter came in sticks here instead of bricks like back home.

I worked late the night before we left, the plan was to hit the road a 5am and drive to Portland Maine and spend the night then finish the drive to Truro, Nova Scotia and spend a night with my Aunt Jan and Uncle Darrell. Paul was the brains behind the operation, he had calculated how long it would take and based on my lack of sleep and how cranky I can get he figured Portland would be right on time for me to get off the road. He is a smart man what can I say!!! He knows me better than I know myself some days.

All was going smooth then before we knew it we were on the New Jersey Turnpike! Holy cow! We are bordering New York at this point!!! I was starting to sweat at a bit. Picture this, our tiny little car loaded down in the trunk with our over stuffed suitcases and Paul in the passenger seat with his laptop plugged in to our car, and we are following a Mega Bus which is wired for wireless access. He is asking me if I can get close enough that he can bootleg their wireless connection. I am sure The Bat Mobile was not as wired as our car was with the laptop going and the ipod going all at the same time! Mean while I am traveling at about 75 miles and hour just to keep up with traffic and he managed to get on their internet access and update his Facebook status. LOL! Good times, good times. It's never dull with us really. It take the simple things in life to make us happy.

Finally we are suppose to skirt New York City and get to Up State New York. Well for some reason our GPS;  Kit as we like to call her decides to take us what she deems the fastest way. Next thing we know she is taking us off the highway and through this less than pretty/welcoming  looking neighborhood. I kept saying "Where the hell are we and where is the highway?!!!" Paul just kept reassuring me to wait and see what Kit says next. We pull up to a light that was about to drop us off on the highway again. Then I see the sign that says "THE BRONX".  I braced myself knowing we were deeper in New York than I thought we ever would be and just kept up with traffic as we made our way to Connecticut, Massachusetts and finally arrive in Portland Maine just as I was loosing my grip.

After and fantastic nights sleep we got up early took advantage of the continental breakfast offered by the hotel we were at and hit the road again. Driving through Maine was the best, so quiet the rain poured the whole way and the rest of the week really. We drove for miles without seeing another car on the road. A welcomed treat after the previous days drive in nothing but traffic and fast cars. No stopping until we hit the border!!!!

My cousin Melissa and Aunt Jan

It was a glorious feeling for me anyway once we crossed the invisible line that says you are now in Canada. It was even stronger  when I saw the sign that finally said "Welcome to Nova Scotia". I was finally home. When we rolled up to my Aunt Jan's house she was in the door way looking puzzled she didn't recognize our car until she saw me running up her drive way.  I see her hang up the phone in her hand and came running out.

Paul and I had a wonderful time catching up with the family and seeing friends I hadn't seen in years. I got to have lunch with a friend of mine who I hadn't seen since we graduated grade 9 together! But thanks to Facebook we got to meet up after all these years. It was awesome.  We also got to catch up with my sister and my nephew and niece who are all grown up now but in my mind they really haven't changed much other than got taller and have strong opinions! LOL! It was awesome seeing them. They are both doing great and finding their ways which always takes time.

The biggest treat of them all was when the weather cleared up just enough so that Nan could take us up to her Cottage. This is Nan's little slice of heaven on earth. This was the first time this year she was able to get up there and it really is in the middle of no where. You have to take dirt roads in and if it wasn't for Nan being with me I would have gotten totally lost. There are no signs to directly point you in its direction. You just have to remember to turn right at the old church and go so many kilometers until you hit the dirt road and follow that in. Paul had never been to the cottage before, but I have told him stories from my childhood memories of being there with Nan and Grandad. I walked in and the first thing that hits you is the smell of the cedar walls, this is the one place that hadn't changed. The furniture was still the same, it smelled the same. The old stereo that Grandad would listen to CBC radio was still there. Nan takes on a whole new outlook when you get her up to the cottage. In her condo back home she looks tired and drained and you can see her age show a bit. But as soon as she steps foot on the grass at the cottage she if filled with all this energy and vigor that you thought was long lost! I found an old cassette tape that who knows how long it has been there for, and  it was music from the 50's. I popped that in the player and cranked it up, and there was Nan singing and dancing along in her little kitchen space. It was awesome. Paul started the wood stove so we could take the dampness out for her since it has been closed since October. We swept the deck for her and turned the beds over to get her ready for her next visit up there.

After lunch Nan sat and told Paul stories of her and Grandad and all their cottager friends who most have since passed on, or are too sick and elderly to make it up there. Thankfully Nan at nearly 88 years still gets up there time to time. Stories of all the parties they would have and all the funny and crazy things they would do.

Opening Day at the Cottage

Going home is always sweet even though it has changed and I have changed my heart always brings me back there. And family of course. Leaving is never easy that is for sure. Never. However as much as Halifax made me who I am, and will always be apart of me, my home is not there. My home is here for now anyway, but I can always go back and get grounded and have some serious laughs with some of my favorite people in this world.

Down on the Halifax Waterfront with GB!

Next stop on the This Canadian Life: Roadtrip 2011 was Salem Massachusetts. Home of the Spice Trade and the history making Witch Trials of 1692.