It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

Two 50+ year olds pulling up stakes and moving 800+ kilometers north to the bush. No home to live in once there, only a rundown hunt cabin needing much TLC. A BIG deal. The move was June 1st but the roller coaster ride started before then and lasted for weeks, before and after.

The plan was to get here, get building and have an enclosed structure before snowfall so we could camp in the structure over winter and work on the inside. External forces kicked in. Road restrictions due to deep frost coming out of the road. No heavy equipment until July. Got the land cleared once the restrictions were lifted and then the rains came. And they never seemed to leave. Got the logs for the roof beams and found we would have to peel them ourselves. Our home builder friend in Muskoka couldn’t believe we couldn’t get peeled logs up here in the world of trees and wood. No road mix or aggregates here have enough clay in them for bag work (our walls will be made from earthbags) so we need to screen clay (either a sticky muck from rain or concrete hard if dried) to mix with sharp sand. And the rain… did I mention the rain?

So things have not gone according to plan and the timelines have shifted. We hope to get the foundation work done and cover that for winter. We are getting an insulated trailer to set up home in until the structure is completed. We will, as our motto says, do ‘whatever it takes’ to see this through.

 

As they say in ‘Game of Thrones’, “Winter is coming”. Focus has shifted to the preparations for the long winter ahead of us. It will be quite a change for us former Southern Ontario folk but we look forward to it. So I guess a lot of what has passed was ‘worst of times’ but it wasn’t bad, it just ‘was’. We rolled with it all.

Then there are the best of times…

I haven’t worked a J.O.B. since late May. That is WONDERFUL!! I hated my job and it was sucking the life out of me. We are living in the bush. Trees, bugs and critters everywhere. And we love it! Wild strawberries, raspberries and Saskatoon/June/Serviceberries growing on our property and along our road. Many different plants and birds to identify and learn about. And our dog, our big lug of a dog. He’s gorgeous and loveable and quite a character.

And the people. What an unexpected bonus. In 2 ½ months we have met more people and made more friends than we EVER had living in Hamilton for 30+ years. People helping, people sharing, people lending, and people just being friendly and neighbourly. Small town Northern Ontario is awesome! We have also met numerous people doing the same as us. Moving to the country and trying to live as sustainably as they can. Whether from Southern Ontario (many) or other provinces, people are wanting to get back to basics and have lost faith in the ‘system’ being able to keep the status quo. Our hats off to you all.

We work together to overcome the obstacles that erupt before us like the frost boils in the dirt road in mid-June. We only get stronger and that strengthens our resolve… Whatever it takes…

EH