Day 13

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My apologies. I cringe at the thought of recapping these last 13 days. The term paradigm shift has come up often in my mind, and I'm starting to realize the only real truth regarding this trip.

Why would you ever want to live out of bags in the back of a tercel for 3 months. How the hell can you be pulled over by the nicest cop in the OPP because our bags are covering the rear view? Could you put your life in only your own hands while climbing massive ledges left there from pre-historic oceans in Northern Ontario? Is it worth it to wake up to the sun beaming down, and after downing a delicious organic breakfast go get your hands dirty in the garden while the birds sing? The thing is after experiencing these things since the last/first entry the answers have come so easily. Basically, these moments are everything. Not only to you, but to the people who shared it with you, the people who made it possible for you to be there, or to the surroundings as a whole.

The son of the woman who co-owns this property with HER mother expanded my overall perception of life while enjoying some beverages around a extremely large camp fire last night. He said, sounding like a wise elder or a prophet, something on the lines of this:

The heartbeat is the source of all that we experience. Your organs all have specific, mind blowing tasks, but the heart beating in your chest is like an anchor, like a beam of light. Think about it..we all share this necessity, they're all beating simultaneously. You can't even begin to mentally conceive the connection we have with the land, the air, our water and fire. We're absolutely living in paradise, and without sounding sappy I sincerely suggest you minimize this link and just inhale a breath of fresh (FREE) air and feel your heart beating. You are alive, and you are capable of giving and receiving more love than we can understand.

Ok, so...stayed at the global village backpacker hostel off of King St. in T.dot Sunday night. Left Montreal at 10:30am Monday morning, after recharging our batteries and listening to some true wisdom from Justin's grandmother. Spent the day at the biodome in Mtl. actually, looking at some incredible "wild" animals and taking pictures. After a long drive to Toronto the next day we were famished, but once arriving on Zion Church Road in Wiarton, Ontario (think wiarton willy, the famous groundhog) we went directly to the fresh water beach with our newly acquired family. So many amazing adventures have happened since Monday afternoon of this week, but if I were to sum it up I would say my greatest appreciation is of the peaceful co-existence we've been a part of here. Every one of these new friends are ego-less, meaning nothing is said or done to impress or belittle another, but only to share in the joy of being. Yes, we have many terrible issues in society that need to be righted. There's people suffering and literally starving to death while we eat until we're about to vomit BUT as a living, breathing organism called Humanity we are awakening. You know how good it feels to work in the kitchen for hours only to enjoy knee-weakening bite of a homemade pasta sauce, or chicken dinner, or whatever it may be. Now imagine walking 15 feet into your garden and harvesting the basil and probably about 5 other herbs and vegetables to be cut up into that pasta sauce, as we did this past Monday night. We have a CONNECTION to our earth. Garbage food makes you perform like Garbage. You are a machine, that even while our perceived "self" is sleeping is repairing itself.

Living out of a bag has its ups and downs, and a down is i cant find my computer charger in this mess, so the battery is toast for the night. If you've taken the time to read this it probably means I miss you, so take care of yourself but most importantly take care of the people who continue to bring the best out of you. Friday night open mic at the family's cafe her I come!

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Comments

[Frances Izzard]

Kudos!
Hi Ryan, I think the journey you and your friend have undertaken is incredible and quite unselfish! I am honoured to know you and wish you(both) ALL the very best in your quest!! I have enjoyed reading and following your blog! Frances Izzard(next door neighbour on Bridlewood)