On meeting a writer

Life in Newfoundland is great. We are still base-camped in a little tiny outport aka coastal fishing village), have been here in Elliston for about a week, getting to know the community and, thanks to Anouk's big smile and wandering legs, making new friends. Had tea yesterday afternoon in the home of a well-known Newfoundland author who shared wonderful stories of her childhood in outport Newfoundland. This was a highlight for me as I had read her stuff and really enjoyed it...something about meeting someone you admire and realizing they are a normal person! And the fun part was that we met her simply because we rode our bikes by her house a few times on the way to a puffin colony and her son popped out and said, "Now where are you folks from..." One thing led to another and I learned whose house it was and the next day it was tea in the front room for all. Wonderful!

We are here for a couple more days. I have had some great meetings with folks involved in tourism planning and fisheries and heritage preservation on this penisula. Yes, remember, this little junket is work after all! Actually, I do feel like I am learning a lot and have been doing a ton of writing too.... (I am writing this from College of the North Atlantic -- yes, North Atlantic, as opposed to College of the Atlantic where I have my office in Maine -- where I have developed a connection and they are letting me use their machines, a nice thing because internet access is sketchy around here, as is cell connection.)

Thursday we head back to the city (St. John's) as both Rich and Anouk have doctor's appointmets. Well, Rich has a PT appointment for his back and leg (which appear to be doing ok, biking seems to help, and we have been doing a ton of it, trying to leave the truck parked as much as possible as gas prices are a bit outrageous...) and Anouk has a check-in with the doc. She is well, still lots of night-itches but nothing alarming. We are looking forward to the doc's ok to stop having to dress the burn site morning and night. She is clearly getting annoyed with the ritual!