I recently came full circle with an obsession and have hopefully relieved myself from continuing a thoughtful and quirky hobby. I have been collecting benches residing in public spaces for 24 years.
It started in 2002, from an encounter with The Secret Bench of Knowledge in front of the Library and Archives building in Ottawa in 2002 while attending a writers festival. The whimsy and mystery of the statues appealed to me. That was during a dark time with my foray into writing, attending poetry readings and presentations while working full time, raising three children and surviving an unhappy marriage. I felt trapped. Writing and networking with writers helped me find some escape and offered some therapy.
I wrote a review of the writers festival, posted as web pages which survived as a PDF where I shared my experience about this thing called “the poets’ pathway” and eventually joined like-minded folks in an environmental group and literary project.
The Secret Bench of Knowledge in front of the Canadian Library and Archives Building on Wellington Street
Fast forward to 2026 when I reunited with the bench and its occupants during Doors Open Ottawa and a visit to the Library and Archives building on Wellington Street. I felt an obligation to see this building and its dusty collections as a 2022 graduate from an Archives and Records Management college program.
The LAC stacks on the secluded 7th floor
The volunteer guides on the selected floors were knowledgeable about the various collections as well as the virtual display for the new Adisoke building that should open in 2027. There have been delays due to the pandemic, the supply chain, and trade tariffs applied by the orange menace and his money grabbing sycophants.
My first Doors Open Ottawa experience was in 2016 and I have since tried to visit the interesting buildings around the city that offered the public a peek into hidden treasures over the first weekend of June. I was hooked, although with limited energy and patience for crowds.
I highly recommend you attend one of these Doors Open events if they are offered in your own city. It can open your eyes and mind to its rich architecture and culture. I also recommend writing as therapy, in your private journals or in a blog where you can whisper – or shout – into the void.
Is it safe to assume that most adults have a bucket list of things to see or do before they die?
My bucket list is very tame, containing no extreme sports or other risky activities. I had one item on my list in 2020, to visit East coast Canada and dip my toe into the Atlantic Ocean. I had already accomplished the west coast and Pacific Ocean toe dip during a trip in the spring of 2017. As you may remember, the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022 cancelled travel plans for many people. I was heart-broken. Perhaps you were too.
Enter the cold, dark days of winter 2024 when I started dreaming about spring and reviving my east coast plans. One sister offered to join me on a VIA Rail train journey to Halifax Nova Scotia, to spend a few days as walkabout tourists plus obtain photographic proof of my primary objective.
Those with little patience can skip to the recommendations section. I hope you will enjoy some of the photographs along the way.
My Atlantic Canada trip objectives
Dip my big toe into the Atlantic Ocean
Tour the Halifax sites of interest by foot
Visit the Halifax Central Library
Consume East Coast food
Purchase souvenirs and gifts for loved ones
Have catch up chats and creative times with my sister
Enjoy train travel
Main objective: Touching the Atlantic Ocean
On June 17, 2024 I dipped my toe into the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It was a balancing act to admire as I toddled over rocks near the shore.
We toured sites of interest – within walking distance
We only got detoured twice during our visit to Halifax although we had printed maps and my sister followed the questionable directions from Google maps.
Shipping cranes at the Halifax Seaport as viewed from Point Pleasant Park. They look like robot giraffes!Park benches at the Halifax Public Gardens. I never saw so many Rhododendron bushes. The park was colourful and dreamlike.
Visit the Halifax Central Library
We were impressed with the Halifax Central Library building exterior, interior, as well as the rooftop patio view of the harbour. We visited TWICE. I would go back again but maybe fly down east instead of taking the train. How would one compensate for contributing to polluting airline emissions?
My first encounter with the Halifax Central Library building. I was immediately attracted. I wanted to visit this building since it was opened in 2014. Theresa posing with the giant L of the Halifax Central Library buildingView of the Halifax seaport harbour from the rooftop patio of the Halifax Central Library during our second visit. This was my favourite part of the site seeing activities.
Enjoy east coast foods
After a disappointing second walkabout to the near-deserted wharf and nonexistent Farmer’s Market, we enjoyed an early lunch of the award winning lobster rolls at Tomavino’s. We enjoyed other foods but I don’t want to burden readers with the photos. That’s what Instagram is for 😀
After a disappointing second walkabout to the near-deserted wharf and nonexistent Farmer’s Market, we enjoyed an early lunch of the award winning lobster rolls at Tomavino’s.
Quality time
My sister brought water colour pencils and special paper for us to create renditions of the seashore photos we took during the daytime tours. I chose instead to do a painting of a black cat in the style of Maud Lewis with influences from Bill the Cat (Bloom County).
Theresa’s painting of a black cat in the style of Maud Lewis with influences from Bill the Cat (Bloom County).
During our walkabouts to Spring Garden Road area, I picked up many souvenirs and gifts from local shops, especially items with reprints of paintings by Nova Scotia’s darling, Maud Lewis. I can relate to her and some of her life struggles in many ways.
Travel options
We took the ViaRail “Ocean” train tour from Montreal to Halifax with intentions of walking to sites in the area. The train trip was supposed to take one day and one night (21 hours). It took us much longer travelling through eastern Quebec where we had to drive slow to avoid derailment on heat-buckled rails or poorly maintained CN Rail tracks.
This was NOT in the travel brochure!
Next time, I may choose to fly.
An example of a ViaRail two-person sleeper car cabin (in daytime seating mode) on The Ocean line between Montreal and Halifax.
Recommendations
If you plan to travel by VIA Rail and you choose the pricey sleeper cabin option, confirm with the provider that your car built before 1970 has working air conditioners.
Even if travelling with a companion, choose the Cabin for one option so you each can have your personal space. There will be plenty of opportunities to socialize in the lounge / service car, the dining car and seats of the cooler coach car. Make sure you are wearing your “Multi-pass” bracelet.
Get up and walk around to encourage circulation, especially when stopped in major stations and you’re not bouncing off the walls due to the rocking motions.
Bring the Gravol.
If you are a smoker, be prepared for only 3 stops of 15 minutes to step outside to satisfy your addition.
Chat with other passengers, get to know where they’re from, where they’re going and why they are taking this trip. You can meet many interesting people.
Bring a book and a hobby to keep your hands and mind busy.
If you plan on doing most of your destination tours by foot, wear comfortable shoes, pack a jacket, water bottle and map. Pack some curiosity, patience and empathy too.
Get to some of the beautiful, natural places in your country before they are spoiled by the effects of climate change.
Thank you for reading this far. Keep practising kindness and patience with those you encounter along your life’s journey. I have to keep reminding myself of that.
Feel free to share some of your east coast travel experiences in the comments below.
This post contains scenes of nature therapy, art therapy and memories of teenage love.
First, let’s pay tribute to a talented actress and songbird, Olivia Newton-John who recently passed away at the age of 73 after a long battle with cancer.
The summer of 1978 was one of adventure and romance for me and my best friend. We met cute boys whose families owned cottages on Georgian Bay. The days and nights were full of giggles, kisses and hopes. I remember exchanging letters and pining for my American boyfriend months after his family returned home and everyone fell back into weekly routines. I held onto the sweet memories for months until they were buried and cooled by the winter’s snow. We saw each other the following summer, only in passing, exchanging polite greetings.
Olivia Newton-John sings Hopelessly Devoted from that cult classic, Grease
Fast forward to summer nights occupied with glamorous household chores, mellowing out with TV sitcoms, and adjusting fans to cool off my sweaty, menopausal body. Some of the perspiration is caused by frustrations with a geriatric Cat.
Closing off a well-appreciated vacation week, I recently joined members of my Rotary club and a dear friend for a forest therapy guided tour of nearby woods. It was refreshing to get outdoors plus meet people whose faces I had only seen on the screen during Zoom meetings.
One tree endured ten minutes of my sensory attention during a forest therapy exerciseThe author appreciates the sights, sounds, and aromas during a forest therapy guided tour
I admit to hugging a tree during this event. I struggled to quiet my busy mind that constantly needs to identify and classify my surroundings.
One daily activity this past week was to evolve a piece of art as homage to one of my favourite, underappreciated artists. It also provided me with mindless dotting of colours while watching TV or listening to music with a really good beat.
Night forest – a study in pointillism, markers, August 2022 TAJ
Now it is Sunday, a day of reflection, household chores and preparing for the return to the downtown workplace. Let us pray that the Busing Gods will be kind.
Thank you for dropping by, especially if you are a real person and not the creator of a made-up blog.
Deep Blonde Thoughts 