THE GOOD LIFE - July 5, 2017

Water laps the boulder shore of Flour Cove on Lake Superior's north shore as I sit in the shallows rocking to the age old rhythmn. The setting sun baths the world around me in shades of gold, umber and peach, and lays a glittering trail from horizon to the beach. A sentinel white pine as old as Canada itself watches from a rocky prominence to the west. There is no noise save the occasional slip-slop of wavelets on the shore and the warbling upward trill of a red-eyed vireo. I am alone with my thoughts. Filled with gratitude, I face the orange sunball and the words of a familiar hymn flood my mind - "my God, how great thou art." 

From now until we choose differently, this will be our life; traveling where we will, stopping when we want, eating out of doors and swimming instead of showering if we wish. Diving once to rinse the shampoo from my hair, and then again from the sheer luxury of cold water on skin so long sweaty and bug bitten, floating face down to watch small fish dart among the rocks, then paddling in circles on my back to observe the segue from day to night. Clouds of denim and navy blue creep towards the setting sun, while the horizon fades to lilac and pink streaked through with ghostly con trails from invisible aircraft high above.

The sun touches the horizon and dips below it in tiny increments. My skin is icy cold, so cold the mosquitoes, black flies and sand qflies have ceased to bite me, yet I am loath to miss one moment of this glorious evening. Rattling on the cobbles of the beach, I climb to where someone has made a bench from two logs and a bit of board, there to perch until the fiery orb is fully gone. In the pale after light, I make my way into the trees and up the trail to the RV and Carl who has been keeping an eye on our simmering supper. We eat sausage and zucchini prima vera served with shredded sharp asiago cheese, drink red wine, feast on cherries and then spend the rest of the evening killing all the flying, biting creatures in our new home. 

Such is the good life!