I’ve been writing about the places and sights, but today I’m going to focus on some people. Most of the people we’ve met here have been friendly, kind and informative. Well, that changed today.

We were heading up the inland highway in the fog just outside of Yarmouth. The road ahead was straight, going up a hill. We could see for quite a distance, although some of it was blurry. I asked Dale if there was a cyclist up ahead. He laughed and said either a cyclist or a Sasquatch. As we approached, at highway speed, the figure started to cross the road and then stopped partway. Dale slowed. We could see it was an old woman, with a hat, a coat and several bags. She waved at us, gesturing for us to stop. We did. There was basically no traffic and if she needed assistance it could be a long time before another vehicle passed.

Dale rolled down his window (actually he pushed a button and the window went down) and the lady leaned in. She said she had been walking for at least an hour and a half and she had only her juice and her Bible with her, could we please take her as far as we were going? Well what could we say? Dale pulled up, to get more off the road in case another car did come by and she got in. She immediately introduced herself and asked our names, shaking our hands and thanking us. She had been visiting a male friend in the hospital in Yarmouth but had to get home to feed her cat. She was from Middleton, a two hour drive away. She asked us a lot of questions, what’s your middle name? Do you have kids? Grandkids? What do you both do for a living? and so on. She was making conversation, trying to be polite but it came across as creepy. She told us inappropriate things, like the medical state of her friend, he had blood coming out of his peepie, prostate cancer is a bitch. She asked us to turn up the air conditioning and she announced she was going to stop drinking her juice because she didn’t want to have to “use the batroom again”, ie, pee on the side of the road. She didn’t smell bad but she did smell (and not of perfume) and she had some issues, whether to do with mental illness or with capacity, we couldn’t tell. We drove her to Digby, as that was as far as we were going. She directed us to the parking lot of the Superstore, the transit bus stopped there and could take her further towards home. She asked us to keep her and her friend in our prayers, thanked us and got out. We drove away and we both let out a deep breath. Dale said we had no other choice but to pick her up but he was prepared to break her arm if she had pointed a gun. I had started to give her false information in case she was using her little old lady act to mine us for personal information. Whart a couple of dopes we are! She was just a helpless little old lady, right? Right?

We found our B&B in Digby easily. We pulled up in front. There was an older couple looking at the garden on the side of the house. They looked at us and then continued to discuss the state of the lilac bushes, I’m assuming that because they were touching the lilac branches. Dale went to the front door and rang the bell, as directed by the sign. I got out of the car and the woman looked directly at me, then turned away. I started to walk towards the house and she looked again. She frowned and walked towards me. It was windy so she raised her voice, “Can I help you?” She was close when I responded so I didn’t have to shout back. I said we had a reservation. She looked at Dale and told him he should have parked in the back. We went in and filled out the paperwork. She was efficient and curt. However, her almost pleasant attitude changed when she asked what our plans were. We told her we were catching the ferry to St. John in the morning. She laughed humourlessly and said there was plenty to do in the area besides take the ferry and an afternoon was not nearly enough time. She opened several pamphlets and pointed out all the things to do in the area then she hearded us out the door. Dale went to move the car to the back and she walked me to the “rental rooms” building. I went to unlock the door and she pulled my hand away, “It’s unlocked.” I went in, declared it lovely and she left after telling me to make sure “he” parked properly, the B&B was full tonight. When we got the luggage into the room, I asked Dale if he thought our host was a little annoyed with us. He did. So we  decided to go to one if the attractions she had pointed out. It was okay, but not as great as she had made out. Oh well, maybe she was annoyed because the house was for sale and she didn’t want to be doing the whole B&B thing anymore. Who knows, but tomorrow we will avoid contact with little old ladies.

Sorry, I just have one comment about places. Today we had lunch in Liverpool and then crossed the Mersey. Cool huh?