Day 47: Essential (Oils) - 27km

Richard's in Portneuf to Aliksir in Grandines

I’m currently sitting under a leaf covered veranda-terrace. I’m not sure the correct terminology. The smell of fresh sweet pine fills my nose on every breath. It smells divine. The water is infused with myrique baumier, and greenery fills every direction I turn my eyes.

We have set up camp at Aliksir, and Essential Oil farm. The place is beautiful, and the people are lovely. We set up camp in a tiny field, perfect for the horses, and the owners daughter even gave us two bottles of all natural bug spray for us and the horses that smells incredible. The rain has come and gone all day, but for now, it’s dry.

One thing I love about this place is the toilet inside. Its a dry toilet. So essential-ly its just a bucket with a toilet lid, and you use dry mulch like shavings instead of flushing it down the drains into our precious water. It makes so much sense! I remember they did the same thing at Bread & Puppet in Vermont. Then use the human waste to compost and to grow vegetables. Why not put it back in the earth to grow more green, instead of kill our limited resources of water with unthinkable amounts of human waste? And Jewel and I said it solves our problem if we want to live in a camper van when we get to BC. We wouldn’t have to worry about extra water or dumping waste if we were composting it. Anyways, food for thought. Or thought for poop.

Today was much better than yesterday. Maybe its because I literally went to bed as soon as I finished the blog, at 7pm. I said I was going for a “nap” and did have the intention of getting back up.. but why? I was so exhausted I just kept sleeping. I awoke just after 11 to head rain hammering on the roof, water streaming down by the window, and woke Jewel up in worry for the horses who were high-lined, exposed to the elements. After repeating horrible scenarios to her, I decided to pull on my boots and coat and went to check on them. It was hardly raining. The sound of the rain on roof and the run off made it sound torrential, but when I went out it had calmed down. The horses were just standing there, calm, resting and looking at me like “what”.

So I went back to sleep, and actually woke up at 6 feeling refreshed enough to carry a conversation and joke, and I thoroughly enjoyed the crepes that Richard made us. We were on the road before 9am, Richard driving our packs, and already it was humid, but the rain was stopping.

A second day that seemed to kind of drag on. The humidity is quite unpleasant, so the rain was a relief. I don’t know if we’re just at that point now where the walking feels tedious, or its the weather, or just time for a break. I’m trying to keep myself in check, and align my thoughts with reality, being present.

I’m really looking forward to my parents coming up in 6 days. And hopefully seeing some friends soon too. We’ve been so so fortunate with the kindness of people we meet. Maybe I’m craving the comforts of a home, my home. Or maybe I’m missing “regular” life. I think this must be a point in the trip we will overcome. We’ve now become used to this way of living, the routine of it, the normalcy now opens up space for more, for what? For missing and longing and dreaming new dreams I suppose. British Colombia, Vancouver, or wherever we rest has become this Utopia fantasy land. Trying not to dream up too many illusions for fear I will miss whats going on around me, and I’ll just miss this when I’m there anyways. Or wherever we get to.

Its only quarter after 8, but already I think I’ll crawl into the tent. A new day ahead. We’re so lucky, there’s always tomorrow, a new opportunity. Each day a gift.