ESCAPE to the NORTH
Page 13
Leaving the Island camp.
Nov. 3rd; This morning there is only a light wind so I
may make an attempt to get to the Island and bring the rest of the gear to the
apartment that I could not bring on the first move. I will have to walk down to
the marina to see the condition on the lake. I will take with me a sleeping bag
and some food in case I get stuck on the Island if the wind should strengthen
suddenly. When I left Haileybury to go to the Island, there was a light westerly
wind. I paddled along the shore until I was abreast to the Island and then
crossed the open water to the Island. I loaded the rest of the gear into the
canoe. I had left a radio, blankets, some tin food, coffee, tea, sugar. I also
left a lighter in a jar for those people who do not smoke. I wrote a note to
tell people who may come here that I had left the tent-cabin intact so that
people may use it as their emergency shelter if the need arise. People may use
the wood stove and use the pile of dry logs that is stacked in the tent-cabin
along with kindling wood and paper to get a fire going to heat themselves. It
may just save a persons life who may need to use this emergency shelter. When I
was ready to leave the Island, the wind had freshen up but it was still blowing
from the west. I hugged the shore as I was heading back to Haileybury. When I
unloaded the canoe, I could not get a cab for the next three hours because they
were all busy or booked up for some event. As I sat with my gear on the sidewalk
waiting for the time when I could get a cab, a person walking his dog happen to
come by. As we talked, he told me that he will return to his home and get his
car to help me get my gear to my apartment. I thanked the gentleman for his
kindness. Ron came back with his car and we loaded the gear into his vehicle and
we headed to my apartment. I thanked Ron once again and wanted to pay him for
what I would have to pay the cab driver, but Ron would not take the money
offered to him. Ron is a retired person who likes to sail his sailboat on the
lake during the summer months. I thanked Ron again for his kindness. After I put
my gear away, I got something to eat. Then I went back to the marina and carried
the canoe to the back of my apartment and stowed it away for the winter. And so
ends the story of my, Northern Escape.
Conclusion....
I had gone around to see if I could find a job in
Haileybury. When none were available, I checked the job bank on the computer
from the library. There also were no jobs to be found within our area. After a
few days of this, I had to find something to do. I remember that I had read in
our local paper, The Speaker, that Temiskaming Lodge, right here in Haileybury,
were looking for volunteers to help their senior citizens where needed. So I
decided to use some of my spare time to help others. I walked to Temiskaming
Lodge, and spoke to Ann Patenaude, who was the volunteer coordinator. We
discussed the many ways volunteers help the residents here. I also volunteered
to set up an art class on Thursdays for those people who would like to take up
painting as a hobby. This gave me an idea. My apartment was on the ground floor
alongside Peter Pan Restaurant. It looked to me that it had been a storefront at
one time that had a big picture window facing the street. I asked John if I
could turn my place into an Art Studio and have art lessons and display my
paintings? John did not mind me doing this, in fact he encouraged it so that I
can start to earn a living. I also asked Social Services if I would be allowed
to try to set up my own business as an Art Studio, and they gave me the go
ahead. I began to do a lot of paintings to fill up the empty walls. Soon I had a
gallery of paintings hanging on my walls. I also made a sign for my big window,
"Jean's Art Studio. We give Art Classes, and do Custom Computer Graphics." But
during the passing months and the following summer, I had not been able to
become self-sufficient through this business. I was not able to get any
customers for my art classes, paintings or custom computer graphics. It matters
little now, for soon, this December, I will begin my pension. I had managed to
get my I.D.'s back through our local Provincial Government offices. I especially
thank our M.P.P. office of David Ramsay, here in Haileybury for getting back my
Canadian Citizen I.D. and the necessary documents to obtain my Canada Pension. I
give special thanks to Benoit Serre for all the effort she had made to make this
possible. To live the lifestyle I choose to live and to give me
something to keep me busy. John had sold his Peter Pan Restaurant and had
moved to North Bay where he and Monique would be close to their grand children.
The new owner are nice people and they have done a lot of renorvations to the
place. They have a new name for their Restaurant and Take-Out place called Mc
Cool's. They have the same fare of food as John had, but they also specalize in
taco's, and many other Mexican dishes. McCool's is a really good place to eat.
During my 14 hour a week volunteer work at Temiskaming Lodge, I had met a very
fine lady, by the name of Myrtle Napper. She was 94 years of age when I first
met Myrtle during my very first assignment where I was to help or assist her
during, when she, along with others of her group went to the Mall to do some
shopping. We got to talking and we became good friends. Myrtle was a school
teacher before she had retired. We had talked on a variety of subjects during
the many months that had passed by. Myrtle had also become one of my best art
students in the art class I held at Temiskaming Lodge. During the many talks
Myrtle and I had, it was she who had prompted me to write the story about my
"Escape to the North." My dear friend Myrtle Napper had passed away on March
24th, 2004. It is because of her prompting, that I had begun this web site as my
Hailrybury centennial project. So to you Myrtle, I dedicate this web site. You
will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure to know you..
Lake Temiskaming /
Ottawa River System
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