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| Bass Creek, Manitoulin Island |
We are home from our week of vacation on Manitoulin Island. On our second day there, severe late afternoon thunderstorms rolled over the island. A bolt of lightning hit our cabin, which had a metal roof, knocking out the power, and literally melting the wifi line and modem that provided internet to the camp. Power was restored quickly as the surge protectors and fuse switches worked well, but the internet, which was through the telephone line, was still out when we left. I buy enough data on my cell phone for emergencies only, and that was enough to stream radio coverage of the last two games of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The rest of the week we checked emails briefly in the morning, and then lived offline, just like we did for most of our lives.
I did not realize how much of a break I needed from news and constant connectivity. We were the only people at the camp and there was plenty of time to relax, read and reflect. The world of COVID-19 was almost forgotten.
Nature has much to teach us if we take the time to learn her ways. It has been a long time since I did "sit-spotting", where you stay in one place for 15 minutes or more and record your observations. We miss so much when we are constantly giving attention to our technological devices and listening to "whatever" in our headphones. It is a luxury to have time and space to be nothing at all.
The storm, while terrifying at the time, allowed us the welcome opportunity to disconnect. Repairs will take some time. The owner of the camp notified the people coming next week that there would be no internet as advertised. He told us that the parents were delighted that their children would be forced off line for a few days. I hope they adjust and enjoy their week as much as we did ours!
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| Good holiday reading! |
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