Where are my spruce and poplar forests? Where are my rolling prairies and jagged mountains? Where are the rose thorns that would constantly catch at my pants as I push through the underbrush? I have traded all these for…maple? Oak? Poison ivy?

I’m finding eastern Canada surprisingly less familiar than I thought I would. There’s more biodiversity and less familiar weather patterns. Rivers flow differently over more exposed rock. The birdsongs I know are mixed with many new ones, the squirrels no longer chatter at me – they buzz! I’m slowly learning the rhythm of this place, but it will be a long time until I feel as comfortable as I did in the west. I just finished leading my last scheduled trip in my old home (although I’m sure there will be more). So this is my challenge and this is my opportunity! I’ll be exploring this new place I’m in and as I start to understand it a little better I hope it will start to feel like home. And I hope I’ll be able to share just a little bit of that journey with you!