Homeward Bound: From Halifax
Entry No. 00
Dear Faithful Companion,
The luggage rests by the door, the laundry inside still carrying the scent of the sea. We have only just returned, yet Halifax lingers in the mind — in the salt air’s memory, in the cadence of gulls overhead, and in the unhurried rhythm of a city that seems to gift its pace to all who walk its shore.
Our journey began in the pre‑dawn stillness of 11 July. At 4:30 a.m., we gathered our bags and our anticipation, setting out from Hamilton with Jesse, Andrew, Becky, and Austin. There was a sense of ceremony in that early departure — the quiet excitement of companions bound for a place that had already won our hearts. This was no ordinary holiday, but a voyage in honour of Jesse’s fiftieth birthday — a milestone worthy of celebration in a city that feels like a second home.
Halifax greeted us with fair weather, a warm welcome, and the promise of days well spent. One highlight was finally partaking in the Alexander Keith’s Brewery tour — long postponed from our first visit — where history and hospitality flowed in equal measure. Another evening found us aboard a sailing vessel, the harbour breeze catching our faces, the smell of the salt air mingling with the gentle sway of the boat, live music, and the pleasant company of glasses raised. The shoreline weather was outstanding; one could not have asked for better.
Saturday brought a gathering with Boyes and Tracey — kin to Austin — who crossed from Dartmouth to join us along the waterfront. The day unfolded easily in conversation and shared moments, the city’s music and movement forming a living backdrop. The sound of gulls overhead mixed with the melodies of the buskers, and in those moments Halifax seemed to hum with its own easy joy.
Jesse and I also made time to step away from the group, strolling the streets hand in hand, chatting, and sharing small discoveries. A visit to the farmers’ market brought the pleasant ritual of bantering over what each vendor had to offer — a simple but cherished rhythm that marks our travels together. We wandered through the old graveyard, where stones stood as quiet sentinels to centuries past, and we admired the dignified architecture that gives Halifax its character.
Evenings at the AirBnB — a tradition now in our journeys — brought their own reward: stories shared over snacks and drinks, laughter filling the room long into the night.
Halifax’s appeal runs deeper than cost or convenience. The east coast possesses a quality that softens time’s pace, slowing the hurried world we so often inhabit. It is a place where life moves at the tide’s rhythm — where one can breathe deeply, laugh freely, and remember that life’s truest wealth is not in possessions but in moments.
And yet, as much as we love the voyage outward, the call of home remains strong. As the proverb says, “He who would travel happily must travel light — but he who would return happily must carry home in his heart.” On the morning of our return, the weather smiled upon us once more. By nightfall, we were beneath our own roof, greeted by the familiar comfort of our bed — a reminder that every great adventure is made complete by the journey back. And even as we settled in, Halifax still whispered to us in memory, and we knew it would not be long before we planned again to stand upon the rock‑strewn shores of Canada’s east coast, the salt air on our faces, and the sea’s song in our ears.
Birthdays mark the passing of years, but milestone birthdays mark the shaping of a life. This one, for Jesse, was not simply another candle on the cake — it was a celebration of the man he is and the life we have built together. Standing with him on Halifax’s shores, I could not help but feel the tide itself carrying the weight of those fifty years: years of laughter, of trials overcome, of quiet victories. To see him celebrated not just by me, but by friends who care deeply for him, was a gift in itself.
Verbum Ultimum
Milestones such as this — a fiftieth birthday — deserve to be marked not with passing gestures, but with moments crafted to honour the person they celebrate. This journey was one such moment: a chance to make Jesse feel truly celebrated, to remind him — and ourselves — that life is measured best in the laughter we share, the friendships we nurture, and the adventures we dare to take together. Halifax may now lie astern, but its spirit remains before us, guiding us toward more voyages — outward and homeward alike — with sails set, hearts full, and companions dear.
With tides of gratitude and the compass set for the next horizon.
JCB
