"...its about the journey, not the destination..."
(Original post started in November 2018)
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| Wendell Barnhill outside of his house in Debert Nova Scotia. |
In 1988 I was on a trip with my good friend Jimmy up in Maine. He was a traveling salesman and he had clients in western Maine. That afternoon we were riding US 2 across Maine on the way to Bar Harbor to spend the night. It was about 6 pm and there was a LONG way to go, and we passed a motel along the side of the road. There was a restaurant attached to it, and there was already a motorcycle parked outside of a room. I convinced Jimmy to stop there and we turned around and checked in. As we were getting settled in our room an "older" gentleman showed up at the door and invited us down to his room to have a drink with him and his wife.
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| A bridge along the northern coast of Nova Scotia. |
Wendell and Betty Barnhill were from the small town of Debert Nova Scotia Canada. Wendell was a retired operator of a small store in Debert. Betty was a retired school teacher. What followed was a friendship that lasted to today. Betty passed away 18 years ago. A year later Wendell married a wonderful woman named Marion who he had met in Florida. They were husband and wife until Wendell passed away last week.
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| Neat little restaurant in Wentworth Valley Nova Scotia. You have to get off of the Trans-Canada to find it! |
A few years after we met Wendell and Betty "took" Jimmy and I to Newfoundland, showing us one of the most wonderful places I have ever seen. Since then I have been back to Newfoundland 6 times, taking my wife, my oldest daughter, my niece and nephew, and also my good friend Curt. None of that would have been possible without the guidance and coaching of Wendell.
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| Stained glass pieces that Wendell made for Murphy's Fish and Chips restaurant in Truro NS. |
The trip from my house to Truro, the "big" town near Debert, takes two days. Day 1 from Delaware to Bangor Maine, about 600 miles. Day two from Bangor to Truro is about 368 miles. Because of the time of the year I took my truck rather than a motorcycle. Easy trip. No snow but I often encountered rain during the trip.
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An example of the tide change in Parrsboro NS which is on the Bay of Fundy. At high
tide you can step right off of the dock onto the boat! |
There was a very touching service at the funeral home, after which there were refreshments served. Some of Wendell's motorcycling buddies spoke, but the most moving part of the service was the eulogy's given by Wendell's children: Valerie, Randy, and Eric. I hope that when my time comes my children will have 1/2 as many nice things to say about me.
After things wound down at the funeral home the immediate family went to Murphy's Fish and Chips Restaurant in Truro NS. Graciously Eric insisted that I go along. A wonderful time sharing stories about Wendell, reminiscing about all of the fun we all had together. After dinner back to Debert to what is now Randy's house for some "adult" beverages.
The next morning I left for home, back to Bangor, and then back to Delaware the next day. The passing of Wendell was like the passing of a pillar, not only of his family, but of his home town. I was out riding today on my BMW GS1150, and thinking I should finish this entry, which I started back in November. I will return to Nova Scotia this summer in my truck with my wife on our way to Newfoundland. We will stop and visit with Valerie, Randy and Eric. As I reflect on this entry I realize how much Wendell enriched my life. I love Nova Scotia. I love Newfoundland. I love Labrador. All of this because of a friendship that started in the middle of Maine at a little motel. My friend Jimmy passed away a number of years ago. Now Wendell in gone. I think of them often, and they will be at my side as I go riding. I deeply miss them both!
