Beautiful Birchdale

Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo swears she never said “I want to be alone,” but instead “I want to be let alone.” Either way, she got what she wanted, when she was the solo guest for three days at Birchdale beginning on June 20, 1954. She knew then, as many do now, Birchdale is the perfect spot to get away from it all.

Birchdale - Sportman’s Paradise

Birchdale opened its doors in 1911 as a hunting and fishing retreat. I poured through old ledgers in wonder over how many came from near, and very far to experience hunting deer & moose, and to fish for trout & bass. Trained guides and cooks catered to guests every need, making Birchdale a sought after destination. Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Danny Kaye, and Disney illustrator Milt Neil are just a few of the famous sportsmen that spent time at Birchdale.

Writers Retreat

If you are looking to go off-grid and totally immerse yourself in nature, Birchdale is for you. I was invited here on a writers retreat with a group of sixteen women. Diverse groups of individuals come here year after year, to enjoy everything from family reunions or weddings, to organized retreats for yoga, to paint, to canoe, to kayak, to photograph nature, to research wildlife, or to write (as we did), and some simply come as couples, or as individuals for a sanctuary to rest and recharge. The common thread is disconnecting from technology, and reconnecting with nature. Birchdale is food for your soul.

Southwest Nova Scotia

Tucked away in the deep woods in southwest Nova Scotia, Birchdale is the ideal escape. It is a trek in and out, over hill & dale, then over unpaved dirt roads and rocky roads. Only those willing to take the journey, and embrace roughing it, will truly appreciate the rustic beauty they will discover. Birchdale is not for everyone. I wondered the first day, if it was for me - with its bare bones rustic camp cabins, and basic lake water washroom facilities. You need to bring fresh water to brush your teeth, and you learn to sleep despite your arachnophobia. Oh, and the worry that there just might be a bear scavenging for berries nearby, and then there are the other critters - of the smaller variety, scratching to come in your cabin. You are advised not to store any snacks in your cabin, but instead keep them outside in a sturdy cooler, or better yet - left in your vehicle. You are also taught how to light gas lanterns, and most importantly, you are warned to keep your doors hooked shut - at all times, unless you desire the aforementioned tiny forest critters to visit you. I heeded all this advice - so much so, that I locked my roommate in the cabin, the very first day when she was napping. Sorry, Linda Marie! Luckily she was rescued by a nearby cabinmate, that heard her SOS calls. She has since forgiven me (I think) after I found her lost car keys a few hours later, so we are all good.

So This is What was the Fuss is All About

By the third night - yes, it took me a couple of restless nights to adjust, but by then, I slept like a baby. I got it. I got the hang of roughing it, and didn’t mind it at all. I even wandered off on my own more, and looked for forest & pond critters to photograph, and I took much longer hikes through the woods to beautiful lake lookout points. I also got up early to try to catch the morning mist off the lake. The dawn swimmers told me I should catch the sunrise views, that everyone was fussing about. Of course, I awoke a tad too late (catching up on much needed sleep I believe), and I missed both, but what I did discover - was that I liked being off-grid, I loved awakening to nature, I loved hiking by myself and immersing all my senses. And then there was this lovely group of inspirational writers, that I got to meet with in large groups, small groups and one-on-one. I had the time of my life and realized this WAS what all the fuss was about. Who knew? My husband will be the first in line (after me) to be amazed that I will be signing up for this again. Yes, roughing it, yes, without wifi and internet but what I realized was… that is when it got good.

Treasured Memories

I will treasure my Writers Retreat at Birchdale and the inspirational women I shared it with. I found my tribe and I will be back! Thank you Helen. Thank you Sandra. Thank you Heather. Thank you to all my new writing friends for helping me step out of my comfort zone and into the most grounding and enriching experience I have had in a really long time. Thank you Birchdale for the memories. Add me to the guestbook Helen. Put me somewhere after Greta!

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