Sally’s View of the River

CELL PHONES AND SAP BUCKETS tells stories of living in the Haliburton Highlands Ontario.

Not long ago, Neil Campbell and his best pal, The Brown Dog Jiggs, celebrated with champagne and liver treats when one of them was declared Ontario’s best weekly newspaper columnist.
These award-winning columns for the Minden Times (Minden Ontario) about their lives together in the Haliburton Highlands woods have been collected in a book called Cell Phones and Sap Buckets: Six Years on Sapsucker Ridge.

For a preview of the book, please click on:
www.crystalimagestudio.com/preview/cpsb.pdf
Neil Campbell, retired from a long career at The Globe and Mail, typed the stories, however Jiggs is the real star of the book. Jiggs takes Neil on long walks and gives him little glimpses of the secret lives led by the creatures who live all around them.

They watch a romance between two snapping turtles and the unfolding of a sibling rivalry in a heron nest that turns fatal. A hungry fawn sucks on Neil’s pantleg and a bear swats Jiggs.

Jiggs noses out clues while Neil savours the changing of the seasons. Along the way, he deals with the challenges of living off the hydro grid on 50 acres of upland hardwood forest in the Haliburton Highlands Ontario two miles from the nearest public road.

When Campbell’s not being walked by the dog, Neil makes maple syrup, cuts his own firewood and works to preserve the Haliburton Highlands landscape as a member of the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust.

Also in the book are 15 original drawings by Haliburton artist Charlie Teljeur.

Campbell’s 40 year as a professional journalist included Ontario stops with the Richmond Hill Liberal, Oakville Daily Journal-Record, Oakville Beaver and Owen Sound Sun-Times, along with the Edmonton Journal, The Canadian Press, and 26 years with The Globe and Mail.

To contact Neil Campbell at neilcampbell@xplornet.ca for information on how to order directly and for Author signature.

Copies of Cell Phones and Sap Bucketscan be purchased from the following outlets throught Ontario

Bancroft — Ashlie’s Books.
Belleville — Greenley’s Bookstore.
Carnarvon — That Place in Carnarvon.
Gelert — Wintergreen Maple Products.
Haliburton — Country Rose, Foodland, Haliburton County Echo, Maple Moon, Master’s Books, Studio Rose, Undercover Books.
Kinmount — Artisan’s Market Place, Gateway Variety.
Lakefield — Happenstance Books & Yarns.
Lindsay — Joyce’s Place.
Minden — Dollo’s Foodland, The Fast Lane, Home Hardware, Organic Times, Pharmasave, R.D. Lawrence Place, Whispers North.
Orillia — Manticore Books.
Owen Sound — Downtown Bookstore.
Peterborough — Chapters, Titles Bookstore.
Rosedale — Kawartha Lakes Trading Post.
West Guilford — Cottage Country Log Cabin Trading.
Wilberforce — Agnew’s General Store.

Or, contact Neil Campbell at neilcampbell@xplornet.ca for information on how to order direct.

The True Story of Rudolph
A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night.
His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bob’s wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer.
Little Barbara couldn’t understand why her mommy could never come home.
Barbara looked up into her dad’s eyes and asked, “Why isn’t Mommy just like everybody else’s Mommy?”
Bob’s jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger.
It had been the story of Bob’s life. Life always had to be different for Bob.
Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports.
He was often called names he’d rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived.
Evelyn’s bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums.
Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938.
Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn’t even afford to buy a Christmas gift.
But if he couldn’t buy a gift, he was determined to make one – a storybook!
Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal’s story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope.
Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the character? What was the story all about?
The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form.
The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was.
The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose.
Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn’t end there.
The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book.
Wards went on to print,_ Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer _ and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in
their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph.
That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book.
In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of War ds returned all rights back to Bob May.
The book became a best seller.
Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn’t end there either.
Bob’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry.
“Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of “White Christmas.”
The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn’t so bad.
In fact, being different can be a blessing.

The Haliburton Highlands Ontario has excellent trail systems. Be it cycling, hiking, horseback riding, or even walking in the tree tops in a canopy tour. We have the trails to suite every ability.

Combine trail adventures with GPS technology for geocashing fun throughout the Haliburton Highlands.

Mountain biking challenges are available in the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve and the Sir Sam’s Ski and Snowboard Area.

Warm up your winter with snowshoeing on over 100km or trails for dogsledding adventures.

www.trailandtours.com
www.haliburtonforest.com
www.sirsams.com
www.cyclehaliburton.ca
www.geocaching.com
www.winterdance.com
www.haliburtonholidays.com

The hosts of the Sunny Rock Bed and Breakfast know the trails intimately and would like to lead you to the trails of your choice.

Over 100 km of Cross Country Ski Trails are maintained by the Haliburton Nordic Trails Association as well as an additional 25km at the Leslie Frost Nordic Ski Centre. Permits are required. Check the websites for updated ski conditions.

Alpine Skiing is available at Sir Sam’s Ski and Snowboard Area in Eagle Lake Ontario. 12 groomed runs will challenge every level of ability.

www.skihaliburton.com
www.skithefrost.ca
www.sirsams.com
www.haliburtonholidays.com
Many Cross Country and Alpine Skiers enjoy the “Après ski” activities at the Sunny Rock Bed and Breakfast. During the Winter snow on the ground months we would be happy to provide for you an ”après ski” dinner. You need only ask when you call for your reservation.
Call Sally
1-888-786-6976

Haliburton Highlands Ontario ATVing
As an ATV drivers you can take advantage of ideal conditions to follow scenic trails to your favorite lakes or hilltop lookouts. With thousands of kilometers of trails in the Haliburton Highlands to explore, you spend fun filled days immersing yourselves in the beauty of the Haliburton Highlands. And when rumbling engines stop, you often find yourself in places that few people have ever seen.
ATV riders must have a valid ATV Permit. To purchase a Haliburton Highlands ATV map or permit visit the Highway 35 Visitor Information Centre (1-800-461-7677). ATV tours and rentals available as well.

www.haliburtonatv.com
www.backcountrytours.ca
www.haliburtonholidays.com

What better place to explore the world of the arts than in the natural environment of the Haliburton Highlands Ontario? Anchored by the Haliburton School of the Arts, The Haliburton Campus of Fleming College, the Haliburton Highlands is an inspiration of the growing number of artists that live and work in Central Ontario’s playground.

Visit public galleries, museums, artist studios, community theatre, opera and more. The Arts Council ~ Haliburton Highlands provides information on arts organizations and studios to visit in its annual directory.

A heritage map is also available from the visitor information centre.

Unique attractions include the Haliburton Sculpture Forest in the Haliburton Village Glebe Park. The Haliburton Sculpture Forest is a 2 km trail available year round, dotted with a variety of sculptures, making for an intriguing outing.

www.haliburtonarts.on.cawww.haliburtonschoolofthearts.ca
www.haliburtonsculptureforest.ca
www.haliburtonholidays.com
The Sunny Rock Bed and Breakfast is a member and business supporter of the Atrs Council ~ Haliburton Highlands. Your hosts know a number of the artists personally and can assist guests with finding their perfect gift of keepsake.

The Sunny Rock Bed and Breakfast is on the property of the Sunny Rock Villa/Lodge. Although not designated a heritage building or a century home the original log structure holds stories and memories of the Finnish Village. Your host is prepared with stories and tales of the original inhabitants and takes delight is storytelling.

Each Spring with the warmth comes the ever inquisitive bears. Foraging for food they may walk through our backyards seeking berry bushes and our garbage. Without thinking we may bait the bears with….dog food left out on a deck, winter bird feeders.

If you see a bear in the Haliburton Highlands the MNR Bear Wise Program would like to know. They can be reached at 1-886-514-2327.They will alert local authorities and will coordinate search and relocate programs or if necessary will cull the animal. If you think you need immediate action call 911.

I keep a journal of the places that my partner and I stay and what we learn from our hosts and their home. We do this so that we are doing some personal professional development. Of the 450 some odd Bed and Breakfasts where we have stayed all over the world we have learned as hosts how not to and how to behave, what is appropriate to say and not say and what should be available or on hand too ensure the comforts of our guests in our B&B environment.

I can think of about 5 B&Bs that we felt like we were imposing on the house and the family by being in their home. There were rules where we could and could not be, plastic on the furniture, no information about what there is to do in the area, specific times we could be in the house and not, a specific time for breakfast…be there or not get breakfast, and most importantly there were no extras…a beverage, munchies, chit chat, sharing of lives etc. It was clear to me that these B&B hosts were on the most part living well beyond their means and by having travelers stay they were supplementing their income. They had no intentions to share any part of their lives or their community with us. It was also clear that they had probably never stayed in a bed and breakfast themselves or each would have a little more personality than they did.

Hint #1 Questions a newbie should ask: Ask how long the B&B has been operating? How long have you been the hosts? What comforts do you offer your guests?

At the very least you should expect: lots of information and sincere answers to questions during your telephone call, comments on payment and directions and the persons name or hosts name before you hang up the telephone. When you arrive to the B&B you should expect a person introducing themselves, a welcoming smile, an orientation to the home, some discussion about breakfast, what there is to do in the community or the area, an offering of a beverage, something to munch on and so many other little tidbits that will genuinely help you to feel comfortable while you are visiting.

Haliburton Highlands is located 2.5 hours north of Toronto and less than an hour south of Algonquin Park. The Haliburton Highlands Travel maps have arrived and are available for thoses planning on travelling to the Haliburton County.!

The new Haliburton Highlands tourism map has arrived. It includes an overview of Haliburton County Ontario and inserts of towns and hamlets like Minden Hills, Canarvon, Haliburton, West Guilford..

It also includes information about activities in the Haliburton Highlands.

To receive a copy, pick one up for FREE at the Visitor Information Centre on Highway 35 in Minden Ontario or call 705-286-1777 to have one mailed to you. Call Amy Brohm, Haliburton CountyTourism Marketing Co-ordinator, County of Haliburton 705-286-1777, 1-800-461-7677

While you are talking with Amyask her also to include some information about the Sunny Rock Bed and Breakfast located in Minden Hills Ontario.

For all hockey fanatics that dream of hugging and kissing the ever so sacred Stanley Cup Jan and Sunny Rock Jan and Sally beat you to it. We were visiting home with a house full of family in Dunany Lachute Quebec and Lord Stanley and its entourage came for a visit to the local Dunany Golf and Country Club. There was an exciting buzz happening on the Sunday at noon.

Jan and I were among the many that were able to wait our turn and get our picture taken with the “Lord”. Jan is really the Hockey buff and was so excited to have this claim to fame. Frankly I simply enjoy watching the final game and the celebration of those who win the Stanley cup. I am usually watching a movie while others scream obscenities at the puck in the other room.

But I gotta tell you standing beside, hugging and even kissing this ICON was really exciting even for me.

Minden Ontario's Sunny Rock B&B Hosts Hug the Stanley Cup!!!

Well the excitement is over now and continues to linger with every opportunity to show this picture and share the story. Just to mention also that we arrived home to Sunny Rock Bed and Breakfast and are once again open for business and back assuming the Owner and hosts posts.