On the Sunday of Labour Day weekend I went off grid. I’m talking way off grid. Like 10 miles after the paved road and hydro poles end.
I had come across a post on social media the week prior about an open house at Birchdale Lodge and I was fascinated. I had read about Nova Nada in 2017 and ever since I wondered if I would ever be able to visit the property.
New Birchdale Owners Tracey Smith (left) and Sarah Stanley (right) with pup Matzo.
So armed with directions from the new owners, a bag filled with water and snacks and my Stand Up PaddleBoard in the bed of the truck, my husband and I set out. In ten years I’d never been to Kemptville but we found our way easily and started the journey down the packed dirt/gravel road to the Lodge. It took about an hour from Yarmouth to get to Birchdale where Sarah Stanley, one of the two new owners greeted us at the gate. She pointed over to a place to park and when I got out of the truck I was struck by the quiet. I live in the country but there’s always a little bit of noise. The underlying hum of the hydro poles, vehicles coming and going on the main road, etc. Other then the echo of a vehicle door closing and voices of other guests there for the open house, it was quiet. It was peaceful. It was… bliss.
There was no cell phone reception. Nothing from civilization would disturb me out there. Nothing. Nada. So I put the phone away.
We spent some time wandering from cabin to cabin, all named after tree’s in the Acadian Forest. They were simple and functional. A few had running water (gravity fed from a water tower we learned) and they had one or two beds, a fireplace and a hot plate. Simple. Rustic. Lovely. As we made our way to the main lodge we met Tracey Smith, the other owner. Tracey and Matzo(an adorable and tiny little Yorkie pup) were greeting guests and giving history lessons on the lodge.
Chapel at Birchdale
It’s hard to put my finger on what my favourite part of the property was. I was enchanted by the chapel and library, visualizing it as a place of quiet meditation for the monks. As I wandered from cabin to cabin I wondered which one I could perhaps stay in one day. And finally, I pulled out my paddle board and took it out on the lake. And there I let myself leave everything but the moment on shore. I thought about the sun sparklingr. I thought about the lily pads sitting peacefully on the water. I watched with joy as friends of mine paddled a canoe with a dog who seemed to be more interested in going for a dip in the water.
The day passed too quickly. But it passed without distraction from social media and it passed without me worrying about the 100 other things I needed to do. I truly enjoyed every moment of my day at Birchdale and cannot wait to return.
The next Birchdale is October 4th from 1-4pm and I hope to go back to get lost in the woods again.
– Candice
Want to know more about Birchdale? Listen to The Weekender interview with the new owners. (Episode will be online on Sept 28th).
Cottage in the Woods at Birchdale
