True friends are willing to get up hours before daylight to drive to the airport!  Carl and Laura were both up and ready to go when we came upstairs from the guest room.  The cold Labrador morning was brisk and refreshing.  It was bittersweet to say good bye after only a couple days with these folks.  The early mornings, the quick visits, seeing our missionaries and valuing them enough to make the long trip is what we do and why we love our job!

We entered the small terminal before  6 am and realized the only staff there were the maintenance people and the airline employees!  So we sat and waited until the security staff arrived and I wished we could have slept longer.

Once through security, we again waited.  It seemed like it would be a fairly empty flight but by the first boarding call, the little waiting room was packed.  We had to walk out on the tarmack to board the small plane.  The direct flight to Halifax was smooth and uneventful.  Walter and I both could grab a few winks of sleep almost anywhere by this point.  Just over 2 hours later, we were on the ground at Halifax airport and the surreal feelings of travel hit me.  How could we have covered so many miles in only 48 hours?  And be back in Nova Scotia only to be in New Brunswick for the night?  

No time for musings - time to find the Arrowhead camp truck, find some breakfast.  We ate on the way, driving along the highway from Halifax to Moncton and then to Smiths Creek.  We had hours to cover only 4 hours worth of travel so we relaxed as we listened to an audiobook and enjoyed the beautiful Nova Scotian landscape.  Bits of the song "Farewell to Nova Scotia" drifted through my memory.  We reminisced about our other friends, the Matthews, who had ministered in Nova Scotia as drove by Truro and Indian Brook.  

Just outside Moncton, we noticed a sign, just a simple sandwich board, advertising a Christmas Craft Sale.  Walter took the next exit off the highway and we drove into the little town, following more arrows and signs.  About the time we were wondering if this was a wild goose chase, we saw several vehicles and then some flea market type antiques and treasures displayed outdoors.  It was a sunny day, and a few folks were out and about.

We pulled up and entered the long, narrow building.  The unique aroma of leather, wood and dust assaulted our senses.  Our eyes were drawn to old metal toys, oak washstands, china, coins and all manner of knick-knacks and collectibles. Walter was drawn to some Volkswagen items.  I knew he'd be a while so I wandered among the crowded rows to see what caught my eye.  Always conscious that we had limited space for souvenirs, I was looking for something little, something representative of our travels.  Nothing grabbed my attention.  As I returned to the vendor where Walter was still negotiating, I found that he was waiting for the vendor's nephew to run home and get some more VW cars and vans that Walter may be interested in.  So we decided to wander through the hall together.  At the very back, we heard some male voices and laughter.  Thinking there may be a coffee shop or something, we peeked into the room.  About four or five Maritime men sat around a board playing a game that was a cross between crokinole and air hockey.  We couldn't understand the game nor some of the lingo they used in a heavy Maritime accent.  It was a fun moment that made us feel like tourists!

Walter held his bag full of miniature model VW treasures as we walked back to our vehicle.  Winding our way back through the little town, I noted another sign that was actually the Christmas Craft Sale!  So Walter obliged me and pulled in.  We were the only ones there.  Everything was set up in a two-car garage, which appeared to be a year-round sale.  Most items were Christmas decorations and ornaments, but there were a few whimsical plaques and souvenir type things.  I found a little white porcelain bell with a blue flower and "Labrador" written in gold lettering.  Perfect!  Tiny and representative of our trip!  So I made my purchase and chatted a little with the woman who took my toonie.  We loved the friendliness of these easterners!

Moncton was our next stop and we found ourselves feeling hungry.  A sign for St. Hubert's, a local chicken restaurant chain, drew us and we pulled in.  It was past any lunch rush so we were almost alone in the restaurant.  We sat in a booth and ordered a chicken poutine to share and a salad.  It was nice to have a bit of downtime before our visit with the Hills.

It was a short drive to Smiths Creek.  Sunshine and green grass in the ditches made it seem like early fall, not nearly winter.  We drove by Sussex, home of "Covered Bridge" potato chips!  A tasty treat.  A few turns and we arrived at Carroll and Cathy Hill's country home.  They have been with NCEM for about 60 years, serving in the Maritimes primarily and also as General Director and Candidate Secretary when we were just starting out as missionaries!  We were now taking on the roles they had 35 years ago.  

The Hills had built the house they were currently living in when they retired.  Their son is a carpenter and they had designed the floor plan themselves.  We enjoyed the delicious meal and a cup of tea with dessert.  Just like with the Welch's, we heard lots of stories from the early days of NCEM.  Sitting in the front room with a woodfire and the twinkle of Christmas tree lights, the long day was catching up with us.  Fortunately, the Hills also called it a night by 9 pm.

And that was Sunday!