The shoot at the Fortress of Louisbourg was amazing. I took Janice Fralic-Brown one of my researchers here in Nova Scotia with me as I had found a clue online regarding my search for Peter Martin in their records for 1759/60. Janice doesn't drive so I had to teach her how to use my camera for the beautiful shots along parts of the Cabot Trail. An eagle flew across right above and in front of my car and then disappeared which to me was a great omen for the journey. We didn't get there until 2:30 and they closed at 5:30..My battery was dead and didn't realize I was really going back to 1744 as I was half expecting power outlets somewhere and of course there were none. It was the Festival of St. Louis so when the enemy arrived at the gate we were all interogated Especially as my camera was seen as an unknown weapon. I tried to explain that the King had requested us to travel back from the future to document the event, then I continued to be under suspicion when I didn't know if it was Louis 14th or 15th.
We were hungry and hoping to grab something so I could re-think my strategy and shift my perspective as I had screwed up the shoot because I left my back up camera (with all its batteries) with my son in Toronto. I know from everything I have learned through quantum physics et all that what I think I create and if I didn't change my stressed out perspective that the shoot was doomed fast it would be. So we both re-focused on a positive outcome. Luckily we found ourselves in front of the two dining halls. We chose to eat with the peasants in the soldiers (which was appropriate for our ancestors) dining room and share a small meal which included this amazing soldier's bread..which was perfect and a beer which I really needed. Then started asking how to find Ken Donovan who I was supposed to interview but we had missed his presentations earlier as it had taken us 7 hours to get there. Of course they don't have phones. So we had to depend on the old way of communicating ..tell someone to tell someone etc. We were also told to ask a guide as to where there might be power and eventually we ended up in the very supportive loving and responsible arms of Louise Johnston who took us to an office hidden within the interior of the buildings which was a beautiful location with power to shoot Janice's interview. Louise then got us a replacement for Ken to interview. Lawrence Burman is the Parks Canada Visitor Services Supervisor and , God love him, I asked him to sum up the activities at Louisbourg from 1744-1760 in about 2 minutes..and he did! He also gave us some more clues as to where to look for Peter Martin.
Janice, who is a Family Historian and Editor of the Nova Scotia Genealogist (the Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia's newsletter) became my camera assistant, interviewer and talent so fast she didn't have time to freak out. It turns out Janice had two ancestors at Louisbourg in the 45th regiment the same regiment as the Peter Martin that I found listed there in 59/60. Her ancestors actually stayed in Louisbourg afterwards so she is related to the most prominent names in the area so was able to talk about them in the interviews. Then Lawrence took us to another location which was even more amazing so we could have power and another gentlemen was assigned to assist us (he even gave us cookies and water).
As we were leaving..as slowly as we could walk cause we didn't have time to investigate anything else while we were there, we were walking the empty streets as most everyone was gone. At one point I had a flash that all three ancestors were looking down at us together as they had helped to turn the whole shoot around for us and then I got goosebumps and the hair on my arms stood up and the wind came up right at us and we both felt it was true. So I am now staying with this line of research and hopefully I can find evidence that he is my ancestor and maybe I will find the mysterious Mary a native or Acadian woman who bore my ancestor John but was not recognized anywhere.
We stopped in Sydney at dusk for beer and lobster!
I am including a quote from Janice's email to me last night
reflecting on her journey with a wild woman like me..lol"Alannah, I can't believe how yesterday fell into place. From the very beginning I was so excited to be on the trip with you, and it was incredible to see how what we first thought were going to be huge obstacles turned out, with some positive action on our part (especially yours!), to lead to such fantastic gifts as the helpful and knowledgeable guides who were so generous with their time and expertise, as well as the great shooting spots they enabled us to use. What a magical day! We came so close to our ancestors, I know we did. I'd do it again, in a second. It really showed me how we can achieve what we need to, by focusing on what is necessary and then going forward with the actions to make it possible. You are such a positive force! Thank you for this amazing opportunity."
Now to take a breath and get on to more mundane stuff.
