Bates, Norman Robert “Bob” – Bible Hill.

Not every individual is so fortunate to quietly take a “pen in hand” to share a few comments before their next journey. There is a saying, “I am not afraid of dying but before I die, I want to live.” My solo journey around the globe required numerous dollars so after leaving the Nova Scotia Teachers College, I jumped the train in Truro and headed to Sudbury, Ontario, where I obtained employment one mile underground in a nickel mine.

After working seven days per week, one mile under ground, and saving every dollar, in the spring I resigned and hitch-hiked to Ottawa to fly to Glasgow, Scotland, to begin my three-year journey. From Scotland, I hitch-hiked to Wales as well as Northern and Southern Ireland. I returned to Wales and then through England, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. At this stage I returned south through Germany and France again. Then I went to Austria, Switzerland and eventually through an extremely hot Spain, crossing over to Morocco and a long rough journey across North Africa.

After passing through Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, I arrived in Egypt and inside the magnificent pyramids. Eventually I boarded a Russian ship to sail to Cyprus; then to Beirut, Lebanon. My “mining dollars” from Sudbury were becoming fewer so in Beirut and Kuwait I sold my blood for thirty dollars (US) which translated into many cans of cold beans and healthy sardines.

If you are still reading about my journey, I hitch-hiked through Syria where I was arrested by military police. Naturally I talked my way out of an awkward mistake and then moved across the Syrian Desert in supply trucks. Eventually I arrived at the border of Iraq where I was informed that I had to return back to Syria or “pay” this officer twenty dollars (US).

Onward I went through Iraq and into Kuwait where I again sold some of my blood. I returned back through Iraq into Iran, somehow managing to hitchhike through this large county, sleeping either on park benches or in remote fields. Eventually my travels took me through Pakistan into India where I turned north into the direction of Nepal and the Katmandu Valley. (This might sound like rapid travel, but it literally took weeks to complete).

Next, I headed south crossing the entire country of India. I paid the captain of an Indian freighter and sailed to Malaysia where I hiked down to Singapore.

Since I was carrying my return-flight-ticket from Scotland to Ottawa I converted it into a flight to Darwin, Australia. (This being my first of three trips to Australia.) I managed to get an interview and accepted a one-year appointment at a Junior Aboriginal College --- an experience of a lifetime. After one full academic year I resigned and was on the road again.

My hiking continued in a southern direction through the Australian interior where I visited every city including Perth to Holbert, Tasmania. My next direction was to New Zealand to visit the North, South and Steward Islands.

When I returned to Australia I hiked north along the Eastern Coast (Great Barrier Reef) as I returned to Darwin. From Darwin it was good-bye Australia, up to Hong Kong and eventually to Japan. In Osaka, Japan, I acquired an elementary teaching position. After experiencing this unique land, its culture and its beautiful people, I traveled on an ocean freighter across the Pacific Ocean. With a stopover in Hawaii I continued eastward to San Francisco, USA and North America. Here I turned right towards Mexico. Weeks later it was up the western coast of the USA to Vancouver Island and Canada.

Then it was hitch-hiking across our beautiful Canada which would be my first of three complete crossings of my country. I eventually arrived in Nova Scotia on a beautiful August afternoon --- and yes --- our world is round.

Thank you for reading these “few” details of a major time on Planet Earth. Goodbye from Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Bob arrived into this world on January 17th. As a result of a stroke, he departed last week on Sunday, April 14, 2024. He was the son of Cecilia (nee MacDonald) and Gordon Bates, Bible Hill. Besides being predeceased by his parents, Robert was also predeceased by his brother, Gary and an infant brother. He is survived by his brothers, Fred (Margaret), Nanaimo; Ray (Betty), Guysborough and Jack (Jan) Bible Hill.

By Robert’s instructions, there will be no funeral-home visitation or flowers. Public interment will be held on Sunday, May 12, 2024, at 2pm in Middle Stewiacke Cemetery, Middle Stewiacke, NS.

If so desired, donations in Robert’s memory will be appreciated to Hope for Wildlife or Middle Stewiacke Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Colchester Community Funeral Home, 512 Willow St., Truro, NS. Online condolences are available at www.ColchesterCommunity.com.


Bob carried his sack as he circled Earth.
This bag, labelled with many of the countries he visited
and a fresh deck of playing cards,
have been placed with him in his casket.
Robert’s journey continues.




CREATIVITY

The man who follows the crowd, will usually get
no further than the crowd. The man who walks
alone is likely to find himself in places no one has
ever been before.

Creativity in living is not without its attendant
difficulties, for peculiarity breeds contempt. And
the unfortunate thing about being ahead of your
time is that when people finally realize you were
right, they'll say it was obvious all along.

You have two choices in life: you can dissolve
into the mainstream, or you can be distinct. To
be distinct, you must be different. To be different,
you must strive to be what no one else but you
can be...