Playing Catch-up

At long last I've managed to gather together some pictures from Dan's visit here in late April/early May. Dan (a dear friend from my days in Ottawa) is curator of marine history at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax. As such, no visit to the Sunshine Coast would have been complete without a pilgrimage to our local shrine of all things related to the near coastal waters.

As luck would have it, Dan was on hand for the annual April Tools event in Maderia Park. What a hoot! It was my first time attending as well, and we had a great time watching the various teams construct their, um, vessels using only a sheet of plywood, duct tape, glue, and string. My GP, Dr J, and his team opted to use hand power (literally) rather than rely on the more common oar method of propulsion. This technique entailed the contestant (Dr J or another of his team members) to lie upon a sheet of plywood cut to resemble the outline of a ship's hull. Short lengths of wood were tied to the hands of the participant to aid in the paddling process. Remarkably, this was one of the few entries that didn't totally capsize (with or without help from competing entries). I think they finished in a very respectable sixth place - all the more respectable because most other entries didn't float let alone finish navigating the race circuit. In addition to the "boat" race, there were many interesting booths pertaining to various aspects of local marine history.

Another water-related activity saw us making a visit to the Maritime Museum in Vancouver. It was a chance for Dan to meet his West Coast counterpart, and an opportunity for me to donate several family documents to the museum's collection. When my father died back in 2004, several of his photos and papers were placed in the museum's care. Since Mom moved to Sechelt, we've been going through various photo albums and other documents and unearthing several articles of interest to the museum. Among them, a large collection of information and photos pertaining to the Tolmie, the Kingsley, and other well-known Vancouver-based vessels. A scrapbook of newspaper articles relating to the installation of the "new" railway bridge next to the Second Narrows/Iron Workers Memorial Bridge in Vancouver were also included (Dad was responsible for getting the three sections barged into place without mishap. The middle section, the last to be placed, had only a few inches clearance on either side. Manoeuvering the section was considered a major feat, so much so that Molson's made a beer ad based on Dad's performance. I think it was Red Cap beer.)  There was also an ample album of photos from the time when Dad served as mate on the Klondike, an old paddlewheeler that now sits as a national historic site in Whitehorse, Yukon. Dan took this photo of the museum's archivist and me sorting through the documents I was leaving in her care. Must say I was rather envious of the library, to say nothing of the extensive collection of artifacts in the holding area across the hall.

Of course, no visit to the Sunshine Coast would be complete without taking in some of the local natural sites. I wasn't up for a hike in to the Skookumchuk (Dan got part way in himself on another day. Would have managed to get all the way to the rapids, but he was kinda pooped after first climbing Mount Daniel), but we did have some lovely walks around Sargent's Bay, Cooper's Green, and other shoreline walks. Saw an astounding variety of shore birds including oyster catchers and scoters. Couldn't resist also popping in to Cliff Gilker Park for a glimpse of the waterfall!

There were some land-based activities during the week as well, some of which did not include water of any description. For example, we sought out two public art pieces by Dan's brother, Peter Conlin. The first (along a greenspace on west side of Nanaimo at 40th in the Kensington-Cedar Cottage area). It is essentially a house without walls, only windows and doorways above each of which there is a pronoun (e.g., yours, mine, ours, his, hers).

Peter's second piece is situated a few blocks south on opposite corners at Clarendon and 45th. This work was an interesting variation on weathervanes. Interesting because the pronoun-based signs rotated above a newly installed bike lane - and few things are as controversial and polarizing these days as Vancouver bike lanes.

Anyone interested in reading the artist's statement can check out the Public Art Registry page at
http://app.vancouver.ca/PublicArt_net/ArtworkDetails.aspx?ArtworkID=429&Neighbourhood=&Ownership=&Program=

All in all it was a very nice visit. Only thing that would have made it better would be having Dan's wife Pat along, too. Sadly, she couldn't make the trip. Guess I'll have to find a way to get back to the Maritimes for another visit.

The following week, Trudy (recently of Malmo, Sweden) came for a visit. I've just realized that we didn't take any photos while she was here. Likely too busy talking. And Trudy was cooking up a storm. My freezer is happily stocked so I don't have to worry about cooking if I don't feel up to it - at least not for a very long time. Lucky me to have friends who are such good cooks!