It is regatta weekend here in Bonne Bay which means that everything will be thrown off a bit due to the festivities. Now knowing everybody in town. Even though we wanted to take part in the festivities we had to. I had to photograph Darlene’s brother’s son’s decorated bike, Elaine had her grandchildren there and at the beginning of the festivities we met others that we knew.
Luckily the first event started right down the road at the Heritage Theatre – the bicycle parade – where the mayor gave a speech and the “I don’t know what it means MHA again made another moving generic talk that MHA are known for. Photographically I didn’t know what to do as it was a chance to add to the snaps of people that I have run into on the Rock but it would not be in that almost one on one manner that I had done. Took Ubaldo and the digital and because of that failed miserably.
Kendra had no trouble straight into the crowd photographing everything as while I am the official artist for Parks Canada she is the unofficial photographer for Bonne Bay – a better position – people actually see her stuff.
The parade was off and we walked with the bikes heading north toward the lighthouse then down the hill past the Seabreeze to the Post Office.
This was a time when one could spot the Upper Canadians as they came used the word “wonderful” way too much
Wasn’t this wonderful?
Oh how wonderful!
It’s wonderful.
The bikes are just wonderful
Those wonderful stages.
They came to watch then walked in the opposite direction to the Post Office to see the wonderful awards ceremony and the beginning of a wonderful day.
Spoke with Darlene mentioning that I still have her holy five dollar bill from the Seabreeze, traded insults and embarrassments with Elaine while walking along with the parade – RCMP in front – Fire Truck brining up the rear.
There was a comical moment when turning down the hill there almost seemed as if there was to be a bike pile up as while they were fine on level ground the bikes were not all that balanced when it came to a down hill. Parents started running after and holding on to their kids.
At the last turn by the lighthouse, the whole experience of being in Bonne Bay became apparent. There marching/careening down the hill was the parade with the Bonne Bay, Gros Morne and the Tablelands as a backdrop. This is what I had been trying to show. The fact that while the area is stunning – or wonderful – it is a backdrop to the lives here. That there seems to be a balance here Not the over powering reverence that Parks Canada gives to the landscape not a complete disregard for it, but knowing that being here is effected by the surroundings – George wanting to be on his boat, Edward out fishing, job not recreational – while the surroundings effect them – not wanting to leave. Here was a parade that should have been overwhelmed by the landscape but instead fit perfectly in it.
We stopped in at the post office to see if Kendra’s inks which were to arrive were there.
No and the post office is closed until Tuesday due to a holiday on Monday.
Wonderful.
The day was a wash work wise, made some platinotypes, but it was mainly spent playing or trying to play pool at the Seabreeze with Elaine and Kendra. For some reason I had a headache from the night before when I was down there participating in the darts tourney, paired with Marilyn we would get those points down to almost nothing but not couldn’t finish it off with those double points in the end. This added to the washout of a day and taking it a bit slow.
Elaine tried to give me pointers which I attempted to follow through on but still I was a pretty pathetic sight. It all came down to theory and practice – I knew the geometry but my aim wasn’t true enough.
At the house in the late afternoon to edit images and make more platinotypes and have an early supper until the boat parade.
This was doused by an email and then a phone call from Carol saying that Kool is bad and getting worse – it seems that he has pneumonia on top of the diabetes he has been to hospital and it doesn’t look good. He sits in the shower stall, is weak and Monday a decision has to be made.
If Kool is to be put down, it will be painful for Carol as she will have to make a 100 mile round trip by herself as no one will go with her. Taking Kool to the doctor, I always thought about the last trip and how it would be the ride up knowing that he wouldn’t come the ride back alone. It looks like that time is near and she has no support.
Couldn’t eat waited until we could see boats gathering in the bay before heading down to Pete’s for the start of the Regatta.
Took Ubaldo in the hopes of photographing some of the people I had met here and succeeded in photographing Pete(?) and Ray a man with three huskies. The Sarah Elizabeth had a harpist so there was music wafting in from the bay with a killer whale breaching in the distance. Again a moment like this morning.
There was a delay in the start of the Regatta. It seems there were lacking judges. George and Irwin come up and say that Ray and me look like discerning individuals so congratulations we will judge the regatta. Ah another line on the CV and again truthfully I wore this more proudly than the artist in residence tag.
Tried my best not to vote for the Sarah Elizabeth but it was the best decorated boat. The others except for a pirate dinghy all cynically placed flags and balloons on them.
The vote was unanimous but George refused the prize. At first I thought it being due to small town politics, we are getting attuned to that now, as the regatta was moved from the Seabreeze to Pete’s, but it seems that he was the grand marshal and forgot to inform us. The pirate dinghy won.
Evening spent developing film and staying away from people as I could feel my self destructive mood hit. Negs were wonderful. Also developed the 120 negs which were almost wonderful.
In between sessions down to the Seabreeze for a Bleu Light and a sit on the deck.
Was wanting to photograph the village when the shops closed at 9PM when the sky is a nice balance with the lights but was too late.
I was lucky, however, as I came out of the darkroom just in time to see the candlelight parade circle the town in the opposite direction than this morning. Again the RCMP led the way in the deep blue of the late evening sky, followed by people walking with torches and ending up with the fire engine.
Sat on the deck as I was feeling socially inept watched the darkening sky then the fireworks – another surprise. George’s daughter Mabel came out for some small talk still not comprehending that this isn’t my first time to the rock and that I do know the place
-do you know the connexion between Ferryland and Maryland?
The second stint at the bar was better more quiet pool was being played but some were slowly heading over to the legion for the dance.
Came back up to have a look at my wonderful negs.
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