SLIDESHOW 3: ROW TO RED ROCK

(If you'd like to go right to the slideshow -- though I highly recommend reading this fine composition to set the stage for the presentation -- click here.)

   Well, if you've been over to the "Folk Odyssey" section, then you know that I came across Connie by chance on a bicycling vacation in 2001.

   Since then, my return trips to Canada have been busy, but not as physically active.  I thought it was high time to get back in shape for my 2004 summer excursion.

  This time, it was Connie herself who provided that outlet for me.  Knowing of my interest in active vacations, she alerted me to a press release she received from Naturally Superior Adventures of Wawa, Ontario.  It detailed a planned journey through the waters of Lake Superior via their 36-foot long "Montreal Voyageur" canoe, a vessel not unlike the ones fur traders used hundreds of years ago.

   That in itself sounded intriguing.  However, our destination of the five-day camping trip was the small, tucked-away town of Red Rock, ON. -- just in time for the Live From The Rock blues and folk society's second annual music festival.  Well, that was the clincher!  In the few years that I have developed my interest in Canadian folk music, I had yet to spend a full weekend at a festival -- and volunteering time as a stagehand no less.  More on that later...

   As an extra bonus, one of the festival performers, Ontario born and bred Katherine Wheatley of "Straight Line" and "Habits And Heroes" fame was one of our fellow paddlers.  Her musical background is only equaled by her knowledge in geology (a graduate degree from Queen's University) and there was no shortage of interesting formations and cliffs, as well as beautiful rock-covered shorelines to explore.

   My biggest misconception before the trip was that Lake Superior was just all water -- I mean, that's how it looks on the national maps, right?  In reality, there are thousands of islands in the lake -- a number of which are protected by the Canadian government, though there are more that still hang in the balance between naturalists and private parties that see financial gain in creating subdivisions for summer rentals.

    In any case, our course took us through wondrous views of clear blue water as far as you can see, garnished by pristine island wilderness -- something I hope the slideshow conveys.  At night we camped on the accessible islands right by the shore and enjoyed great meals prepared by our fine leaders from Naturally Superior, as well as campfire songs from Katherine, as she was gearing up for the folk festival.

    Of course, this wasn't an ocean cruise, we still had to paddle.  Being a novice, it took me a while to get the timing and motion down pat.  Once I did, I thought I had conquered the mighty lake.  But then I had to learn to canoe on the opposite side of the boat, and was quickly humbled once again.  It was like trying to learn to bat lefty and righty in one day!

    Our arrival at Red Rock was not entirely unnoticed -- people had heard about our trip on the local news.  Once there, I quickly geared up for my stint as a volunteer stagehand.  Actually, with my technical expertise (or lack thereof) I wound up just helping the musicians with their equipment and striking the stages.  I kept busy, which was what I set out to do...

    This was just the second festival sponsored by Red Rock's blues and folk society, Live From The Rock (coordinated so diligently by Liz Harvey-Foulds and her staff) so the show was modest in size and crowd compared to the larger festivals such as Edmonton and Ottawa.  But that's what gave all the attendees, audience and musicians alike, a sense of community for the weekend.  I must have come across every person twice! 

    However, the festival's reputation is growing.  Having had names synonymous with Canadian folk such as Tanglefoot, Valdy, Tamarack, Ian Tamblyn, etc., the event is sure to garner more attention and fans in 2005!

    The music in this slideshow presentation features probably the ultimate homage to canoeing, courtesy of Connie, as well as a very apropos song from special guest, Katherine Wheatley!  I hope it captures the essence of the account I presented here, as well as the charm, beauty and friendliness that I found in Ontario in August 2004.

   As with the other slideshows, it may take a while for the pictures to load for the first time -- depending on your connection.  Once they have all been loaded, the loop will continue at it's regular pace.

   Click HERE to view the Row To Red Rock slideshow.