Lynn Chidwick https://www.chidwick.ca/stainedglass/
Our paddles keen and bright,
Flashing like silver;
Swift as the wild goose flight,
Dip, dip, and swing.
Dip, dip, and swing them back,
Flashing like silver;
Swift as the wild goose flight,
Dip, dip and swing.
Summer Camp Round
We zipped up to Kleinburg and the McMichael Gallery this week to take in several excellent exhibits, some featuring "icons" of the Canadian scene and others by contemporary artists. One was Tom Thomson, perhaps best known for the paintings he produced while canoeing in Algonquin Park. He mysteriously drowned on one of those forays and there is a memorial cairn at Canoe Lake.
As we were about to leave we passed a portal of sorts giving a view into the gift shop. Our perspective gave a view of the stained glass piece seen above which was unfortunately all but invisible inside the shop. The light shining through was ideal and we were enchanted. It captures the"our/my paddles keen and bright" magic of rhythmic strokes. If we weren't at the stage of life where we're considering down-sizing we would have talked ourselves into purchasing it.
You likely know by now that we are passionate paddlers, although these days we are more inclined to be out in our kayaks, another wonderful Canadian watercraft. We get our recycled parks canoe route sign out front as the season begins, a declaration of intent.
Canoeing is literally the stuff of legends,, including the rather sinister chasse- galerie, or the Witched Canoe.
There is a more benign spiritual, contemplative aspect to self-propulsion in these vessels so well suited to the rivers and lakes of our country. I've long thought that there should be a watery version of a Forest Bathing experience, with moments taken to "consider the waterliles of the marsh", to paraphrase the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. I suppose I should get on this. There are very few times when we are paddling when we don't have a sense of awe, wonder, and peace.
During the COVID pandemic we earnestly followed the protocols except for venturing out on the water. While we "social distanced" (remember that phrase?) from humans we socialized with Creation and Creator. We figure we paddled more often in 2020 than in any other year and we felt that it saved our souls during such a trying time.
Earlier this year our seven-year-old grandchild asked if we could go canoeing and look for a turtle -- be still my heart! We were able to fulfill both of those wishes and during the outing her ten-year-old brother really got the hang of coordinating his stroke with the bow paddler. He was pleased with himself and I was delighted.
I heard this morning that the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough has begun the painstaking transfer of canoes and kayaks and other paraphernalia into the new building. The oft-delayed opening will be in the Spring of 2024 and I look forward to visiting. https://canoemuseum.ca/
Canadian Canoe Museum
2 comments:
My son, Dave, who is recuperating from a debilitating neuro - muscular issue, came with me to Haliburton last week, to visit long time friends, and he was delighted to be able to man a canoe on Lake Kashagawigamog for over an hour with Glen, who has taken him on canoe and camping trips since he was a young child. It was a delight- and a huge relief - to see him able to do this (and, of course, his camera was with him on all other excursions while we were there)
This sounds lovely, Judy, and I hope Dave was able to add to his wonderful photographic work.
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