Practicing

I think it safe to say that one does not expect to hear the sound of a lone French Horn

while passing through the park at Willingdon Beach, yet there it was.

On investigating, I must say I concur with our musician - when you have time off work

and need to practice on a gorgeous autumn day, what better place than the

Amphitheatre at Willingdon. Though he did say it was a little cold on the fingers.

Canoe Carving II

The Hɛhɛwšɩn (the way forward) Reconciliation Canoe Carving project continues at Willingdon

Beach.  Both canoes, this large one and another smaller one, are being worked on

daily. Saturday the large one will be steamed, to widen it 4 to 6 inches, which

should be interesting to see. Above foreground is carver Sherman Pallen,

below, carver Ivan Rosypskye.

Canoe Carving

The Hɛhɛwšɩn (the way forward) Reconciliation Canoe Carving project is underway at Willingdon Beach,

and over the next 5-6 weeks a very large log will be turned into a very nice cedar canoe. Here carver

Sherman Pallen takes shavings off what will be the prow.

The carvers will be at the site from 8-4:30, Monday through Friday, and anyone interested is invited

to go down and lend a hand. We will be revisiting from time to time, as progress continues.

Photographer

A photographer capturing a typical late September day at Willingdon Beach - cool, windy, and threatening rain.

These are are archive photos, but the September weather never changes.

Arts Alive In The Park

Arts Alive in the Park was on once again this past Saturday and Sunday. It's a yearly event where "local artists

display their work and present it for sale". And there was a good bit of it to be had.
This was the 16th - or maybe the 17th, they're not quite sure - year of this event at Willingdon Beach.

 Painting, ceramics, textiles, jewellery, photography and much more, was on display.

Gerry Chabot, photographer, and his prints.

 The artist at work.

Musical entertainment performed on the stage ...

.. and Romeo the Fry Guy was one of several food vendors on site. Lots of people, lots of things
to run an eye over, and hopefully lots of wallets got cracked.

At The Net

Making use of the volleyball net at the beach on Sunday.

Putting The Feet Up

The City doesn't supply foot rests with our park benches, unfortunately. This lady's solution is to use the park bench itself.

A great way to spend the first day of August.

Chainsaws

We saw a lot of chainsaws at the Logger Sports events just over a week ago, all new and modern;

for a look at slew of older models, here's a photo taken Monday at the Forestry Museum at Willingdon Beach.

Chainsaw Carving

There are still a half-dozen or so wood carvings available for viewing at the upper Willingdon

lot, and now that they've been oiled and coloured where appropriate,

we can see them finished.

The one I personally like best is these sparring eagles - all this beautiful detail carved

with a chainsaw during the Logger Sports weekend. Magnificent work.

Logger Sports - III

More event photos at Logger Sports held at Willingdon Beach this past weekend. The young

lady in the photo above was entered in the Novice Tree Climb.

 Bucking off the end of the pole in the Obstacle Pole Buck.

Age apparently is no barrier to entry. This old-timer was preparing his saw for the Hot Hot Saw Championship.

With that very big, very expensive Hot Saw our old-timer took 3 slabs off this 18 inch log in about 5 seconds.

Yes, mere seconds. Like a very hot knife through warm butter.

Preparing his small saw for the 100cc PNE Cut Championship. Still more saw than I want to handle

.A lady competitor in the 100cc PNE Cut Championship taking off her 3rd slab.
1st cut is down, 2nd is up and 3rd is down again, all 3 slabs together can be no wider than 4"

The Underhand Block Chop event.

 Buckling up for the Championship Tree Climb.

Half of another team in the Springboard Championship.

An event like this requires countless volunteer hours by many, many people, right down to the fellows

who were hauling away the chips and sawdust - kudos to them all.

Event organizer Bob Marquis.

And finally, the crowds were terrific for this great week-end event. There's not much point without an audience.

Logger Sports - II

Logger Sports main events started Friday afternoon and continued Saturday and Sunday. An

event like this is a photographer's dream. Lots of action, lots of variety and the chance to

test your skill with the camera.

Above is one man of the 2-man team  in the Springboard Championship. He's cutting a slot to
take the springboard in front of him.

On the springboard, ready to cut a notch.

With his partner on the second springboard, using the double buck saw to finish decapitating the log.

The Husky Challenge

Ladies Single Buck

Powell River's own Julian Welp at the 80 foot mark in the Tree Climb.

Canadian Championship Standing Block Chop

More to come tomorrow.

Logger Sports - I

It's Logger Sports week-end and the event started Thursday with the professional chainsaw carvers vying for the prize

on the upper Willingdon lot. Lots of sawdust and even more noise as 8 or 9 carvers had at it.