Blog #1
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Blog #1 – Beginnings
I've always considered myself very fortunate to enjoy a livelihood doing what I most love to do - paint. When that good fortune is combined with researching my favourite corner of the world, I'm one very satisfied artist. In August, I was approached by Kathy Lindsay, Chairperson of the Bonnechere River Watershed Project, to create four paintings, each depicting a future of the Bonnechere Valley as it might develop under one of four different sets of circumstance. I won't be discussing the four scenarios here, but thought that my reflections and photos might make for interesting reading, both for lovers of the Bonnechere Valley and for those interested in the artistic process as I recount the researching of my subject and the execution of the four paintings.
Where better to begin my research than at the river's source in the vicintiy of Paugh and Basin Lakes near the eastern boundary of the vast, rugged and awesomely beautiful Algonquin Provincial Park. We followed the Bonnechere from Golden Lake, which has been very familiar to me since my early childhood. My uncle, Thom Page had a retreat property there in the late 1950's and when my family visited relatives in nearby Wilno, Killaloe or Barry's Bay, part of our time was always spent at that aromatic, cedar lined cabin where the first thing one heard in the morning and the last at night, was the gentle lapping of waves against the dock. So from this familiar place of happy memories we headed north on Tramore Road to Round Lake. It was a beautiful, late summer day.
I've always considered myself very fortunate to enjoy a livelihood doing what I most love to do - paint. When that good fortune is combined with researching my favourite corner of the world, I'm one very satisfied artist. In August, I was approached by Kathy Lindsay, Chairperson of the Bonnechere River Watershed Project, to create four paintings, each depicting a future of the Bonnechere Valley as it might develop under one of four different sets of circumstance. I won't be discussing the four scenarios here, but thought that my reflections and photos might make for interesting reading, both for lovers of the Bonnechere Valley and for those interested in the artistic process as I recount the researching of my subject and the execution of the four paintings.
Where better to begin my research than at the river's source in the vicintiy of Paugh and Basin Lakes near the eastern boundary of the vast, rugged and awesomely beautiful Algonquin Provincial Park. We followed the Bonnechere from Golden Lake, which has been very familiar to me since my early childhood. My uncle, Thom Page had a retreat property there in the late 1950's and when my family visited relatives in nearby Wilno, Killaloe or Barry's Bay, part of our time was always spent at that aromatic, cedar lined cabin where the first thing one heard in the morning and the last at night, was the gentle lapping of waves against the dock. So from this familiar place of happy memories we headed north on Tramore Road to Round Lake. It was a beautiful, late summer day.
Round Lake from Red Rock Road on its eastern shore.
The first thing one notices about Golden Lake and Round Lake is their crystal clarity. Regardless of what water testing might reveal, these lakes are inviting for both a swim and a drink.
We followed Tramore Road north past the cottages on the lakeside and some once-was farmland dotted with cabins and camps on the east side, till we came to Round Lake Road and turned west along the northern shore of Round Lake to the first bridge on our route. We used the bridges over the Bonnecere as stopping places for a closer look at the river and vegetation. It being almost the middle of September, the lushest greens had begun to give way to autumn's russets and golds.
We followed Tramore Road north past the cottages on the lakeside and some once-was farmland dotted with cabins and camps on the east side, till we came to Round Lake Road and turned west along the northern shore of Round Lake to the first bridge on our route. We used the bridges over the Bonnecere as stopping places for a closer look at the river and vegetation. It being almost the middle of September, the lushest greens had begun to give way to autumn's russets and golds.
Looking north (above) and south (below) from the bridge over the Bonnechere on Round Lake Road just west of Red Rock Road
The best (and only) public access to the river is from the several bridges that cross its sharply winding course.
The views south (above) and north (below) from the Turner's Road bridge.
And the views east (below) and west (2nd below) from the Paugh Lake Road bridge just south of Basin Depot Road
Although Basin Depot Road winds west for some miles, our vehicle was protesting the state of the road, so a few kilometres past the memorable Bonnechere Weather station pictured below, we headed back south through Round Lake Centre and along the western shores of Round Lake.
On heading back down the river on Round Lake Road, I realized that the homestead hewn from the bush by my great-grandfather west of Wilno actually lies within the Bonnechere's watershed and not the Madawaka's as I had always assumed. So with thoughts of my families' origins in part of the world when it was still wilderness, we followed the Bonnechere down its familiar course to our home on its banks at the Fourth Chute, east of Eganville.
Next time: Getting a bird's eye view for my mind's eye work.
Next time: Getting a bird's eye view for my mind's eye work.