It's Festival Time!

06:35 hrs.
04 Aug 14

     I know that I had promised all of my readers that I would be blogging every day. Unfortunately, I have been busy with work and whatnot and it's the whatnot that will get you every time.

     Yes, it is Festival time here in the VALLEY. Over the course of the summer there are large number of arts and music festivals with Empire Days in Cumberland and Canada Day celebrations everywhere. This weekend has Nautical Days taking place at the Comox Marina Park and the Filburg Festival on the grounds of the Filburg Park. Both are excellent venues with kiosks full of artists hawking their wares. A lot of the crafts and such are priced beyond what I would consider reasonable.  But, for someone who wants to spend $10 to buy that quart jar of handmade pickles or $100 on a welded steel and stone insect for the garden or a $1000 on an interpretive painting of the Comox Glacier as viewed by a trout held in an osprey's talons then these are the places to go shopping.

     In addition to the arts and craft bric-a-brack both of these festivals have great musical entertainment throughout the day and into the evening.

     There are a couple of differences though. Entrance to Nautical Days is free and the Filburg Festival is not. At one time it was. Back in 1987, I was enticed to go to the Filburg and after wandering the  grounds looking at overpriced jars of pickles and upside down retrograde glacier paintings I spotted a bladesmith.

     His name was Richard Sundmark. He was local, from Quadra Island by Campbell River and after reviewing his masterful work layed out before me I commissioned a piece. I don't really remembet how long it took to complete. It may have taken a month or more. But one day I recieved a phone call that it was ready. So, I beetled my way up to C.R. and jumped the ferry over to Quadra. After paying the outstanding balance I was presented with one of the finest knives I have ever held. It is tanto style hunting knife with a six inch Sheffield steel 3/4 hollow ground full tang blade covered with Spanish rosewood scales and brass finger guard. The sheath is also handmade and has an integral lock instead of the tradition cross strap.

     I still have after all these years. I've tried to locate the artist and thank him once again but haven't had any luck.

     For the past number of years we, as host parents to Japanese students from the Seiko School, taken to the final evening at Nautical Days to watch an Elvis Presley impersonator. I've seen him a half dozen times and he is great.  Unfortunately, for some inexplicable reason Elvis has left the Festival and the replacement is a Johnny Cash act.

     Hey, you're in Comox. Its free open air seating with fireworks at the end. If you wanted high end professional entertainment that will cost you mucho dinero then go to Vancouver.

     Last night Loin Fruit #2 went to watch a friend of his, the Actor, perform in Bye Bye Birdie. This kid has been dancing and acting for while and he is really good. He'll be stay with us for the duration of the summer. I have no problem with him. He's well behaved and respectful. Two qualities you don't often see in a teenager nowadays.

     So, while the youngin was watching the song and dance act, the Better Half and I loaded car up with four Seiko students plus the senior Couch Monkey and headed north.  The one thing we always try to do is expose the students to things the could not experience in Japan.  Things that are uniquely Canadian or at least North American. Hence, the road trip to the Saratoga Speedway.

     If you have never been there you have to go. Yes, its a small oval track, definitely not a NASCAR track but everyone sure acts like it is. From the drivers to the pit crews, safety personnel, the announcers and even the fans. Over the summer the owners have done some work on the place. New restrooms and a new concession stand to name a few of the changes. It is family oriented entertainment. There is no alcohol allowed on the premises.

     There are a number of different classes of races and drivers can start as young as twelve years old. A friend of ours has a son and daughter, ages fourteen and sixteen respectively, drive the oval. Exciting stuff for sure, but everyone's favourite is the Crash to Pass races. Not quite demolishion derby but when you see the vehicle you have to wonder what the hell is holding them together. In another couple of weeks the will be having a Crash to Pass BOAT RACE! This is when they tow a boat with only a rope behind these big block mobile scrap heaps on a wet track and before you can pass you have to hit the boat towed behind the guy in front of you.

     All this and MONSTER TRUCKS TOO. Bring your Earplugs.