It's About Time

It seems this blog is extremely overdue for a posting! I was reminded of the fact when I was visiting with Chris Corrigan at the Bowfest celebration last Saturday. Chris's blog Bowen Island Journal was one of the driving forces in helping our family choose Bowen Island as a great place to live.

Bowfest was a great event this year! In the past few years it has been seriously sliding, so this year a new, energetic team took over the reins and what a great job they did! From the Run For The Ferry (sponsored this year by the Bowen Affordable Housing group) to the last song played by Tony Dominelli and his band, it was a day to remember. Corporal Don (Southern), IPS teacher Brad Ovenell-Carter and a number of others got a real soaking in the very popular Dunk Tank! (Imaging dunking your English teacher for giving you too much homework!)

The raft building contest was interesting to watch, as 5 groups of contestants scurried to cobble together a seaworthy vessel from the materials provided, then pilot it to the marina dock and back! A number of us vowed to give it a try next year!
The Bowfest parade is always a great way to meet most of the people you know on Bowen and often, to meet new ones. I finally met Ira Applebaum, Youth Services Supervisor extraordinaire, who was there with his wife Catherine Shaw, (Bowen's TCM practitioner) and most of her family of Shaws! I was also excited to meet Chris Corrigan's parents, who were visiting from Collingwood, Ontario.

There were so many great shows, dance and musical acts all day, that it was difficult to catch them all. I was particularly impressed by the Bowen Island Juggling Club's display of skills, especially the feats of Toby Volkmann and Calder Stewart, whose knife and fire juggling surprised even their parents!!

I tried to resist the Finger Knitting Craze, but Barbara finally got to me and I was soon one of those people walking around with a ball of wool glued to her hand!

The day ended with several great bands playing 1 hr sets each. My teenagers and their friends decided to come back down to the field and danced together to the great music until it was all over. It was one of those "Bowen moments".