The cabin and its isolated location on a very quiet Thunder Bay, just past Saltery Bay, turned out to be perfect for us. The drive and two ferries were an adventure. Knowing that cafes and pubs would be problematic we took oodles of food in coolers and together prepared almost all our meals there. I won’t bore you with all the details of our relaxing child-oriented holiday but will just explain that the cabin had kayaks for adults and children, a huge yard, a ten minute walk via ‘beach access’ to the beach, masses of games (amazing to see how quickly 5 and 7 learnt the rules of Chess) and really nobody else nearby at all.

The boys loved the rocky beach for finding crabs, oysters and clams and looked for ‘sea glass’ We also found ‘sea Pottery’ as I dubbed it. I think I was more excited than the 3 lads at finding 3 pieces that looked as if they were originally the same pot. We looked for a long time but found no more. I’ve posted pics on Instagram and facebook, hoping someone will recognize at least which country they came from. Please comment if you have an idea of their provenance. Otherwise the beach was marvellously free of plastic and any other people debris.

On one day I persuaded the gang that it would be fun to drive north through Powell River and up to the end of the road at Lund. Not very well hidden agenda. I wanted to revisit the Tidal Arts Centre at Finn Bay, just past Lund, where I spent four happy days last year attending a salt-firing workshop with Jackie Frioud. We took two cars and the bikes of Steve and Mike and after a wander around Lund and a visit to Nancy’s famous bakery, Steve and Mike headed out on the 51.5 km ride all the way back to the cabin. It was an easy ride, they said, but it sure is hilly!

The rest of us drove the 3km around to Finn Bay and Jen and the boys picnicked and played on the beach, while Al and I were invited in to the main floor gallery of Tidal Arts Centre by the current artists-in-residence Jamie Smith and Rebecca Chaperon. The Arts Centre is a beautifully re-purposed and restored Ranger Station.

https://www.tidalartcentre.com

‘Finding a Place’, the show of work by the previous two artists-in-residence was up. Annie Robinson’s work involves natural dyeing, and we saw her materials and many pieces on the walls. My apologies for not having taken some photos of them. Joshua de Groot’s paintings grabbed us. I think I’ve developed an even greater appreciation for the quiet, cool forests that surround us here in the temperate rainforest, than before the pandemic hit us. Joshua has captured the bold contrasts of  colour and shapes of fallen trees, ferns, rushing water and dark tree trunks. Take a look.

Rebecca and Jamie allowed me to take Alan, and later Jen, upstairs to see where I stayed and we clay folks shared meals last year. There’s that fabulous Gordon Smith painting again and elegant pots by Jackie Frioud.

Apart from sleeping, cooking and dining spaces there is a fabulous print-making studio upstairs and down below is the gallery, more studio space, Arts Centre owner Nancy Jeakins’ office and a generous clay studio space with five wheels. The Centre has an elevator for easy access. Kilns are in the separate large garage.

Two of the grandsons were most interested to see what an art gallery looks like and I think were impressed by the big bold de Groot paintings. The next show, ‘MAIDEN Voyage’ has already opened and will be featuring the work of Rebecca and Jamie. See the TAC website link above.

Jen headed back to our cabin with grand-boys while I showed Al ‘Diver’s Rock’ park just nearby and then we popped over to Okeover Arm, just for nostalgia, and I pointed out the entrances to the Sunshine Coast Trail at the height of the short road connecting two arms of the Pacific. On the way back ‘home’ it seemed necessary to enjoy a pint at Townsite Brewing in Powell River. Good beer and sensible Covid precautions. There are tables outside and just one or two for inside sitting.

On our final day the fine weather held and it was decided that the kayaks should be taken down to our beach. Bucket list thing for me.. I’ve never kayaked so I was fitted with a life preserver and helped into a very stable, not-really-kayak, and shown how to paddle. Jen and Caleb joined me in their separate kayaks and we delighted in a gentle voyage along the shore, looking at rocks, driftwood, dense forest, loons, one or two vessels in the far distance and totally calm, if cold, water. Couldn’t have been better! Mike and Lucas each paddled out later and Jen took Bennett along on hers for a long ride.

Now you know why I haven’t blogged for a while. Getting away to a new spot in our Beautiful BC was the best idea and we’ll have super memories of family time.

My kiln fired last night, glaze-firing pots that I bisqued before our holiday, so I ‘m looking forward to seeing more plates to perhaps inspire new ideas. On Thursday I look forward to attending the opening of a show of Tam Irving’s latest work at Visual Space Gallery on Dunbar street in Vancouver. It will be almost the first chance to actually connect with clay friends in half a year.. and yes, we’ll wear masks and make sure we aren’t in a crowd. That’ll probably be my next blog.

We were pleased with the orange peel and colours overall but I expect we reserved real study until after we each got home. Very quickly the pieces were lifted out, from both front and back, and set on the long table. There was some time to consider other people’s ideas, shapes and colours, but amazingly we were on our way to the first ferry by about 11 am.

Just as we do at the Shadbolt soda firings, we donned masks and gloves and speedily tackled the scraping of shelves. Kiln wash was applied to them and to door bricks and left to dry. Jackie was making fresh cone packs for her next firing while we packed up all our goodies. Jackie took Helen’s pieces back to West Vancouver for her.

Packing our belongings and clearing out the kitchen was done efficiently and all that was left to do was say our farewells.

Thank you Jackie for including me in this, your ninth firing of this kiln. You know I’ve been hoping to have some more pieces fired solely in salt for a while, and I shall treasure these pots. Most are intended just for me, or for gifts – although some may find their way to Circle Craft one day soon. Today I checked my notes and have learned more about which of your sprayed slips produce which colour. Coincidentally I heard from Fredi at Shadbolt that I can register for a soda firing in November so I will now have a number of new ideas to try out in that kiln, with soda. I did enjoy the workshop, noting Jackie’s meticulous process in preparing work, kiln loading and the firing, as well as the throwing demonstrations. The required waiting time for the kiln to cool was not a hardship in such a beautiful setting. I feel as if I have had a great getaway, fine food, really comfortable accommodation, plus we fired a salt kiln. Sounds like the perfect holiday!

Thank you also to Tidal Art Centre founder and owner Nancy Jeakins and her husband Gordon. I did enjoy getting to know you, and really am awed by the beautiful art centre you have created. I hope I shall have an excuse to find it again one day, to see a show in the gallery or check out the evolution of the clay facilities.

My drive home was fine. I only stopped in at Sliammon village to see the canoes lined up for races, found a store selling locally made clothing in the ‘townsite’ market by Powell River mill and met the other potters at each of the ferry line-ups.

It’s been a busy week here in Port Moody, which included the bisque firing of a dozen plates, and today six ‘Raiders’ were here all day to paint said plates. Some will need to be glaze-fired asap to be included in our upcoming show on Bowen Island in August.

Tomorrow I’ll try to find time to post good photos of all my sixteen salty pieces. Glad Al took them as I have allowed one to go to its new home in Strathcona this afternoon!

After some clearing up, and a peek into the kiln with a flashlight I opted to have lunch at the Boardwalk cafe in Lund. I chose a children’s portion of sturgeon and chips. It was my first taste of same and it was delicious. All locally caught I’m told.

I drove south to the village of Sliammon for the nearest gas station so that I had a full tank for tomorrow’s drive home. Just south of there I found Gibson’s Beach and I settled there, on a log, to admire the ocean and read. Later I stopped on Klahanie Drive to see Sliammon Welcome Figures and other poles beside the smart new Government building.

We cleaned out the kitchen for supper, with a Carol-made frittata to use up lots of eggs and Elizabeth brought ice cream to go with fruit various.

I drove in to Lund to collect Jackie and her daughter, brought back by boat from Redondo Island by her son and his friend.

The three tired ocean travellers suggested a swim to end the day. I drove them to Divers’ Rock and we scrambled down the slope in the fading light. What a spectacular sunset for our last evening in Lund! I took this photo while the others swam. It’s now my screen-saver.

We unblocked the outer kiln door before bed.