Return to Grant Road

Now we're back on Grant Road in Bella Coola to complete the series of six watercolours. The next house I visited belongs to a serious gardener and an equally serious musician. I didn't get to see inside the music studio but really enjoyed the gardens and meeting this little gargoyle as well as the owners of the property.

This shot just begins to illustrate how well-planned and varied these gardens are.

So when I painted this house I made a big deal of the flowers. I happen to love lilies and missed my own this summer because I was here. Just as well because when I got home I discovered that the red lily beetle had devoured all my plants.

At the south end of Grant Road is Moore's Market and this is the Moore's home. Tom and Kathy operate an organic food outlet as well as a market garden and greenhouse, supplying the Valley with plants, veggies and fruit, especially blueberries which were just starting to ripen while I was there.

Here's my granddaughter Alberta, sampling the blueberries.

And here's Finn, my grandson. The Moores are his other grandparents.

The greenhouse and the store keep Kathy and Tom busy all season. I hope they'll be able to start up again next year in spite of the setbacks caused by September's flood damage.

So this brings to an end my little watercolour series inspired by the houses of Grant Road. By the way, Andrew tells me the Tilt'n Hilton survived the deluge.

A Rock and a Hard Place

I've always been fascinated by rocks. As a kid I liked to hunt through gravel for 'precious stones', always hoping to find something very shiny and beautiful like a ruby but still being satisfied with a piece of quartz. When our kids were young they found a rock tumbler at a garage sale and for weeks we patiently waited for our specimens to be polished to a smooth finish, like these.

I believe these are geodes though I'm not sure about the one on the left. Maybe if I could slice it open it would reveal a tiny crystal world like the one on the right. Maybe I should study rocks and become a geologist.

But no, right now I'm happy to just enjoy looking at them. A friend who had been to Egypt gave me this. She found it near the pyramids.

Yes, amethyst, from the town of Amethyst, Ontario. The Romans believed amethyst would protect you against drunkenness. I wonder, do you wear it or put it in your wine?

This piece of rock is embedded with garnets. It was given to me by my son Andrew, who lives in Bella Coola, and yes, this is my lead-in to the third house in my Grant Road series of watercolours.

Known locally as THE TILT'N HILTON, this is where Andrew lived when he first arrived in the valley. He didn't stay there long; lack of indoor plumbing and electricity becomes discouraging. But he did find, right where he had left them several years before, his collection of garnet rocks, still on the window ledge. I don't know how the little house fared during the recent flood but it looks as though it's one of those buildings that survive despite all adversity. I shall find out and report in the next post.

Rory's Place

One day during my stay on Grant Road I visited my neighbour, Rory Villars, who also happens to be a watercolour artist and master of the whimsical, (yes, I know it's an overworked adjective but here it really belongs). Rory spends his winters in Mexico where he paints delightful scenes like this:

You can see the Mexican influence in the tiles. Cats are important creatures in many of his paintings. To see more of Rory's work go to www.roryvillars.com

This is my interpretation of Rory's Bella Coola home.During the flood the water reached to just below the window in the tower. I hope he didn't lose his art supplies or any of his paintings.

Down Came the Rain

Well, I'm so glad to have had that beautiful day of my previous post because the next day was very different! We had rain all day and overnight and awoke to a flooded basement due to sump pump failure (they should be equipped with alarms, right?). It was at least two inches deep, everywhere-including the carpeted section. The first thing I did, in nightgown and rubber boots, was to rescue the kitty litter box so Sam and Bridget could finally relieve themselves dryly. What followed next was a flurry of activity between George and me, such as purchasing and installing a new pump, moving stuff and sucking up water through the shop-vac; two forgettable days of slogging which left me exhausted and cranky. But all is fine now. 

However inconvenient that was it was nothing compared to the recent inundation in Bella Coola where my youngest son and his family live. Their flood was devastating to say the least. They had over 400 mm of rain, that's about 8 inches, in a very short period. The only road in and out, the famous Freedom Highway, is still closed due to washouts. Bridges were moved or cut off and many houses had to be abandoned including the one where Kim and Andrew lived. It's hard to imagine four feet of water in your living room but that's what they had! They have since relocated to a dry house but much work is still to be done.

The following picture is of Grant Road, where their home was. In fact when I visited there last summer I stayed at the far end of that road in the tall barn (see earlier post) and had decided to paint a watercolour series of the homes along the road. 

 

"Grant Road Rescue"

It's hard to believe that I walked up that road many times last summer.

Just a reminder of 'my Bella Coola barn'.

And here's the painting, the first in this series, with more to come very soon. I promise!

My Bella Coola Barn

This is the barn I lived in during my recent visit to Bella Coola. I'd wanted my own pied-a-terre rather than bunking in with Andrew and his family; even though it was offered I prefer my own space during a longish stay. So Andrew kindly reserved this residence for me. It's at the end of Grant Road, a nice fifteen minute walk from where Andrew lives. It was perfect!

When I reached the second floor this is what was waiting for me; Kim and Andrew had arranged for this gorgeous bouquet from Moore's Market, also on Grant Road, and a bottle of red wine. I was set.

The kitchen had everything I needed including a good supply of herbal tea and fruit.

My bed was situated behind this unique spiral staircase. These stairs lead to the third floor and two more bedrooms but I never ventured up because of their lack of a handrail and attacks of vertigo whenever I made an attempt. Instead I used the steps as a handy place to hang my clothes.

When lying on my bed this is how I viewed the staircase. I also enjoyed the funky colours on the walls...hot pink and orange.

The views from my windows offered these natural sculptures...

...including the requisite abandoned VW bus. 

I did not take pictures of the good sized bathroom and laundry facilities but I must remark on the efficiency of the composting toilet, a new experience for me. It worked just fine.

I think this little thumbnail gives a good overview of the resourcefulness of the people who live in the Bella Coola Valley. Everyone I met was ecologically responsible and respectful of the natural habitat. And the drinking water there is wonderful!  

Bella Coola

I'm back from my latest visit to beautiful Bella Coola, B.C. Above is a watercolour I did of the Estuary, looking across towards the original townsite. The town was moved, building by building, many years ago because of flooding and is now on this side. If you look carefully you can see tiny white shapes. These represent the remains of the Tallheo Cannery which ceased operation in the early 70's.

What follows is my account of my visit to the old cannery site.

We arrived in this powerful aluminum boat skippered by Jim, who also owns many acres on this side. The ride was a thrill in itself, with old rock n' roll music blaring and water spraying our faces. Jim took us along the coast for awhile where we were able to see many bald eagles and glacier streams feeding into the estuary.

This is one of the buildings we explored. All the rooms are beautifully maintained by Jim and his small staff and can be rented for stayovers. We opted not to stay this time because we didn't realize how comfortable it could be. Well, maybe next time.

Here is the entertainment lounge. The Wurlitzer works, 25 cents for any old tune from the fifties and up.

This is as close as I got to a bear.

The bedrooms are clean and cozy.

All the floors are gleaming.

The facilities work!

The windows let in the light through lacy curtains.

Next door is the General Store, now preserved as a kind of museum.

This room houses an old safe, maps and invoice records.

After exploring we all settled in the shade by the beach for a picnic.

In this picture: my granddaughter Alberta, nine-month old Rylan and his parents, Heather and Rod, who are friends of Andrew and Kim.

My son, Andrew, and his son, Finn, enjoying the moment.

Alberta of the Jungle!

After a little more exploring and trying to swim in the frigid waters (way too cold for me!) we got back into the boat and returned. Thanks, Jim, for your hospitality and for keeping this place so well.

Small Watercolours

       Several years ago I was visiting my son Andrew in Bella Coola, British Columbia.It's a pretty remote area of central coast B.C. with endless views of breathtaking natural beauty. So of course I had packed a tiny sketch book and watercolour supplies and was able to do many tiny paintings of the surroundings. The day I painted Mount Nusatsum, above, was the only time we had some fog, making the mountain disappear into the sky.

                                                                                                                                                             There were some Lombardy Poplars near my cabin, ancient and covered with lichen.

                                                                                                                                                             Some friends of Andrew let me sit in their yard one afternoon and paint their front wall and gate.Again I was intrigued by the mossy patina of the old stone wall.These friends also took us on a "drift" down the Bella Coola River which meanders through the entire valley out to the Pacific. A drift boat is a banana-shaped rowboat and Phil, the owner, was our expert oarsman. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera for that memorable experience and painting 'en pleine aire' was out of the question.

 On Mothers' Day Andrew arrived at my cabin with this bouquet of flowers which he'd swiped from a neighbour. Naturally I had to capture that moment which I now share with you and all the mothers in the world. Have a wonderful Mothers' Day!

Bella Coola

This watercolour was done from a photo I took from the wharf. The original town of Bella Coola used to be across this estuary but was moved to its present location many years ago because of flooding.

Waterfall from melting glacier.

Mount Nusatsum, painted in May. I could hear the glaciers cracking like gunshots all afternoon.

The Bella Coola Valley is surrounded on either side by mountains such as this one just behind my cabin.

When I visited Bella Coola a few years ago Andrew took me to see Clayton Falls at the estuary outside the town.