July 28, 2011

Georgian Bay July 2011/Memorial Bench

My brother Steve and I decided to dedicate a park bench to our parents Ray and Joan Smith, who died in 2007 and 2009 respectively. An old railroad track has been converted into a pleasant trail along the Parry Sound waterfront with great views over what the locals call the North Channel and of Georgian Bay. In the woods just off the path is where we arranged for the bench to go. 

Steve already has a great apartment on the hill behind the Town Beach. The location he chose for the bench is wonderful; about 200 paces from his front door. The bench is secluded and the view is amazing. My parents would have appreciated the serenity and the amazing sunsets. The drawback is that my brother, who is an avid hiker, biker and kayaker, gets sidetracked and spends too many minutes at the bench, delaying his daily physical activities.

We will soon have it painted or stained and a plaque with our parent's dates will be attached to the back. There is a little makeshift fire pit in front and I'm sure a great many beers will be consumed here after dark. Over time it will get marked up, but that's par for the course in my old home town. Here are some photos of the bench and others from my recent trip to the Parry Sound area.







6 comments:

Kate Hanley said...

Great photos. Wish I was there! The idea of dedicating a bench is such a great idea.

Giulia said...

What a wonderful idea, Hazel. It's lovely. I would be so happy if that were my memorial. High tribute indeed.

Alistair said...

There are many benches dedicated to the departed along our coastal walks and especially in Princes St Garden in Edinburgh and I am one of those people who always reads the inscriptions as I pass by.

It's a lovely and generous way to remember your folks.......

secretfragileskies said...

I love this idea. Will use. My graduate work is situated (somewhere)in history/collective memory/memory/place/memorials (contested, etc).

re; Docs. Cannot walk miles in NYC in anything else. Thrills purple!? Love the link:)

secretfragileskies said...

I have been thinking about your memorial and how how memory works. I love that it is on the water. It is such a beautiful tribute and layers of memory are being created.

G said...

What a perfect tribute, and the site is magnificent.