A few years ago my Godfather, Dr. Alan Finley, after whom I got my first name, was moving into an old folk’s home and getting rid of stuff. He gave me a call and said he had a painting of the Saguenay and did I want it. “Sure,” says I, thinking it was probably some little sketch that would do well in a guest bedroom. “It won’t be soon!” said Alan. “But I’ll get it to you.”
A couple of months later when I’d forgotten all about it, there appeared this enormous parcel full of a watercolour dating back to 1865. The guest bedroom got bumped. It’s now over the fireplace in our new house.
We recognized the location immediately, but thought it would be fun to go to the spot and see if we could stand where the painter must’ve stood to start his work. (Only retired people can find time for such things!)
It’s hard to see in this photo but there are two native guys with a bow and arrow (and attitude) hiding behind the rock with two possible targets. One, (my choice) is some ducks you probably can’t make out paddling down the river quite nearby. Choice number two is a birch bark canoe well to the left but in mid-river with its own selection of paddlers.
There’s a little artistic license taken here too in that he shrank the island up river so both sides of it would show. From this location the left side is overlapped by the mountain before it.
Thanks once again (this time post-humously) to my dear Godfather for his usual thoughtfulness and generosity.
That is simply amazing Jane to receive a painting and then to be able to go to the spot where it was painted. You and Alan truly live in a beautiful spot and it takes being retired to fully enjoy it. Lots of love to you and Alan from Sim and I.
it was a very neat experience for sure and you are right We feel like we are in paradise.Hope it still feels like that in the middle of February when it is dark early and the wind is howling!!!!
Great pictures and story but what is that ugly red and white tower thing in the last picture??
Power lines Annie. Power lines. Don`t you remember counting them as we crawled by in the Bonne Chance.
That’s a wonderful gift, and so appropriate! I had to do some looking up, because I thought it was called Anse de la Grosse Roche, and here’s what I found (it’s à la, not de la, by the way): http://www.geodata.us/canada_names_maps/maps.php?featureid=EFIKD&f=45
And while we’re spelling things, it’s Alan Finley (ey, not ay). He was our son, David’s, godfather too! He did some pretty decent paintings himself, as you probably know.
Love, Jill
Hiya Jill!
I always mess up on his name. Must be a character flaw. The Anse de Roche thing though – it was Grosse Roche before but they built the wharf on top of the Grosse Roche so for quite a few years all the signs say Anse de Roche! If you google it you end up in the same place.
I’m interested to hear Al was David’s God father too. With Alan as a spiritual guide how come he didn’t end up a priest like I did?? When Alan told someone he was going to my ordination the person said, “Wow. You must have done a good jod as a Godfather!` Alan said, “Yeah. I stayed away!“
Stay well, Alan
Awesome!! So happy you are so happy in retirement. Wonderful walks, scenery … and I guess you got all the wood stacked
We did finally get that wood stacked and if you want to see the pics Look for a post on Oct 31st called something like That damn wood stacked!! Keep well. Jane