Ladysmith

Ladysmith is a small town on Vancouver Island just over halfway between Victoria and Nanaimo. I think it might be a charming town. I don't know as I have never been into the "downtown" core. I think, although I am not too sure why, that it is a town with lots of seniors. For those of us who only pass it by, it is probably best known for the fact that it seems to be built on a rather steep hill. I could not imagine ever living there. Walking or riding a bike to anywhere would be a challenge. It is also well know in the area because of their great sea-side park.

Transfer Beach is one of those places that while not at all a secret to folks in the area, is thankfully not well known to the thousands of tourist who flood the island in the summer time. There is lots of green grass to spread out one's picnic blanket, shady trees to snooze under, a great water pad for the kids to keep cool and safe, a better than average set of monkey bars, swings and slides, clean bathrooms and a concession stand. And then of course there is the ocean. As someone said to me on Saturday, with just a slight bit of exaggeration and a whole pile of small town pride "it is a world class beach". This past weekend, I spent the better part of Saturday and Sunday there. It was the annual Ladysmith Days. Every small town has such a weekend. There is almost always a parade, a talent contest, perhaps a beauty pageant and some sort of side walk sale. While every town I have ever been in has some sort of special weekend, the one in Ladysmith was outstanding.

The parade happened in the town but all of the other activities, including the two day Farmer's Market and craft sale happened along the waterfront. I was there to sell my weaving and so I got the chance to see most of the activities. On Saturday there were races, games, loads of families walking around, kids playing on the splash pad, people dragging all kinds of floating devices and chairs down towards the beach, and kayakers out in the bay. On Sunday it was even busier with three or four huge "bouncy castles", twenty foot high slides, and some basketball nets, more races, a tug of war, free face painting (some of the best that I had ever seen - every kid looked great) and a nail hammering contest. In an other area there was even a pole climbing contest.  What was so impressive was the number of parents who got involved in the races and the nail hammering contests. It felt as if the parents were not just there to monitor their kids' behaviour, but rather to actively participate in their town's special weekend. Everyone seemed to be having a great time.

The volunteers looked and sounded enthusiastic. For example they had zucchini car races - zucchinis that had had some Lego wheels attached and were run down a ramp. One could have assumed, with some justification, that this event would not be exciting to watch - but the announcer was having so much fun with it, that he drew quite a crowd. The folks who got the potato sack races and the various relays going seemed to be having as much fun as were the kids. It was really quite an extraordinary event and it was a pleasure to watch.

I did not sell very much but it was a joy to see families playing together.