The sixth day of KitchenFest!, I woke up at 9h to yet another fine day, a balmy +22 (72). I again drove to the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre across the backcountry, always a beautiful trip full of pastoral scenes and some fine vistas.
Today’s KitchenFest! cèilidh at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre began with Hailee LeFort on fiddle and Allan Dewar on keyboard, who gave us some fine tunes for the first half hour. Then Wendy MacIsaac on fiddle, with Allan continuing on keyboard, played the rest of the time I was there, great sets of gorgeous tunes indelibly stamped with Wendy’s lovely down to earth style. Mary MacGillivray and Siobhan Beaton each showed us their fine steps and a square set was danced by four couples mid-way through. One of Wendy’s especially remarkable sets during the afternoon featured a gorgeous slow air, flowing, expressive, and lush, a joy to hear. She is a such fine player! If she doesn’t get your toes a-tappin’, there’s something wrong with you!
at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre.
at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre today.
at the KitchenFest! lunchtime cèilidh at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre today.
at the KitchenFest! lunchtime cèilidh at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre today.
After the cèilidh finished, I drove north on the Shore Road to Maryville and paid a visit to the harbour there. Known as Pig Cove, it is small fishing harbour with fine views of St Georges Bay. Many lobster traps as associated fishing gear were stacked neatly on the wharves, following the end of the lobster fishing season at the end of June; considerable artistry can be seen in these neatly stowed traps and colourful ropes and floats. After some photos there, I continued on the Shore Road to Port Hood and there took the Colindale Road, another of my favourite drives, stopping for photos at several points along the way and giving me a chance to soak in the ever amazing beauty of Cape Mabou, after which I ended up at the Mull in Mabou, where I had supper (turkey soup and a fine fisherman’s platter). I then drove up Mabou Ridge, taking many photos there as well, and on to Glencoe Mills, where I arrived well before the KitchenFest! dance was to begin, giving me a chance to snap a few photos at dusk and to chat with friends and the musicians who arrived early.
Taken at the harbour at Pig Cove in the grass near one of the wharves.
in this one, most of the ropes are stowed inside the traps.
To its left, it shows two large ponds inland, both with entrances on the cove.
One of these ponds, Allan Iain’s, I have seen, as the Celtic Shores Coastal Trail passes along its eastern side;
the other, Gillis Pond, I have only glimpsed from the trail and the Shore Road.
The cove is shown as Big Rorys Cove, the northern portion of which is known locally by what name?
No one answered this: it is known as Pig Cove. I have no idea why.
No one answered this one either: these are the Creignish Hills
and the slope at the right is that of Creignish Mountain.
Hailee LeFort correctly answered this: Pig Cove, officially known as Maryville Harbour.
This question was correctly answered by Linda Rankin and Joe MacMaster: Henry Island.
Daniel Crook correctly answered that it was a lighthouse, but put it on the wrong island. It is on Henry Island.
Those points are, from left to right, Finlay Point, Coal Mine Point, Beaton Point, and Green Point.
No one answered this question; it is, of course, Mabou Mountain.
No one answered this question correctly: it is, of course, Mabou Mountain.
Several folks answered this one; Caitlin MacLean was the first to answer, with a one-word answer, “Ridge!”
Linda Rankin replied that, officially, “[w]e use South West Ridge Road. It’s the proper name,
but locally we say ‘the Ridge’”, explaining Catilin’s answer. It’s also known as the Mabou Ridge Road.
This was taken from the Mabou Ridge.
This is the view from below the top of the Mabou Ridge.
which I have been privileged to visit twice thanks to dear friends, has hands down the best view of the Mabou area.
the glorious fields behind at the top of the ridge.
Don’t forget the KitchenFest! dance there tonight
with Douglas Cameron, Mike Hall, Lawrence Cameron, and Pius MacIsaac!! 21h-0h.
(Either way you take at this sign will bring you to the Parish Hall, though the right fork is slightly shorter.)
The roads are in great shape, freshly gravelled, so come on down!
Although enough people to form a small square set were present in the hall at 21h, sound checking took some time and the first square set with five couples didn’t get under way until 21h20, when Mike Hall and Douglas Cameron on dual fiddles, Lawrence Cameron on piano, and Pius MacIsaac on guitar began playing a set of jigs. Douglas, Lawrence, and Pius played for the second square set, danced by ten couples in its third figure; it was heart-warming to see two young lads maybe five and eight and one teenager maybe thirteen being introduced to the square sets. Joe MacMaster on fiddle, Douglas on piano, and Pius on guitar played for the third square set, with twenty-one couples dancing its third figure in three or four groups, with a fair amount of fluidity in the groups’ membership. Douglas on fiddle, Lawrence on piano, and Pius on guitar for the fourth square set, danced by nineteen couples in two groups. Mike on fiddle, Lawrence on piano, and Pius on guitar played for the fifth square set, danced by twenty-two couples in its third figure. The same players continued for the step dance sequence, danced by Stephen MacLennan, Lewis MacLennan, Iain MacQuarrie, Amanda MacDonald, Hanna Krebs, Siobhan Beaton, Rachel Cowl (an Ontario lady whose last name is pronounced [koʊl]), Hailee LeFort, Olivier Broussard, and Cheryl MacQuarrie. The last square set, played by Mike on fiddle and Lawrence on piano, was very slow to form; the one big group from the first figure split into three very rowdy groups for the second figure; twenty couples danced the third. The dancers were some efficient tonight, dancing six square sets and a long step dance sequence, and still ending at 23h50 after starting twenty minutes late! The music was superb all night long and a great joy to listen to—these are very masterful players—and clearly a great joy to dance to as well, judging by the enthusiasm and fine steps seen out on the floor. What a great evening!
and Pius MacIsaac on guitar kicking off the KitchenFest! dance at Glencoe tonight.
at the KitchenFest! dance at Glencoe tonight.
at the KitchenFest! dance at Glencoe tonight.
After thanking the musicians, I drove back to Whycocomagh and was in bed at 0h45, after another great musical day. KitchenFest! rocks!