Blog 17
This is the last
part of the travelogue about the Plein Air Ensemble spring trip to
Orford in the Eastern Townships.
Monday was still
very cold, with temperatures under -10 degrees in the morning.
However, the sun was shining. Hélène and I went for a drive to
Georgeville and Fitch Bay in the morning, hoping the temperatures
would rise enough for painting outside in the afternoon.
Georgeville is an
English style village with a wharf, the St. George’s Anglican
Church, and several houses, as well as a typical general store for
the late 19th century. After exploring the wharf area, we continued
on “Chemin Magoon” which has some great views of Lake
Memphremagog. However, those views would be better for a fall or
winter painting. Right now, the rather monochrome landscape did not
inspire us for a painting. Instead, we saw a small waterfall.
Before
we settled for the waterfall, we wanted to see Fitch Bay and its
witch house. The scenic route 247 led to the small village of Fitch
Bay which had an ancestral home with a witch weather vane known by
locals as the witch house. We also followed Narrow's Road to the
covered bridge, another great site for a fall painting.
At the end, we went
back to the waterfall. Even though the temperatures had climbed to -7
degrees, painting was hard. I had to go three times to the car to
warm up my fingers and feet. As the painting was very challenging, I
have to admit that my frustration rose. However, Hélène was on a
roll, so we stayed for about two hours.
 |
| Frozen Pond, oil, 8" x 10" |
Later in the
afternoon, we went back to the marsh in Magog, where I was able to
finish the previous day's painting, even though the pond was again
completely frozen. The day before parts of the surface were free of
ice, and the falling snow melted even more of the icy surface. A very
weird trick of nature. I still do not know how this was possible as
it was below zero, but once the snow came, further parts of the lake
were suddenly free of ice.
We just made it back
in time to be at the hotel for happy hour. I am sure we set a new
record for getting ready. Luckily, nobody came early.
Due to the long
dinners, we had our show and tell before the meal. Even though the
weather was not in our favour, everyone was able to produce a couple
of nice paintings. Not all of them were created “en plein air”
but most of them showed images of the Memphremagog region.
Hélène and I had
planned to paint one last time on the morning of our travel day back
home, but with temperatures of almost – 20 degrees considering the
wind chill, we just packed our car and headed home. It definitely was
a much nicer drive than on the way to Orford. The clear blue sky and
the sun made hope of the spring to come but it also made everything
look washed out. The colours were a lot more intense in the rain.
It is sad that the
time passed so fast but we will see each other again on our fall trip
at the end of September when we will go one more time to the Opeongo
Mountain Resort in Eganville. Ontario.
I hope you enjoyed
my travelogue. I can easily recommend the region for everyone who
loves nature. There are so many hiking paths, ski hills, lakes, and
tourist attractions that there is definitely something to explore for
everyone. We will definitely come back.
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