Was Walter Rybka the captain when you sailed? I met him once and I'm almost positive he was captain in the late 80's or early 90's. If I remember correctly, he was also involved in the restoration of the tall ship
Elissa in Galveston, TX late 70's-early 80's. I have a National Geographic video about the story of the restoration and the first sailing of the
Elissa after she was refitted. What a massive undertaking!
Owen Sound is a marine hub for the Great Lakes. We used to have both CN and CP rail lines into harbour area which brought wheat from out west to be loaded onto ships for transport around the world. We still have functional grain elevators on the harbour with lakers coming & going all summer. Every winter we have several lakers docked, sometimes for refitting, and of course, the Owen Sound Transportation Company winters the ferry, the
Chi-Cheemaun in our harbour every year. She looks beautiful all lit up for our Festival of Northern Lights from mid November to the first week of January!
For the last two summers, Owen Sound has had tall ships in her harbour. Last year we were on the Tall Ships 1812 Tour commemorating the tall ships which were involved in the war of 1812 - pivotal to our history here.
We had two major events running at the same time, last year, and I volunteered many hours at both events. The Summerfolk Music Festival and the Tall Ships 1812 Tour. As a volunteer for the Tour, I was privileged to be able to board 3 of the tall ships and explore them with just the crew and a few other volunteers on board. What fun I had for about 4 hours! I took almost a 100 photos for my grandson, until my battery died! I was on the
Pride of Baltimore II, the
Playfair and
Liana's Ransom. There was a 4th vessel called the
Wild Irish Rose which was much smaller, and we weren't able to board her. There was supposed to be a 5th vessel, the
Fair Jeanne, but she was struck by a fishing trawler on Lake Erie during the week she was due in Owen Sound, and was damaged badly enough that she had to go in for repairs. My only regret was that I was unable to schedule an excursion out onto the lake on
Liana's Ransom. Not enough time in the day!
I found a website for the tour which has some good videos about the development of this whole region and the second has some great photos. Explore. You need to click on various photos to get the gallery displaying / videos playing:
http://www.1812bicentennial.com
https://www.tallshipsowensound.com
Owen Sound also has the Great Lakes International Marine Training & Research Centre (GLIMTRC) at Georgian College. We have lots of marine engineering students in the area now for the 3 yr program. This is probably something you would know about
:
http://www.georgianc.on.ca/marine/glimtc/
As you can see, we have a strong marine connection here.
Actually, this whole area is richly blessed. Owen Sound has been designated as a Cultural Capital of Canada - there is not one of art form, hobby or professional, theatrical, musical, visual or other which I can't find within a half hour of my front door.
I'd better get of my soapbox before I'm shot down - this is a kilting forum.
Just acknowledging the kilted part of our region, we have several world class celtic dance schools and several pipe bands (my daughter used to play). And a wonderful gentleman who we square danced with, who has piped many a ship's captain off the first vessel entering the harbour in the spring. Several counties around us were settled by mainly by Scottish / Celtic immigrants. You just have to look at a map and the names of the towns are an excellent indication of who settled here.
Hope you can come to our area again sometime. Lots for you to see and do. And of course, we'd be happy to have a wee drop or a coffee/tea with you.
Happy Sailing Heather!
Originally Posted by Stitchwiz
from Scotland.
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