It has been 97 years since the founding of Herb Lake Landing, the tiny hamlet situated 55 kilometres southeast of Snow Lake.
Over the August long weekend, residents, as well as those with a
connection to them, gathered in the quaint community to celebrate the milestone.
Three days of warm weather and wild watersports ensued during what is known as Pioneer Days.
As is normally the case, the central meeting point seemed to be the yard of residents Al and Margo McDougall; however, there was definitely spillover into the residences of Sandy and Millie Morrison and Dave and Dawn Roberts to the south, and Ted and Cathy Stabback’s abode to the north.
Although the celebration normally attracts over 100 revellers, this year the crowd was noticeably smaller. As a result some events were lacking for participants and others didn’t go at all.
Nevertheless, high points were given on all three of the core purposes of the three-day affair:
fellowship, communing with nature and food.
Evenings were spent around the campfire, but on Saturday night there seemed to be a bit of a split on the interests of the young and not so young; while the former took part in a rousing race on the soap-infused plastic slide into the lake, the latter took in some fine tunes around the campfire.
There was some exceptional entertainment again this year. It drew people to the area and was so darn good that it even kept the mosquitoes and black flies too busy to bite.
Herb Lake-born Dan Davies was back and impressed with his
repertoire and poetic phrasing of a number of country tunes.
Folk music
As well, everyone was treated to the folk music of Peter Roberts and the impressive gravel-voiced accompaniment of his boy Zack.
While folks listened and visited, the stage was set for the event that would conclude the day’s activities – the Courage Trail.
The Courage Trail is about a 1.6-kilometre walk through thick bush, rock and marsh. Sounds not too bad; however, you have to do it in pitch dark, with no light at all, holding a partner’s hand with nothing to guide you but a string run along the course of the trail.
It is said that there is no winner of the Courage Trail – only survivors! This year it was Dan Roberts and Shaun Kopeechuk, who did a fine job in laying out the trail and seeing it through to its conclusion.
The weekend’s events concluded Sunday with the Pioneer Potluck at the Gathering Place. Close to 50 people showed up for a supper that marked the end of Pioneer Days.
It was, as it always is,
an absolutely fabulous meal.
Later, organizer Cathy Stabback announced that this year’s scavenger hunt was again a competitive affair; however, a clear winner was named and it was the Carswell team. They managed to collect 82 of the 97 required items.
My Take on Snow Lake runs Fridays.
