Hopewell Rocks, 8×10, acrylic
In the early part of this decade, my husband and I had very little money for travel, so we took advantage of trips with his company to go to conferences and shows. I have seen some pretty interesting places in Canada and the U.S. as a result.
Every January, one particular conference would take us to a different city every year, across Canada. I missed Saskatoon this year, although the -49C temperatures that they experienced while my husband was there makes me think it was OK to miss that one! We have been to Ottawa and Niagara Falls, Ontario; Moncton, New Brunswick and Canmore, Alberta. My husband on his solo trips went to Quebec City, Quebec; St. John’s, Newfoundland and Vancouver, BC. This country in Winter is stunning and I would encourage anyone to try a trip when the snow is flying!
We both agree, however, that the best one was to Moncton, New Brunswick. We took the train from Ottawa and saw some stunning landscapes, enjoyed surprisingly good food on VIA rail and met and bonded with some exceptional people. The east coast of Canada is one of the finest breeding grounds for comedians and all around friendly people. We had an exceptional time that year!
The painting above is from this trip, as well as, the painting from the ‘More Painting with Filed Colour‘. The latter is from a photo I shot from the train very early in the morning on the trip out.
On the last day of our time in Moncton, we rented a car and drove down to see the Hopewell Rocks. This is a hugely famous attraction on the Bay of Fundy known for the highest tides in the world. In summer, this place is crawling with tourists. In January, the rocks and the water belonged entirely to us. That alone made the trip worthwhile and inspired the painting above, Hopewell Rocks.
We had to struggle down a snow covered stairwell to get down to the water. The day was crisp and cold, but the sun was out and the rocks were incredibly rich and rusty in colour. There was a quietness that I am certain cannot be found at any other time of year.
Who says January cannot be an excellent time to travel?