Visitors from Vancouver

Canadian TOP reader Euan Forrester glowing with affection for his S.O., Kate

I keep hectoring you to come visit the Finger Lakes, and every now and then an intrepid reader actually takes me up on the offer. TOP reader Euan Forrester was here Tuesday and Wednesday morning. He and his partner Kate stayed at La Belle Vie, my friends Laurel and Llew's B&B at the top of the lake. Euan, who is 38, works for Cisco, and Kate is an E.R. doctor. They live in Vancouver, British Columbia, in coastal western Canada.

Euan is a serious photographer with some outsized ambitions for an amateur (like several of the other people who came here for a portfolio review). To give you an idea, his latest project was to extensively document the creation of a mountain biking trail; he then posted weatherproof prints as information placards along the opened route, so mountain bikers using the trail could see how the trail was created. He essentially worked just as an assignment photographer would do, but on his own. A huge amount of work went into the project—all on his own time and his own dime—and it earned him a brief groundswell of fame and publicity locally and in mountain biking circles.

Laurel and Llewellyn of La Belle Vie Bed & Breakfast in Penn Yan

Euan (pronounced "Ewan" as in Ewan McGregor) and Kate felt that I pitched the wrong things about this area by concentrating on the museums and vineyards. They weren't very interested in those things. Euan has mentioned that once he gets home to Vancouver he might send me some pictures that illustrate the things that appealed to them about the Finger Lakes. If he does, I'll post them. I will say, though, that every time we heard an Amish or Mennonite buggy clip-clopping past, Kate brightened and said, "horses," so apparently we're in agreement on the charm of the local Old Order communities.

It's getting to be kind of a tradition that whenever TOP readers come stay at La Belle Vie, Laurel and Llew invite me for breakfast on the visitors' last day. We've had some epic conversations, and yesterday was no different. They're getting to be my favorite social occasions. Llewellyn is a photographer too, and so is Kate, and Laurel is a polymath, so we had a fascinating discussion about the parts that personality and social aptitudes play in what we choose to shoot. Laurel generally dislikes what she calls "doo-rag" photos of herself, but I had to show her  breakfast table. I can't vouch for the bed part of the B&B, but Laurel is a master breakfast chef. Her multi-course breakfasts are exquisite.

Always nice to meet TOP readers, who are truly like the residents of Garrison Keillor's Lake Woebegone—every one well above average.  :-)

Mike
(Thanks to Euan, Kate, Laurel, and Llewellyn)

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Frank Petronio (partial comment): "A link to Euan's website. I read about his mountain biking trail building project a few months ago. Non-bikers should realize that trail building is a high art around Vancouver and this was a wonderful to 'pay back' their labor and make riders aware and appreciative."

Comments

[Eolake]

The email announcing this was called Untitled. I was reminded of a national competition I was featured in years ago (Got a medal actually. :-) ... all the titles where written on cards under the photos, with quotation marks. And when the photo didn't have a title, there was written "Untitled"... with quotation marks. I found this a bit amusing.

[Frank Petronio]

A link to: http://www.euanforresterphotography.com. I read about his mountain biking trail building project a few months ago. Non bikers should realize that trail building is a high art around Vancouver and this was a wonderful to "pay back" their labor and make riders aware and appreciative.

If anyone else misses horses and would like some up close experience shoveling out a few stalls that can be arranged ;-p

[Zave Shapiro]

I was in your neck of the woods in late February as part of a trip from Victoria to Winnipeg to Alabama to DC to Toronto. Saw the Corning Museum and the Curtiss but most restaurants were closed/on short hours. I stayed at the Best Western in Hammondsport. I only had a couple of days. Upper New York state is a pleasure but I'll have to return to do Rochester, Buffalo and on to New England. However there will be no more cross-Canada drives in February!

[Ken Tanaka]

Euan, your trail-building project documentary series is excellent. Walking through it really puts me right in the middle of the youthful energy and optimism that must have created a wonderful atmosphere. Well-done!

[Robert Roaldi]

Took a look at the site and really enjoyed the set of photos about the B.C. coastal ferry system. I have not often used ferries in my life, but one of the things I enjoy about them is the waiting. It's odd because I hate waiting for airplane flights, as if it's a different kind of wait. I guess it is, in my own brain anyway.

There have been some stories about the sabotaging of bike trails by people who oppose them, resulting in some serious injuries. Mixed use trails can be a problem, as hikers cannot always hear a cyclist approaching and the cyclists don't appreciate having to slow down for hikers.

I was in the Finger Lakes once years ago with my ex. Funny how lousy company can colour an experience. I was driving my 1986 MR2, so that at least was fun. I really enjoyed the Corning Glass museum, and had some really good ice cream somewhere. We came back to Canada via the ferries to Wolfe Island, and I don't remember waiting much.