There I stood on a stranger’s dock, stranded like a modern-day Robinson Crusoe, waving frantically at passing vessels. Between the gesticulating, I managed to grab a few photographs.
I was meant to be with those merry mariners … but, alas, I had missed the boat.
Now I was disturbing the peace of this beautiful, quiet neighbourhood, rampaging across people’s back lawns to reach the lakeshore.
Come in, come in, I urged each passing boat. For Crusoe’s sake, one of you come in.
I saw cowboys and cowgirls on a floating stagecoach, sanitation workers called the Sewer Suckers, a Polynesian crew, Mardi Gras celebrants and what looked like a bunch of Mexican fiesta-goers, albeit one brandishing a gun. The boaters waved back enthusiastically, perhaps amused by the mad man on the dock. Some took off hats, others rasied cans of pop or something stronger. A few chose that moment to jig to music blaring from their vessels.
It was party time at Lac La Nonne. And why not? This was the August Boat Regalia, a high point on the summer calendar.
The sun was finally winning its struggle with clouds; it had become a glorious day for boating, with gentle breezes creating rolls of silver on the lake. Never mind the blue-green algae alert, the water shimmered in an invitation to swim, or at least sail in Saturday morning’s regalia.
I looked down and saw little eddying pools at my feet. They seemed to sigh “ah, well, maybe next year.”
I retreated up the yard and continued invading properties, desperate to find a good vantage point for pictures. Finally, I blundered into Jerry Urlacher’s place, where I waited for returning boats. It was 12:30 a.m., 90 minutes after the colourful flotilla had gathered near Mission Park Launch.
First back was the floating “Tiki Bar”, with its make-believe tiki god carving and palm tree. With smiles as bright as their Polynesian attire the crew disembarked: Celina Roska, Al Parenteau, Angie Parenteau, Mike Parenteau and Landon Olson, by some way the youngest member.
“Do something crazy,” I yelled as I raised my camera. The smiles got even brighter.
Next came the Big Bambu, its replica wagon wheels and black steeds appearing to pull it effortlessly across sparkling water. This was my vessel; the one I had vainly – and so foolishly – searched for at Mission Park. As the pontoon edged towards the dock, there were whoops, raised stetsons and some valedictory words from a man with a loud-hailer.
Crewmembers included Vince and Lynn Downey, their daughter Suzanne, her Calgary friends Annie Carbonneau and Cheryl Munro, Holly and Norman Hachey and Andrea Sottiaux. Brian McLean had also brought his mother, Yolanda McLean, along for a ride on the wild side. The crew came ashore, lugging all the stuff of a party that has just ended.
“I had a wonderful time,” said Yolanda McLean.
So did she tip back a glass or two in the best tradition of seafarers? It seems not. She has never gone in for excesses.
“She’s drunk with happiness, that’s all,” laughed Brian. For Suzanne Downey, the regalia was a blast, with beads and Hawaiian necklaces thrown between boats. There had even been reports of the odd water balloon hurled – with tap water, of course, given the blue-green algae alert.
“We were thinking of arming ourselves with cow patties, since we had a stagecoach theme,” she smiled. “Maybe next year.”
After the parade, boaters went to Klondike Park for hot dogs and ice cream, courtesy of the Barrhead Co-op and the nearby Connie Mae store.
It was clear that Lac La Nonne Enhancement and Protection Association’s fourth regalia had been another triumph.
“It’s all about having fun,” said LEPA’s Doreen Hagen, who judged the boats.
Hagen counted 14 parade boats. Some, however, thought the number could be as high as 21. Sixteen and eighteen were the most popular guesstimates.
Parade prizes were handed to the “Mardi Gras” boat, the “Red Neck Yayt Klub”, the “LEPA Sewer Suckers”, the “Tight and Bright” crew and the “Tiki Bar.”
“It was a great day out,” said Stan Dezaeyer, alias Captain Suck of the Sewer Suckers. “The water was smooth and the parade was orderly.”
The only mishap befell the Suckers’ little mascot at the front of the boat, Pee-ter, who was nearly swept overboard. Thankfully, he lost nothing more than his hat.
The more I listened to the anecdotes, the more I felt I had been on Lac La Nonne for my second regalia.
It was like reading a good book, which takes you to wonderful places. And so in a certain sense I was out on the lake last Saturday.
