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Reminiscences of
Desbarats
Welcome to our Desbarats blog, a repository of heartfelt emotions, favorite stories, and memories about our special place. This project was initiated by Kim Douglass during the summer of 2020 when all were kept from our camps and one another due to the pandemic. When we started writing about what we were missing, it ignited the interest of wanting more Desbarats stories. So this blog was born thanks to the talents of Hopie Welles Jernagan.
We encourage you to use this blog to continue to share memories and stay connected to our treasured community.
Latest Posts
Sep 18, 2020
Here are a few old memories of good fun in Desbarats from the Burry's, by Helga and Michael Burry
When I married Michael Burry and he took me to Desbarats, I fell in love with the area. Michael went to Desbarats the first time in 1933,...
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Sep 18, 2020
Notes about the origins of the Palmer, King, Van Houten, Robertson Camp
In 1929, Albert & Sara Palmer were guests of the Rockwells on what is now the Bowen island. Loving the place, they looked to buy an...
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Sep 3, 2020
I miss...From Sally Behr Schendel
Today is the first day of school and the yellow bus just rumbled past our house, and I am missing Desbarats...coffee on the dock at...
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Sep 3, 2020
Desbarats Shenanigans by Stephen Vail
Growing up in Desbarats provides many stories of finding ourselves in, shall we say, precarious situations. From hitting your first...
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Aug 28, 2020
Winter in Desbarats, New Years, 1970-71 by Jake Dann
Most of our adventures and memories happen during the summer, so I decided to share a winter visit to Desbarats, New Years, 1970-71. As a...
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Aug 28, 2020
I Miss... From Joan Wheeler
As has been mentioned, I also miss those skies of a blue I haven't found anywhere else and the dark star-filled skies at night, being on...
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Aug 28, 2020
I Miss... From Rowena Montgomery
Guess it took a pandemic year to break my record as I have never missed a year in Desbarats in 84 years. 2020 would have been my 85th. I...
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Aug 28, 2020
What I Miss... From Adele Simmons
What I will miss: the beaver, the loons, the herons and ducks, and the humming birds; canoeing up the Hole in the Wall and Anderson...
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Aug 28, 2020
We Miss... From Calvine Bowen
Charlie has memories from the early 50s taking cruises with Peter Vail in the Shady Lady after the Labor Day Square Dance for 2 weeks...
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Aug 28, 2020
I Miss... From Carol Van Houten
I miss most the peacefulness of the place, the sun, the wind, the evenings, the wildflowers, the walks on the road, the water and the...
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Aug 28, 2020
I Miss... From Quincy Evans
missing: the smell of an old flannel shirt, smell of the squash courts, glassy water nights paddle boarding in our cove gazing at the...
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Aug 28, 2020
I miss... From DeeDee Welles
I miss - The White-Throated Sparrow song The sound of waves rocking the docks Swimming to Burry's island Watching the southeasters move...
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Aug 28, 2020
I miss... From Erik Warren
Thank you for sharing this is heart food! I miss the early morning swims around the Island, breakfast on the porch with blueberry...
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Aug 28, 2020
I miss... From Alex Bell
I miss sitting on the porch watching the river go by, and all the river traffic, except for the jet skis and the boats with super large...
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Aug 28, 2020
What We Miss from Ted Warren
Over one hundred years ago they put up the original blockhouse as a real estate gimmick. Each year Americans were welcome to spend their...
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Aug 28, 2020
I Miss Everything from Debbie Sipe
The mournful & unique songs of the loons ; those pesky horny peeper frogs hoping to get lucky ; moon rise & sunset cruises ; picking all...
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Aug 25, 2020
I miss... From Sam Davie
Most of you know me as Sammy. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would miss a summer in Desbarats due to border closure....
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Aug 21, 2020
Bullfrog by Deke Welles
In 1990, I suggested to my four siblings that we build another family camp.
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Aug 19, 2020
A Race to Remember by Becky Sylvester
It was race day, ten o’clock and the wind was already coming out of the west. With the wind up this early any true sailor knew it was...
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Aug 19, 2020
An Evolution of Rowboats by Kim (Taylor) Bloomer
The Casey Dink When I was a little boy, there were two large steamers that made the trip up and down the North Channel. Known as...
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Aug 19, 2020
I miss... From Drausin Wulsin
I miss the clouds, the stars, the white caps, the forest, the view, sails of sail boats, our living room, my children and nieces and...
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Aug 19, 2020
I miss... From Terry Haight
Everything that people have written is just perfect. I will add Trip to the black hole, picnics on Plumber, Sailing in Anderson Bay with...
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Aug 19, 2020
I miss... From Chuck Palmer
I miss the smell of the white pines, the sound they make in the wind I miss sitting on the deck watching another sunset I miss the...
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Aug 19, 2020
I miss... From Kim Douglass
Enriched by everyone’s words Desbarats’ waters sparkle and the fragrances of pine & burning fires mix with the sounds you have spoken of...
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Aug 19, 2020
I miss... from Fred Taylor
I miss seeing the joy being in Debra gives my children. This is their happy place. I miss seeing Debra summer friends and my children’s...
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Aug 19, 2020
I miss... from Keith Swift
The rhythmic bonding of seeing everyone each year holds a special place in my heart along with watching the sparkles of light dance on...
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