Sometimes finding adventure requires a little road trip.
I’m on one now. My family convinced me that the family vacation this year should be spent in San Diego where Comic-Con International is held.
Apparently, it’s customary to wear a costume to Comic-Con, an annual gathering that raises awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and the contribution comics have made to art and culture. As I write this in advance of my vacation I haven’t put much effort into the costume, because I’m more looking forward to exploring San Diego’s beaches and checking out Mission Trails Regional Park.
The timing of this trip means I missed the first annual Squamish Wind Festival. This is a disappointment for me so I’m keen to learn how the festival went once I get back.
The Wind Festival is a celebration of many things related to water and the beach, so it does seem appropriate that while I’m on vacation I’ll be in another seaside location taking full advantage of their recreational offerings. Surfing is an activity I’ve yet to try and stand-up paddle boarding is also on the list of activities I want to check out. Both of these could get check marks while I’m away.
As I browse through all the things one can do in San Diego, I’m seeing how Squamish has it all and I’m left wondering why I didn’t choose a stay-cation instead of flying 2,250 kilometres away from home to do things I can do here that I haven’t tried yet.
A quick return to reality and I recall that the main draw is Comic-Con. The convention that celebrates what Batman and Robin have contributed to the world of art and culture along with other comic book notables like Superman, Wonder Woman and The Incredible Hulk.
This in turn reminds me that Squamish’s Wind Festival included arts and culture events. A wind and water public art display is planned for O’Siyam Pavilion Park.
While I was dressed up in San Diego in a costume I expect I hated, a bunch of people were playing dress up back at home as one of the festival activities featured people dressed as pirates plundering the downtown area Friday afternoon. That is an amazing contribution to not just art and culture, but history as well. Kids need to learn about pirate history. It is just as important as the name of Canada’s first Prime Minister or the date of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.
Pirates are cool; especially when they get to pretend to plunder a place.
I’d take a puffy pirate shirt and a sword over Robin’s tight cape and black mask any day.
And with that, I’m off to play Green Lantern, Superman or Captain Jack Sparrow for a few days if I’m really lucky. I’m hoping my wife isn’t going to try to get me into a Fred Flintstone outfit. At least if that’s what I’m stuck with I can wear my swim shorts under the costume, put in my time at Comic-Con and then escape to the beach once my Comic-Con obligations are fulfilled.
I hope the winds were strong and consistent for the first annual Squamish Wind Festival, and sign me up to participate in it next year.
