I was disheartened last evening to hear of a new development on the final portion of the exit route: a bright, bold line running due north from the stump at the north end of the Ferry Dock road to the centre of the beach exit. It’s a straight, accurate guide that you cannot miss. It was not there when I left the stump enroute to the beach the day before.

I do not like this line.

1. It moves around. Initially it’s close to the ground but as it gets shallower, the line floats to the surface. This can interfere with seadoos and small craft that frequent the area overhead.
2. Divers watch the rope. They look up when it’s up, down when it’s down, paying less attention to their position in the water. They too can quickly find themselves at the surface.
3. By mid July, the route is completely covered with weeds, and soon they reach the surface. The line will either not be seen at all or it will be floating above the weeds where divers can get caught.
4. We deploy our markers at the stump for the final swim in. The line adds another object to avoid as we pull them along.
5. Finally, the line attaches directly to the base of the beach platform where all the kids, especially the older ones, jump from. How long will it take for one of them to investigate it, perhaps follow it….?

I ask that if, after serious consideration, you believe that you’re laying it for all the right reasons, take the time to install your line accurately, solidly, and nowhere near the surface. Remember that others will come upon it and naturally follow it even when they don’t know where they’re going.

The river belongs to all of us. We all have the right to place these lines, but I would add a caveat that they must not change the dynamics of a historic site in a way that belittles the site itself.

Thanks.

Sydney