Here are two pictures of me peaking out of the big red octopus, who is called “Samuel”, at Gyro Park. Why Samuel? I don’t know that’s the name he told me when I asked him.
Photo credit: My mum, Jane Bettany. Taken with my old point-and-shoot Canon A75 which she is getting quite good at using considering she has been using a Pentax SLR for 20 years. It’s quite a leap going from film to digital! So I applaud her for all the experimenting she has been doing lately with the camera.
I have so many memories of Gyro Beach. Do you have any Gyro beach stories?
Kristin said on May 10th, 2007 at 7:22 am
Gyro Park! Back in the days when Samuel was pink, and the dragon was mint green. Tons of memories of Cadboro Bay…most of which are less than wholesome, but I have many fond memories of climbing around the octopus and dragon as a kid. Oooh…and the whale. Is there a whale?
Picnics on the grass…walks on the beach on first dates…sigh.
Kristin said on May 10th, 2007 at 7:22 am
Did Samuel always have such a prominent nose?
Lisa Bettany said on May 10th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Sam was pink, then powder blue, now red. I think he’s kind of a diva. viva glam! His nose does look quite prominent. I think he’s been freshly painted. FYI Samuel: White paint can add, like, ten pounds to your nose.
I’ll post some more pictures of the other characters so you can reminisce some more.
Andrew Brownlee said on May 11th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Hey Lisa,
I believe that Samuel was also military gray at one point. Hope all is well. Thanks for the comments on the blog. I am using a Handycam with a Rhode shotgun mic (based on the pictures, it looks like the same one you are using) and editing on a Macbook with Final Cut Pro. Lots of stuff to carry but it fills my spare moments.
Glad to hear that you will be on the road soon! I unfortunately only have another month and a half before I have to return to the real world of responsibility and expensive coffee. Take care, Andrew
Chuck Gordon said on August 11th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Wow, Gyro Park. I remember it all being just plain concrete back in the early 60’s. We moved away in ‘67. When I visited in ‘88, my brother took me back there. The octopus was pink and did indeed have a prominent proboscis but it was painted the same colour as the body, so it didn’t stand out so much. Of course it was bigger in the 60’s. And I had all but forgotten about the boat. Must get my kids out there someday before they’re too old. Thanks for the cool memories.
Lisa Bettany said on August 13th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
No prob. Glad you enjoyed my Caddy Bay photo montage!