During walks around the Lightfoot trail, you might have noticed some rocks painted with catchy song lyrics and titles. Those rocks were hand-painted by Orillia’s Bob Dove.
Dove started his rock painting to honour his late wife; the pair were married for 50 years. He was devastated by her death.
“She saw the Beatles, so a lot of the songs on the rocks are Beatles-oriented. Her favourite song was Renaissance by Valdy which he played for us at a concert while we danced in front of a crowd one time in Huntsville ... it was really memorable for us,” he explained.
“I have couple of rocks down there panted to say Maggie May because her first name was Maggie, and I guess people liked those rocks so much that they took them. I did have about 20 of them down at the park but now there aren’t as many," he said.
Dove isn’t upset by people taking his painted rocks; he is just happy that people get enjoyment out of them.
“Everyone seems to like them, it breaks up the dullness of the pathway at times, and it gives people a chance to talk about their favourite songs and reflect on different memories they might have associated with the songs," he explained.
Dove says people have stopped to tell him the rocks have made their day and have even inspired them to use their own creativity for different hobbies.
“It feels good when people tell me that. I’m glad it can bring happiness to people in these times,” he said.
For Dove, painting the rocks is also part of the grieving process as he still misses his wife dearly after losing her two and a half years ago.
“This is a way for me to feel connected to her, I have to try somehow. It hasn’t been easy. When you are married to somebody for 50 years it’s very difficult.”
Dove says he has likely finished painting rocks this year, but he plans on resuming in the spring.
