A few months ago, over some hot tea with friends, we began talking about the mysteries of the sea... as many conversations do digress. Our good friend Tobias began ranting about the Great White Lady of the West, claiming to have once seen her for a split second on the seabus. Intrigued, we implored him to tell us the story of the Great White Lady of the West. It goes a little something like this:
In the early 1900's, in Northern Vancouver by the sea, there began a heightened interest in sea folklore, specially in the age old lore of mermaids. Fishermen in the area were especially interested in the prospect of mermaids, with such long weeks away at sea away from their wives. Stories of men becoming so enthralled with mermaids that they gave themselves to the sea also arose, but the men refused to believe that a creature could be that beautiful. One night, while all of the fishermen upon the SS Beryte were fast asleep, the night watch Matthew Grayson began to feel his eyelids becoming heavier as he drifted in and out of sleep. With his slitted eyes, from out of the dark waters Grayson saw a streak of dazzling white. Startled, he stammered to the edge of the boat, hands gripping the bottom rung of the railing, his nose nearly touching the water. Again, from the depths of the night water came into vision the most beautiful woman he had ever lay eyes on. After a few cross-eyed minutes of watching this water woman swim around, the woman became aware of his ogling presence. The mermaid slowly swam to the surface, careful to remain completely submerged and a cautious distance away from Matthew. A few lines of unimportant dialogue passed between them, to which the white lady cut to the chase and invited Matthew to enter the water and go for a swim with her. Matthew blindly began stripping his clothes off, ready to jump in the water with this enchanting mer-lady. After tediously unbuttoning his undershirt, he was suddenly reminded of his beautiful wife and young son at home... it was as if he had suddenly snapped out of a trance and was able to at last clearly evaluate the situation. He stuttered out an apology to the lady who had begun moving closer to the boat, her tail flicking, agitated. She began to tell stories to him, of his unhappiness at home, his unfulfilling life on the ship, and conversely the satisfaction life under the sea would bring; Matthew began doubting his decisions. Matthew lowered his head slowly to the water as the mermaid mirrored his actions, swimming closer and closer to the surface. Matthew's wedding band clicked against the rungs of the railing, momentarily bringing him to reality again, as he averted his eyes for a few seconds to reminisce upon his family awaiting his return. With a powerful swish of the mer-lady's tail, she emerged from the water and Matthew was able to see her for what she was, a grotesque, white blob from the sea hungry for his flesh. Through her wide open mouth he heard the cries of warning from his fellow seamen who had been tricked by the sea lady from her fat cave of a stomach. Matthew was able to scamper back on deck and live to tell the story of the Great White Lady of the West, but others were not so lucky. The story of the origin of the White Lady is that she was a housewife to an unfaithful fisherman and she was so heartbroken, that she gave herself to the sea. Years under the water made her skin white as the moon and her heart as black as the night, vowing to seek revenge on her husband and all unfaithful seamen alike.
After we heard this story, we knew we had to see her for ourselves. So, Tobias sent us on a journey.
Past the tree split into two along the seawall.
Along the treacherous cliff, over the ocean.
Dive into the ocean, swim into the sea cave.
There she is!
She's hideous!
