Bluesfest was remarkable in the stars it attracted last week- Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, and Manu Chao, but even more remarkable is the rumour that Bob Dylan was sighted in Aylmer the day of his Ottawa show.

This is entirely rumour, without any substantiation.

The Bulletin could get no confirmation from Dylan's managers or from the festival.

But rumours often hold a kernel of truth. We still hear of Elvis sightings, knowing Elvis is in the cold, cold ground. Dylan is very much alive and known for his aversion to publicity.

A betting person would favour a visit by Dylan before any return by the not-quite-immortal Elvis.

The rumours are that he was seen eating at the Bifstro Marine, near the Symmes Inn and l'Imagier, and also seen in SOL, our new and improved health food shop. Owners of both establishments didn't deny any visit, although both pooh-poohed the rumour.

"Wouldn't that be something," smiled James McConnell of SOL. Flo of the Bifstro laughed and said only "now that would make my day!" Flo did seem cheery.

Odder things have happened.

Aylmer may have been visited by UFOs, our readers will recall. If Aylmer can attract intergalactic visitors, why not Bob Dylan?

After six years of feeling shunted to the side in the new city of Gatineau, Aylmer has been visited by Mayor Marc Bureau almost every day, plus a string of councillors from other parts of the city, councillors who in the past gave every appearance of never having even heard of Aylmer. Aylmer is also the home of various ambassadors and diplomats, family scions, Everest climbers, and world explorers.

So why should we be surprised? Would Dylan sit around in a hotel room - and which hotel?

Aylmer has the finest hotel in the Outaouais, the Chateau Cartier. Perhaps he was there and ventured down Aylmer Road, attracted by its heritage homes and trees. The Chateau would never be so indiscreet as to leak his presence to the press.

The point remains that it is not far-fetched at all that Aylmer would attract such lustrous visitors. Where else would they go for an afternoon? The kernel of truth in this rumour is that Aylmer is the most likely place for a visitor looking for an exceptional meal or the remarkable selection of what our health food store provides. The truth is Aylmer has an urban nature-scape unmatched by other parts of our region.

Not only our green spaces and patrimonial maples, our stately old homes, our magnificent shoreline with the finest sunsets in eastern Canada, our backdrop of the Eardley Escarpment and the sublime views up the Ottawa River. And most unique is our cultural democracy, the mix of languages, music, clothing, and art. Aylmer is the microcosm of our entire nation. We see it every day; it's usual to us. But not to Dylan.

Anyone else have a sighting to report in this interesting town?

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Copyright © 2007 Fred Ryan/Log Cabin Chronicles/07.07