Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld

In July I wrote about two neighbouring locations designed and held by Sorcha Tyles – The Boathouse Café and Outpost Bay. Now, both of these locations have now gone from Second Life.

However, in their place Sorcha now offers Stillwater Coast, a location offering touches of both in a completely new setting.

A Scandinavian-inspired getaway where nature prevails and seagulls call. Listen to the waves hitting the rocks, grab a coffee at the Boathouse Café, and find cosy spots to relax along the beach.

– Stillwater Coast Destination Guide entry

Whereas the previous two locations mentioned above were on small island parcels located side-by-side in the same region, for Stillwater Coast, Sorcha her moved back to a Homestead region, bringing with it advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages are clear: more space, greater opportunities for expression and the chance to also off small nodes to previous regions designs Sorcha has presented under the Dutch Pavilion brand.

The disadvantage is that being a private estate homestead, Stillwater Coast sits on its own, reachable only via teleport, whereas The Boathouse Cafe and Outpost Bay were located in an estate with open waterways and a link to the Mainland continent of Satori, thus presenting themselves as a sailing / boating destination (even sans any local rezzing zone for the return trip.

Which is not to say Stillwater Coast is in any way lacking; rather the reverse – with its wide-open spaces little coastal road, beach and trails up onto the meadows and grasslands, it offers plenty of opportunities for doing exactly what the Destination Guide entry states: wandering and relaxing.

The Landing Point sit at the extreme north-west of the island, almost right at the end of the little road as it piggyback out along a finger of land between the lighthouse – something of a motif for many of Sorcha’s designs, going all the way back to the original Dutch Pavilion –  and the rest of the setting.

Neatly set within bus stop, the Landing Point offers also a view back along the north coast to where what might at first appear to be a boathouse sticking its nose out over the water and, beyond it, a smaller island.

The first isn’t a boathouse, but a little cabin that happens to have been built out over the water and with piers and decking on three sides. It is open to the public and watched over by a cat and a goose. The smaller island is Sorcha’s private home, so please don’t try hopping over and exploring.

The Boathouse Café sits towards the middle of the main island and has something of an exterior upgrade from its previous home.

Whilst it is still operating out of an old warehouse formally owned by L. Jenkins, the “new” Boathouse Café sports a different design and a bright red covering of paint on its walls in keeping with several of the other buildings on the island.  A cobbled outdoor seating area replaces the wooden deck from the previous version, and the inside has a warm, homely appeal.

Further outdoor seating can be found on either side of the café , where bench tables sit out on the meadow grass and the land slopes down gently towards the little cabin mentioned above to one side and a converted barn at the water’s edge on the other.

The space between café and cabin appears to have been laid claim to by the local sheep, most of whom are grazing contentedly – although one does seem of have settled down into earnest conversation with a rabbit. The slope down towards the old barn, however, appears to be the preserve of the local cows.

This really is a place for wandering an appreciating; the Scandinavian aspects are all too clear from the building (including the use of turf up on a roof for winter insulation) to the paucity of trees which gives the island a slightly Icelandic feel, whilst Sorcha has added plenty of small touches to bring everything to life.

Down at the Landing Point, bicycles can be grabbed for a ride around, together with a little touch of dear old Blighty with fish’n’chips shop on the local pier. Those who visited Outpost Bay and who wander the beach here might recognise the little changing huts on the sand – a nice reminder of the former setting.

A genuinely delightful setting with little touches of autumn, rich in birdlife, lots of opportunities for photography and plenty of space for taking it easy.

Sorcha confided in me she dressing a complete region on her own rather than working with someone proved to be something of a challenge. Personally, I think she’s more than succeeded in creating a memorable place to visit and appreciate.

Slurl Details

• Stillwater Coast (Slay, rated Moderate)