A walk around Calland in Second Life

While we have never met, Jeannie Schimmer is a woman somewhat after my own heart; someone driven by curiosity and the need to create. It was a drive that started with a single goal which – as I’ve found myself, as doubtless have many others – evolved into something far greater. In this case, an entire public region.

I wanted to learn how to make a proper wharf. After the wharf came a little village, then came the countryside and so much MORE! Feel free to wander around and explore.

-Jeannie Schimmer on creating Calland

Called Calland, the region is a pleasing mix of open spaces, waterside spots, a little village and pleasant walks. It’s is also a place which appears to be going through continuous evolution – again the mark of a creative mind twiddling with ideas and updates.

An example of this comes with the local church; original shots of the setting show the church to be modest, traditional affair with white wood sidings and a tiled roof and steeple. The current church is a far more modern design, its wooden-beamed sides and general form making a strong statement whilst also fitting with the surrounding fir trees and those growing across the hills behind the north of the village.

This village sits just back from the Landing Point – a paved waterfront quay marked by boat moorings, houseboats and a parade of shops. The quayside also give the first indications that there are activities to be enjoyed here: a bubble rezzer sits next to a bicycle rezzer, the pair of them giving visitors the choice of floating or pedalling around the setting if they wish.

The church mentioned above sits to one end of a road paralleling the quay, and which might be considered the village’s main street. It is home to the local garage, movie theatre and more shops sitting with their back to those on the quayside. Facing the church at the far end of this street are parkland offices – the park presumably being the open lands above and to the north of the town.

An old mine tunnels under the hills of the park as a means to to reach the region’ northern side. It is actually one of four routes for doing so. The second takes the form of a boardwalk at the eastern end of the quays, and which passes between the park offices and a large house boat. The remaining two lay a walk westward alongside the quayside from the landing point.

The first of these latter two takes the form of a footpath meandering its way through a formal garden; the second a walk north along the region’s western edge. This passes by way of a deserted bar and a 1950’s style diner, together with a floating pier and a shingle waterfront which runs between the water and a small bungalow (possibly a private home; I’m not actually sure) and a walled garden respectively.

The formal garden, meanwhile, offers places to sit and pass the time, games, including mah-jong within its small auditorium, and dancing. Beyond it, the path continues on to the parklands, sandwiching the bungalow and walled garden (which again offers places to sit and is popular with the local rabbits and birds!) between itself and the west-side coastline.

The northern landscape offers winding paths, horse grazing (and horse riding), an impromptu shindig, a Hobbit hole home(!) and outdoor seating. The east side of the park is particularly hilly and semi-rugged, the paths and trails slithering between the higher peaks, with bridges spanning streams, water falling from the higher slopes, with the local bears keeping their eyes on things.

Two islands complete the setting. The larger, sitting to the north-west, is connected to the rest of the region via two bridges. A large house and grounds take up its space. Again, I’ve no idea if it is intended to be a private residence or not; however, as I did not wish to invade privacy were it to be so, I didn’t dally there.

The second island sits within a bay on the north side of the region. Cut off from the rest of the landscape by water, it is home to the Racoon Creek camp ground. The best way to reach it without flapping your arms and taking to the air is via the zip line that extends down from the hills in the middle of the mainland area to the pier at the entrance to the camp site. For getting back across the water after a visit, try using the local bubble rezzer on the arrival pier.

Tranquil and with considerable details throughout (there is much I’ve intentionally not mentioned here), Calland is a charming place to visit, offering a fair amount to do and a lot to appreciate.

SLurl Details

• Calland (Calland II, rated Moderate)