Driving north again,
at least this is normal
Less contained by pandemic,
bound to where
there’s no difference
from before it came.
Soon, alone canoeing
In noncontagious
Algonquin’s breath.
Two unmasked friends
close together.
7 hours
to the Barron Canyon through the park
Why?
solo canoe at Algonquin Outfitters.
after overnight stop,
Lake of Two Rivers
a drive in camp site, my first time
so many people
happy,
campfires
barbecues
tents tents tents
RV’s
smiling faces disappear
before some glow back
shining in the night
smiling
while darkness covers up
most of
too much crowd for me
morning
my campsite – a car and a tent
no breakfast pack and go
Opeongo AO
canoe not there
sent to Rock Lake access point
by mistake
coffee and wait
no other solo canoes
so they’re bringing it back
now let’s go
road, music
canoe on top
two hours to
Squirrel Rapids access point
perfect day
launch canoe
kayak paddling
shoulders dipping side to side
gliding glad
here again
forest and water with its own
special scent and sounds
that smiles and
calms
elemental tasks ahead
kinds not full of
anxious thoughts
imperfections scolding
holding my mind
the back-country says
You’re fine,
just fine.
just the way
you are.
Squirrel Rapids portage
my heavy canoe pack
lift, shoulder, and tump
walk slow
being careful
don’t trip
here alone
put in
river’s wide
no high banks yet
looking for a two night
campsite:
there’s one,
full,
another…,
with a tent,
next…,
occupied,
now one…
empty.
I’m home.
morning
best meal every day
black coffee
bacon and
fresh eggs scrambled
glassy water
clear blue sky
approaching
canyon walls
trees hold on
some lean out to look
over what’s going on
most stand
sentinel straight
root clawed
to canyon walls
Brigham Chute
rapids foam swirls
around its portage take out
hoped to leave the canoe
and walk to see the rapids
but
seems no room without
blocking the way for others
turning around
I let the current carry me back
pictures rather than words
express this happy journey
easy going in the sun
heading back to camp
passed three canoes
loaded with people,
3 to 4 per canoe
time at camp to rest,
lay in the
hammock
then at the nearby campsite,
next door as it were,
they arrive, all of them
adults and kids scramble
within sight
going to be a little crowded
but I’m here only tonight
and they are a very happy group
lots of milling and talking
and then after a while
they get in their canoes
and leave,
a snack and loo stop
it turns out,
and the welcome silence returns
but it was a pleasant interruption
happy is contagious
next morning it’s time:
return to access point
and move by car
to Achray
now canoe on top
car drive to Achray
avoids many portages
to tonight’s campsite
only a short one
from Grand Lake
to Stratton Lake
with its bear warning sign
my tent
the thin divider
between night
and inside light
green walls
for wind and rain
mosquitoes and black flies
out
no barrier
to a bear
yet always feeling safe
accustomed
to the night sounds
does my snoring
bother the animals?
up just after sunrise
comes naturally
