Dear George, I wonder what you will remember of your first trip to Algonquin Park? At 20 months you were an enthusiastic camper! We paddled with all the gear in 2 canoes across Canisbay Lake with Aunt Nancy, Uncle Willie and your cousin Rachel, who was the first to announce “George has to come camping!” shortly after you were born. And so it came to be. The lifejacket we borrowed from Donna was a perfect fit and conveniently designed with a sturdy loop on the back of the collar. With a firm grip on this and the belt around your middle I held you back from climbing overboard in the middle of the lake. You are definitely a water baby.
At our rocky, wooded, rustic waterfront site we had a sleeping tent, dining tent, picnic table for the kitchen area and a fire pit. The only ‘convenience’ was a lidded box a short distance up the trail. “When you’re a big boy” Uncle Willie told you, “you can sh*t in a box too!”
Aunt Nancy observed that the food barrel, designed to be bear-proof, was big enough to hold you. “If we see a bear” she mused, ” we can stuff George in here and hoist him up!” She also packed a full first-aid kit but your only injury was a small scrape on the knee.
As for food, you surprised us with the good helpings you put away: stew, lasagna and other hearty camp fare. The only food you turned down was Shreddies, which you kindly offered to me.
You collected pine cones, learned to navigate uneven ground and avoid treacherous tree roots, swung in the hammock, settled into a camp chair with your books when we did the same, slept soundly in the tent, and loved going for a swim with your lifejacket on. You have a good strong frog kick when I float you on your back.
I think that same kick is what propelled you out of your sleeping bag every night. I’d wake to find you sprawled across the air mattress, still asleep as your feet thumped my head or your fingers pulled my hair, and would stuff you back into the bag nice and snug and warm. One night you hollered and woke us. I reached out a hand to reassure you but you weren’t there! In an instant I had the flashlight on – there you were, sitting by the zippered tent door, looking lost. I wonder if you walk in your sleep? You fell asleep quickly once I tucked you back in.
We brought some farm animals from the Little People set and you played with them in the dining tent quite a bit. You also had fun splashing them about in a bucket of water. You chattered away, even though we couldn’t make out a lot of your words. You are clever, you do understand almost everything people say to you, and you have a sense of humour. Rachel worked diligently to get you to say “yes” instead of “no” when you wanted something. At times it seemed like you were saying “no” to her with a grin, ready to be corrected!
I’ve made more notes in the journal your mom keeps for you. For now, thank you for being such a delight on our vacation! I admit to being a bit tired by the end of the week but it was certainly worth it. I hope you continue to enjoy the wilderness as you grow up… many of our family do appreciate the beauty and tranquility of such places as Algonquin Park.
Love, Grandma. 🙂
P.S. – we found a 4-leaf clover in a patch of grass you were examining before we left for camp. It’s pressed in your journal for you.
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