Day 16, oct 2, killarney prov park, ontario, camp 6, 1250 mile

What an absolutely splendid park this is. Ontario is chock full of slendid parks, but this one is way up there. We are camped in the siberia of the camp, way at the end, radio-free, only 6 sites, tents only. What more could a guy want. I decided to stay for three nights, especially when i was told i could move across the street to the penthouse, D-89' which i did. The photo in this posting is the view from the balcony. The next posting will show the campsite all set up.

Took a short drive into killarney itself, a fishing town, 500 people. The dogs enjoyed it especially for the frosty paws treat they got. One rule on these trips is that we have to stop for a frosty paws ar least once every three hours.

Took the dogs for a short hike. Leben fell down juming down a steep step down to the water and is walking terribly. And here i was ready to report that i thought i detected some progress. After that, he enjoyed a one mile ride in his CATV. he especially seemed to enjoy going up the steep roads, all at my expense. From now on, no more tough terrain for him, to walk on anyway. Thank god i decided to get and take the CATV.

It was Erde's turn last night to slip betwenn the end of the 9" thick mattress and the wall of the tent. I was awake when it happened. When it happpened to leben, he just stayed put. Erde, ever creative, just threw he whole body into the narrow space and was ready to settle in for the night until i winched her out. The big problem i have with the mattress now is not finding space for myself but having to suffer the aftershocks of the dogs scrathing themselves, or shaking and running in their sleep as dogs are want to do. A small price to pay for the joy of having their companionship on this trip and for such a long, long time. Rhonda, a former neighbior of mine, when she came over to meet the night i brought them home back n 2001, turned to me and said, Ed, you're so lucky. I did not know then how really lucky i would be.

Each day that goes by on this trip, as with past trips too, i feel that my brain is being put through a giant washer, getting rid of all the toxins that accumulate back in DC. My hope is that i can figure out some way to keep them out.

Today was an absolutely grand day, sun, cloudless blue sky, 60 degrees. I have now had 14 days of real autumn, unlike the 2-3 days we get back in DC. The weather and the natural beauty are certainly what makes these trips absolutely grand, but also the people i meet and talk with along the way do too. Of course, in the camps, i am talking with people who share my lov of the outdoors, so that is not surprising.

It is supposed to rain tomorrw, so it will be a good day to burn away some pages of Lewis and Clark.

Ed from killarney pp

PS...sorry for any typos in thes postings. Ii usually send them off without a thorough edit.