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Friday September 2, 2005

Karen and I loaded up our kayaks on her car and filled the trunk and back seat with food and camping gear.   From there it was just a quick 2 hour drive to Bon Echo Park.  We were to meet Karen's sister, Vicki and Harry for a shared site. We were told at the gate that we could only have one car per site and ours would have to be left in the parking lot.  After complaining for a while we were directed to the park warden.  He couldn't have been more than 12 years old but told us firmly that rules were rules.  Naturally, we ignored them and parked on the site all weekend.

Vicki and Harry had a lobster and scallop dinner waiting for us.  Very yummy!!  Karen and I needed that food for energy to inflate the double bed mattress I brought.  We used her bicycle pump.  It took less than an hour.  Once we had the form fitted sheets and blankets arranged then we could relax and sit by the fire.  Later we retired to our tents.  Karen tried out the miner's light I brought for her so she could read her book.  I used the old standby - a flashlight.  Later that night Karen ventured out to find the outhouse.  I told her I would join her.  She took the flashlight and ran off before I had my shoes on, leaving me thrashing about in the woods.  I nearly died. I had scratch marks on my arm.  I think it might have been a bear.

Saturday September 3, 2005

Got up eventually.  We discovered that while Karen and I were peacefully sleeping, Harry had been out battling raccoons. He had managed to fend them off but not before they made off with our $12.00, new entire wheel of brie.  As Karen would say every hour for the rest of the weekend, "bastard coon!!".

Harry drove us to the comfort station.  I liked the showers.  It had one temperature (nice and warm) which was turned on by a push button.  We returned to our site for a big breakfast and then Harry drove us to the Abes and Essen trail where we hiked for 4 hours or so.  There was a large mushroom competition going on.  One of us would spot one and then the rest would converge on it with our digital cameras to see who could get the best shot.  We had a little rain but mostly just sprinklings.

Tonight we had steak, potatoes and pasta.  Very good again.  Harry and I put up a larger tarp than the original he had, as it rained a little more off and on.  Once again, we sat around the fire watching the stars.  Eventually we hit the tents. "Goodnight Karen", I said.  "Bastard coon!", she replied.

Sunday September 4, 2005

I prodded Karen awake and we commissioned Harry to drive us to the comfort station for our showers again.  Returned for breakfast then we hiked the Shield trail, competing for mushrooms all the way.  After lunch Karen and I took our kayaks down to the rental section while Harry and Vicki rented a canoe.  Ridiculously, it took over an hour to arrange this. They need someone to organize their rental agency.  Eventually we got out on the water and paddled along Bon Echo rock examining the rock paintings.  We checked out a little bay then crossed to the far side pulling into a little spot with a rocky spot suitable for swimming and jumping in.  Vicki & Karen elected to watch Harry and I swim.  We took turns doing aerial maneuvers such as somersaults etc.  Mostly we landed on our backs.  Both Vicki and Karen were visibly impressed!! Their "oohs" and "ahhs" echoed across the water.

Back at the ranch we had leftovers including firepit foil-wrapped potatoes and green peppers and pasta.  A new park warden stopped in to welcome us saying that he was going to ticket us for the extra car unless we moved it.  Then he asked where I got the pile of wood I was burning.  I told him I pulled it out of the woods.  He said I should put it back as that is also a chargeable offence.  You might think that they would mention these things when you enter the park or even when you purchase extra wood at the wood lot.  He left.  Karen and I moved her car beside the bathroom and left it there for two hours.  Once we figured the warden had gone to bed, we brought it back and hid it behind Harry's van.  I put a blanket over the tail lights so they wouldn't be too obvious and we were never bothered again.  A ridiculous rule!  They say it is to stop traffic congestion.  We were allowed two tents but not two cars (it certainly made me too tense - ha, ha).  If we had parked at the lot we would have had to drive in and out about 25 times for different items.

Karen roasted some marshmellows while Vicki and Harry munched on smores.  I gave Karen a magic rock to make a wish on but she tossed my special gift in the fire.  Bedtime came early.  We read a few chapters and retired.

Monday September 5, 2005

Harry was elected to drive us to our showers.  It's amazing how quickly a routine develops.  After breakfast we packed up all our stuff.  The mattress deflated much quicker than the inflation.  Once we were done, we decided to visit the gift store and museum.  They were both closed for Labour Day - what a surprise!  You would think that they might be open on the busiest day of the year.  Instead we took a few pictures and wandered around.  Then we said goodbye to our campmates and headed home.  "I miss those push button showers already", I said.  "Bastard coons!!", said Karen.

What, you say you'd like to see some pictures!!?  Well, just click on the following link...

http://www.photoworks.com/share/shareLanding.jsp?shareCode=AFADCA1BE23&cb=PW