A many step process

Well, this is the time for a good story , isn't it?

This years event has passed again, there will many memories to share and
times to remind ourselves in stories around the campfire when the canoe
again glides through the water in its destination unknown.

Our trip begins with familiar friends: Sid my good friend from Sudbury,
Bill in Woodstock, Mike S. in Sombra and Rick from St. Thomas. Our home
towns cover a little bit of Ontario and our friends we've met along the
way even go into the United States. As for the immediate group, we
banned together this year to pool our resources and make way up to
Sudbury and then to Nitro Creek, or should I say well.... close to Nitro
Creek.

After spending the Friday morning getting our things into one vehicle,
Rick puts a bee line to Sudbury by way of a small stop in Thornton.
Cliff is from around Thorton and with him we met up with Tony C. of NY.

As things turn out,we arrived to a garage that was left open to the
house. Well, as men sort of see fit, the first rule to an open garage
must be to explore it! I think we all sort of thought the intention was
to see what little treasures we could find for our grand adventure. If
we could use it , we should bring it, and so as we sought out the
extra camp stove sitting to the side, we decided it was worth the extra
weight to stuff it in the vehicle and see if we could dream or muster up
something we could do with it. Little did others know at the time that
three of us had something up our sleeve! It is sometimes fun to enjoy a
little treat or surprise and for one of them , a cat was let out of the
bag, as for this one, well....we'll see where it fits as I get to that
part.

So, As our exploring of Cliff's garage produced a little treasure but no
Cliff or Tony, we decide that its time to head into the house. They
noticed the car but didn't understand the time delay from the time we
parked to the time we announced our arrival. It wasn't that long , but,
I guess a man measures another by the possessions in his garage! Wink!

Soon after we ban together to make the rest of our days journey to Sid's
in Sudbury. He will be our host for the evening and in return we thanks
him with a gift of refreshments before we arrive. Coming to Sid and
Janet's is like coming home to a Brother or dear friends. I'm not sure
how to describe them other then they open their heart and home to you
when your passing through or staying in town. It is a warm feeling of
happiness they express upon their face, open arms and welcomed
friendships to anyone. I know it to be true and something shared amongst
other fellow campers like Joe and Carol Beynen, Richard and Debbie Munn
and Al Marcon and his wife. They are known to be the greatest of help to
get us long distance travelers on our way to a good fresh start to just
the beginning of our travels. Lucky for them , they start where they
are, now if only I can convince my wife that this is the place to retire
to!?

So, Friday's been a long day, travel takes up a majority of our day with
chatter of planning on the drive and when we arrive at our destination
we must make our sleds of gear with all of the bundles we've packed into
the vehicles. Each of us has our own list of things to tend to like
dinners and breakfasts and each of us also need to carry what we call
"group gear" which is gear we will use as a group or for a group of
people. The sleds are packed and we resign to the living room to chat
over our plans and thoughts as the night passes on. As the night wears,
it soon comes to rest that we've done all we can do and need to get a
few winks in to tend to the next day and the tasks that will take us to
Nitro Creek.

Morning comes quick or maybe it wasn't till morning we went to bed but
anyway its time to set the coffee on to perk, make a snack of bagel or
toast and even wash up a bit before we make way to the train station.
As that passes by rather fast, Bill and I are the first to be let out at
the Sudbury train station. It's not more than 5 minutes from Sid and
Janet's so it won't be long before another 2 sleds are loaded into the
van and sent back with more passengers to go Nitro. Bill and I decide to
take an early visit into the station just to make sure the Conductor
knows were coming and we'll be heading out again for a winter trek.
Well, what do you know its Jim! Jim's been the conductor for all three
of these train treks over the years and as soon as he sees us, he too
realises who we are. It's kind of a nice feeling to know he remembered
us. We let him know we were going to Nitro creek this year because of
the logging nearby Marcel's and Jim, who must know some of the area like
the back of his hand, says a little story of some fellows that get out
there to bushwack up into some lake to go fishing. They swear by it so
that just put Bill and I a little more hopeful on catching some decent
Brook Trout this year.

It doesn't take long and everyone is there. There will be 10 of us able
to declare that we were the first in. I guess you can call it bragging
rights but to me being the first group to travel means you get a chance
to see what's in front of you, first. There's no paved road, no
bushwacked path, nothing but your group, a bunch of maps and compasses
and even a called for GPS or two maybe a little later then you thought
you needed it. It's a chance to experience raw weather, a sightless path
and an unknown destination. All the good things that make a story worth
telling and all the things that happen during it are the memories we
enjoy to share, or as others call it, swap lies by the camp fire....

Now, since we've done this before, it's easy to say that we are prepared
for when the train arrives to get our things on board. Our gear is not
light by any stretch of the imagination, but we group together and pick
up each others belongings for this trip and hoist it into the train in
no time flat. Really I'm quite amazed that we've got it down to no muss,
no fuss, just get it done and rest afterward. Sleds are in and everyone
wishes their goodbyes and we are off!

As the train leaves the station you wipe your brow and turn to the
nearest partner and express your thought. Woohoo! "We're on our way to
Nitro!". Usually a smile takes over your face, its a fun moment to be on
your way, what the heck , its all part of the adventure!

Chapter 2.
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