Camping trip in Algonquin park...

Last weekend me and four other exchange students from Europe (two german, two french) Emmanuel, Pierre, Stefan, Fredrick, gathered up and went for a canoe/camping trip to Algonquin Park.

The first day we camped at the small lake Tea Lake near the entrance of the lake, the second day we canoed all the way accross three big lakes, including portages. The portages are the most difficult part of the journey, not only you will have to carry the luggage, but the canoes as well.

The second night we camped out in the island of a big lake (Big Porcupine), lovely little island. Every thing was smooth up to that point, the second day, the wind was so strong that sometimes no matter how hard you paddle, you simply turn in circles. After we got to our cars, we were completely soaked. However, the crew's spirit was extremely high still, and we all laughed at the fact that if the wind was any stronger, we would have to stay for the third night.

I must say it was a great trip, one of the physically tiring, but mentally relaxing trips I've had. Culturally, Listening to two different languages spoken at the same time was quite interesting, especially French flows like a river, while German sounds very discrete.

The best part that I must admit of the whole trip was the beautiful sunrise in the morning: you are surrounded by the clear water of the lake, with the forest in the horizon, occasional bird chirps. Just you and the nature. I really didn't want to come back, I just wished that moment could last forever. It just reminded me the lyrics to the song "Clarity" by John Mayer, "By the time I recognize this moment, this moment will be gone; But I will bend all the lights pretending, that it somehow lingered on."

Sometimes I think we are all tighted up with our troubles, worries with our lives that we forget to enjoy what the nature has to offer, and with the increase in polutions, places like Algonquins are becoming more and more rare. We really need to understand that we can never reproduce what we destroy, so personally preservering the environment should become the first priority for us.