I am not too sure that this posting i just found from a month ago went out. If not, here it is. I'll out it in the right order when i get home.
We drove from Pancake Bay Provincial Park along a route i have taken five times already and so no planning was needed. Only difference this time was that there were Provincial Police all along the route, whereas before there were none. Fortunately, the truckers were always kind enough to alert us with a flash of their headlights, although in my Defender i do not need any warning, but i feel guilt nonetheless.
Along the way, Erde, who usually sleeps during the entire road trip, as did Leben, started pacing anxiously between the front and rear dog beds. Then i recalled that a few times when she did that, she was telling me she needed to go, badly. I stopped the car on the highway to let her out, and sure eniugh, she had to go. I almost paid the penalty for giving her free access ti that bag if dog treats, but thanks to her manners, and pride, neither of us did.
We stopped at our regular rest stop 35 miles north of Wawa at Depew River. It was there two years ago that i took the last photo of Leben walking. It was also there one year ago when Leben, anxious to get into the water during our break, raced over the steep incline in his wheelchair, and i had to winch up back up the hill with two leashes, on my back, to get him back up the hill afte his swim.
I was worried at that stop that Erde would long for her playmate, her brother, but A named Bill, who was there with his daughter Vanessa, served as a good surrogate and engaged Erde in some vigorous play. In return for his favor, i gave Vanessa, who told me she was on her way to some cross-fit competition down the road, a set of barbells some energetic person who had stopped there before us left there. How nice of me, huh?
We could not get the site we stayed in on our previous trips here, 34, but that was just as well. It was at that site two years ago where Leben became paralyzed. We got the site right next door to it, 35, and it was quite nice, right by the boardwalk and a short walk to this wonderful little bay, the source of the sound of the waves crashing on the shore to facilitate my sleep. Erde needs nothing to facilitate hers.
The worst part of these trips is Erde's eating habits. Mi never know if she will eat what i put out for her, despite its quality, or hold out for something better, as if there was for a dog, or a human for that matter. I have finally decided to put my foot down and if she does not eat i give her, that's her problem, not mine.
The pain of not having Leben here is lessening each day for the two of us. I have not heard Erde moan in two days, and i get choked up less when i talk about him. The scar will always be there, but the pain is turning into the joy of the memories of that magnificent dog.
Today we try for Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, where i stayed with Sonntag on our way back from Alaska in 2000, and several times with Leben and Erde. We'll stay there for a few days, waiting for my new AC blower to arrive in Thunder Bay, and then decide the next leg of the trip from there.
Some photos...Erde digging the exact same hole she dug last year and the year before; campsite at Pukaskwa (Erde is already in tent).
Ed and Erde, On The Road
P.S. Sorry for any errors in this message or posting. The iPad spellcheck is not known for its attention to detail.
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