Northern Edge Algonquin DAY:4 The last day

山で迎える３回目の朝にして、早くも今日が最終日。少しゆっくり目に起きると既に火がおこしてあり、皆それぞれにモーニング・コーヒーを飲んだり、朝食の準備に水を汲んできたり、寒中水泳をしたりしていた。朝食後すぐ出発なので、テントの中に広げたシートや寝袋、衣類などをパックしてからフレンチ・トースト、サラダ、フルーツなどの朝食。その後は、テントや荷物、持ってきた道具類をみんなで片付けて、キャンプサイトを後にした。今日は昨日、一昨日より少し風が強かったので、途中、岸寄りで風がやむのを待ったりしたものの、お天気は上々。見渡す限りの湖とうっそうと茂る木々、それだけ広い場所で、そこにいる人間は自分達９人だけ。来た時は大自然の前に怖気づいてしまった私なのだが、この４日間で少したくましくなっただろう。途中、ポーテージをして、湖が見えるいい場所で、最後のランチ。野菜やペースト状のディップなどをトルティーヤの皮でラップして食べた。そして最初に入水した場所に辿り着き、荷物やカヌーを陸揚げすると、カヌーを積む車を引っ張るトラックが迎えに来てくれていた。みんなで記念撮影。私と娘は来た時と同様にKaraの運転する乗用車に乗り込んだ。ベースキャンプまでの間、娘は目に涙を浮かべていた。それほどキャンプが良かったようだ。私も今まで色々な所を旅行したが、今回のような旅は初めてだった。大変だった分、とても充実していた。そしてやはり、自然が素晴らしかった。一緒に行ったメンバーも、ガイドをしてくれたKaraもみんなすごくいい人達だ。ベースキャンプに着き、借りた道具などを返して解散した。
帰りは"South River"まで送ってもらい、そこから"Ontario Northern Rail"のバスに乗った。Dundas（トロントのダウンタウン）まで約４時間。11号線を途中何度もお客のピックアップの為に乗り降りしながら、どんどん南下。その後、400に乗り換えた。ずっと道路と運転を見ていたので、今度は自分の車で行けるだろう。ただキャンプの後は疲れているので、バスで帰るというのも、なかなかいい選択なのだが。

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Time went by very quickly. This was the third morning in the mountain and was also the last day. I got up a little late, someone had already made a fire, and everyone spent their time having a cup of morning coffee or getting a water from the lake for the breakfast or swimming as a polar bear. So we should leave the campsite after breakfast, I packed our spreaded sheets or sleeping bags and clothes. Then I had some French toast and salad and fruit. After breakfast, we finished packing and left the site. So today was a bit more windy than yesterday or the day before yesterday, we once stayed and waited to clear up the wind close to the shore for short time, but the weather was mostly clear and sunny. As far as I could see the water and the green forest. There were only 9 of us in that wilderness. When I first came up here, I got cold feet in front of the great nature, but I might become strong after this 4days. I portaged and had a last lunch at the place with beautiful lake scenery. We rapped some veges and dips with tortillas. Then we finally got the point where we had gotten the water at the first day. I saw the truck with canue carrier to pick us up. We took ceremonial photographs. I and my daughter and 2 others got on Kara's car as same as outward. On the way to the basecamp, my daughter had tears come in her eyes. It seemed such a great experience for her. For me, although I have been traveling many different places, but this kind of adventure was the really first. It was a hard work and that's why I could feel bear fruit. And of course, our Mother Nature was very impressive. Our outdoor instructer Kara and all other participants were all kind and great. We reached at the site and returned the equipment, and were dismissed.
For the return trip, Matt drove us to the South River, and we got on the "Ontario Northern Rail" bus. It took 4 hours to Dundas bus tarminal (downtown Toronto). The bus went south along the route-11 with getting on and off the highway to picking up their customers. And we got on 400. I had been following his driving and route, I could drive there next time. But so we are getting tired after camping, taking the bus is not a bad choice.