Elmwood School - Samara Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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FREE DESIGN BY PAULA PETERS

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SAMARA 15 tKfje Sfop J of Camping HERE we are on a beautiful lake where we may travel miles away from all civi- lization. First we must get a canoe, (invar- iably a canoe for a camping trip!) preferably an old leaky one as it adds suspense, making us wonder whether we can make the next island without sinking or not. Next the sleeping bags. Someone has told us that it is very cold sleeping outdoors at night on this particular lake, so we must take along plenty of extra blankets. As there are just two of us, four extra ones ought to suffice. There! Now, let ' s see what comes — Oh yes! Cooking utensils. We have been able to get a nice iron kettle, a frying pan and a large pot to take along — a bit on the heavy side, but just the things for a camping trip! Next, our provisions, then the tent and a whole list of necessary articles — flashlights, matches, a knapsack full of clothing (just in case we fall in) bathing suits, comb, tooth-brush, fishing rods — what did I hear you say? A gun? Whatever for? You ' re not afraid of the poor, dumb animals of the woods, are you? Well, is that all we need? We ' d better load them into the canoe. No, wait a minute, we forgot that the canoe leaks so we must put a tarpaulin in the bottom first. I hope we ' ll be able to get in after all our eguipment is stowed! Now we should be on our way as we have to travel at least two miles before lunch. You get in first. Careful, don ' t tip it. Canoes aren ' t very steady things, are they? At last, we ' re off! What was the name of that poem someone wrote? Oh yes, ' The Song My Paddle Sings . I can think of guite a few songs I like better — Hot work, this paddling, isn ' t it? Let ' s knock o ff for a bit of lunch. There ' s a pretty little island over there with a beach where we can land. Where did you put those sandwiches? Oh, here they are, slightly squashed but still eatable! Let ' s go over there in the shade and eat them. Here ' s an old log we can sit on. Why it ' s quite rotten; look how it crumbles when 1 kick it! What ' s that buzzing sound? Heavens! A hornet ' s nest! Run! Run! Ouch! It would be so romantic paddling into the red sunset, if only my arms didn ' t ache so! Oh, for an island to camp on, but the nearest one is at least a mile away. I sup- pose we ' ll reach it eventually. Here we are, and it ' s getting very dark so we will have to be quick in pitching our tent. This is a good spot. Now, let me see — Where ' s the other tent-pole? Not in the canoe and certainly not here. I suppose we have forgotten it! If we can ' t put up the tent, then we shall sleep under the open sky in true camping style! Hurry with those sausages! I ' m so hungry I could eat a bear — Oh no, I take that back! A bit frightening, isn ' t it, with the firelight flicking on those trees? What did you say? Would I care to hear the ghost story about the man who was out camping and — No, thank you! I think I ' ll turn in early. Nothing like a good sleep to refresh oneself! Why the canoes must have leaked more than we thought! The sleeping bags and blankets are quite damp. I suppose it won ' t kill us to sleep in them this once. I ' m so tired I could sleep on anything — well, almost anything — except this rock I ' m on right now! What w as that noise? It sounded like an animal crash — it couldn ' t have been! Good night! Are those eyes I see over there by that tree or just reflected firelight? Firelight, I hope, but I ' m not sure! I wish this sleep- ing bag wasn ' t so wet. Aren ' t the stars beautiful? My goodness, where are they? They were here a minute ago when I looked up! Is that a flash of lightning I see? and that couldn ' t be thunder! A drop of rain! Oh dear, What are we going to do? Let ' s go home! Joan Paterson, Form VI M, Nightingale.