It wasn't just that I wanted to go - I HAD to go! My wife wasn't able to take the time, but one of my three daughters, Lori, who lives in Atlanta, and who cherishes anything to do with family history - of which Kawagama was an important part - was eager to accompany me. I rented a car, picked her up and we headed for Toronto via I-75, Detroit/Windsor and the 401. We both wanted the whole experience, and that meant taking the bus, which we did. As far as I could tell. Lori was the only camper's child there - thanks to her, the Kawagama spirit will long survive me!
Strange to meet people - including 4 of my cabinmates - who I hadn't seen or even communicated with in 51 years. Strange, too, to see an island in part totally transformed, and in part much the same. I expected to find formerly open areas overgrown, but not with full-sized trees! But 51 years is plenty of time for a tree to reach maturity!
Just a few personal observations. My first cabin, 32, was still standing and largely unchanged. The Hub looked exactly the same, inside and out. The old pump in back was still there, but, alas, missing its handle. To this day, I've never drank such deliciously cold and pure water as I got from that pump.
I was at Kawagama from 1950 through 1955; one of the first Buffalo campers. Ironically, months after leaving Kawagama for the last time, I actually moved to Canada when my dad accepted a position in Montreal. We were there for four years. Since then, I've made occasional trips to Canada, ranging from Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia and points in between. With what's been happening in the States, now and in previous decades, I often look longingly towards what has been described as "the peaceable kingdom to the north."
I'll be posting some photos soon. Meanwhile, if any of my former friends plan to be in South Florida and want to meet for a drink or whatever, I'm at Corona70@aol.com.
Richard Rosichan, Feb. 15 '07
It was