We made it to the fort in time for the first tour of the
day. A short walk on a nature trail took us to the spot where we met our tour
guide. She was in period costume, and described the surroundings as if she was
an Ojibwa Indian in the year 1815. She talked about her life in a wigwam. It is
called a wigwam because it is made out of wig was (birch bark). The Ojibwa
called the birch tree the tree of life because they used it for so many life
sustaining things. The fort is on the banks of the Kaministiquia River. It is a
short distance upstream from the site of the original fort. The fort was
operated by the North West Company - a rival of the Hudson Bay Company. In the
1800’s traders brought furs from all over the northwest to rendezvous and trade
at Fort William. Our guide took us to a replica building where the furs were
bundled for shipment, and showed us hundreds of beautiful furs. There were
wolf, fox, ermine, wolverine, and even red squirrel which was used to line
ladies gloves. They also have a small
operating farm there and a large garden. It was the best historical fort and
interpretive tour we have ever experienced.
After returning to camp at Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, I
took Val for a walk around the campground. The campground is wooded with aspen,
birch, ash, and evergreens, and there is enough space between sites that you
cannot see someone camped right next door. As we walked around the campgrounds
there were no other humans around. There were trailers and tents, but no
people. Some of the camps look as though no one has been around for a while. It
was like some weird boreal plague had struck in the campground. Will we be
next? It was just strange, and so we tried to think of other things such as the
beauty of the area so we could shake the heebee jeebees and get back to camp.
Signs of life became visible to Dave and I some time later
as he was walking with me without a leash. Park officials came driving by and
gave Dave a warning that dogs must be on a leash. Busted! We went back to camp
and leashed up. Who knows what happens to people who break the rules? Maybe
they just disappear leaving their trailer – never to be seen again…
Nervous in the North,
Remington
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