We started one Friday just before dark
To go camping in Algonquin Park.
With three crews attending Each car full of Rovers.
We turned our car Northward and Northward we drove'er
The Crew from Carunna laid out the trail.
Next was Port Lambton with the 'burg at the tail.
At our destination we arrived about three
And we were all tired as tired could be.
We slept where we could, all over the place
In cars, on the hillside, on our backs, on our face.
We awoke about five to be first in line,
But the store didn't open till round about nine.
We got our canoes and paddles of course,
And away we all went and we worked like a horse.
The skipper of Corunna called Doug was Our Guide.
He had a blue kayak with his gear all inside.
As Port Lambton skipper I stayed close to Doug
You couldn't help liking that Corunna lug.
The third crew that came from the Wallaceburg Parts
Were led by a man called Tom Vella-Zarb.
Our flotilla consisted from front to the back
Of just ten canoes and three kayaks.
We hadn't gone far when the shore we were seeking
Adrian's kayak began seriously leaking.
High on an island back in the trees
We hid the kayak where noone could see
Then sharing his load we started again
Across the lake and around the bend.
We paddled a head wind, the waters were choppy
And some inexperienced found canoeing quite sloppy.
We paddled and paddled till long about four
We all were so tired we headed for shore
We picked out a clearing, tied our craft up tight
And decided that here we would all spend the night.
After eating our super and pitching our tents
Some took their canoes and exploring went.
Things began happening, as things often do,
For two lost their balance and fell out of their canoes.
Into the waters they went with a splash
Up to the top they came with a gasp.
"Oh stay there a minute", we all said to one,
And away for our cameras we went on the run.
He didn't stay long; back on shore we were told,
"Nuts to you guys, this water is cold!"
Our camping was casual, haphazard in scope,
With tent pegs, and tent poles and miles of rope,
The grandest assortment of shelters were tried.
With plastic sheets, tents, and canoes on their sides.
Our motto for mealtime, we found hard to eat.
Whatever you cooked brother, you had to eat.
The darkness descended - it came all too soon
And we went to sleep to the laugh of the loon.
The next day was calm, like a pond was the lake.
So into our canoes for a trip we did take,
We paddled our canoes o'er the lake we went slipping.
When we stopped for a rest some went skinny dipping.
The braver ones took to the water quite bare.
The timid ones got wet in their underwear.
We returned to the camp and our supper we ate
Our dishes were done about half past eight.
Then much of our planning had to be made
For the Wallaceburg camp we were going to raid.
We paddled so silently, hushed was each dip,
Our faces were set for our dark midnight trip
As silent as shadows we slipped to their docks
Then suddenly we were bombarded with rocks.
With an exchange of greetings we returned to our base.
We had been repelled and we felt disgraced.
But some more ambitious returned about two
And stealthily made off with a Wallaceburg canoe.
Then in the morning Tom came to our shore
He said "We're in trouble, your help we implore,
A canoe is found missing, it's stolen or lost,
And this lake's cold waters still have to crossed."
"This is very strange" I replied to our guest,
And I secretly smiled, knowing, "he who laughs best"
I explained, "upon rising I found within reach,
One extra canoe lying there on our beach."
Soon after we ate and broke camp for good
Cleaned up our camp-site the way that we should
We paddled three hours then headed for shore
Returned our canoes to the old Portage Store.
We hurried away till suddenly, Wham:
There we were stuck in a big traffic jam.
We sweated it out until finally cleared.
But the time that we lost was as bad as we feared
It cost us three hours to wait there in line
And one of our drivers almost got a fine.
'Twas late in the morning, about two was the hour
When I arrived home and had a hot shower
Climbed into my bed, to my wife said good night
Content that our journey had turned out alright
But when it's all over and past events you renew
Great are the adventures to those who canoe.

My days as a Scouter

Scout Apple Day in Canada is one of the annual activities. This picture was one of the reminder notes issued to Scouters in the early 60's.

---

Wood Badge

I hold the beads and parchments in five sections which apart from paid staff is not achieved by too many scouters. My first course was the Second Wood Badge Course held in Malta. I did my first part, and then attended the second part. At the end I received a letter from the DCC, Col J.V. Abela telling me that although I qualified, I was underage, at the time I was only 19, and he referred the matter to the UK officials. The reply was to take the course again when I was of age.

At one of the weekends (in Malta), it was my turn to cook for my patrol. I was cooking an octopus stew. My young brother came to visit. One of the scouters commented that the stew looked black. This is quite normal, but I answered him that I had forgotten my ladle and used a stick from the fire. He said to count him out, that was a relief so I invited my brother for dinner with us.

At another weekend in Blue Springs we had been given an STA to set up an "emergency situation" and were to give the designated alarm when we were ready. Our crew rigged up an elaborate situation, ... a person on the roof of a hut had an electric cable fall down on him ... One of our guys sounded the alarm. Again I was the cook, this time cooking a chicken on a spit. In the excitement, I forgot about the chicken and ran towards the bell where the alarm was sounded. The exercise went excellently ... however the chicken was burnt to a crisp.

One thing I loved doing is collecting signatures of the scouters on courses I attended and then my mother and my late wife would embroider them for me. Here are some of these mementos:

On my Crew Wood Badge, on one of the weekends when our cook went to get the supplies from the Quarter Master, he was given one half of a loaf of bread, half a dozen eggs, .... in short it was a very meagre ration for six hungry adults. The reason was that the larder was ransacked by a raccoon. The QM had to go to town to replenish the supplies. At one of the morning sessions we spied the "fat thief" strolling along in the sun!

---

Scoutmaster days.

A fellow scouter in Malta kicked out a German scout [Herbert Lenicker] who was irritating him by wiping his shoes on a Union Jack. I thought it over and invited this boy to join my troop. I took him aside and told him that I would purchase a Swastika flag and anytime he played his insullting trick again I would use the Swastika to clean my shoes. I found out he resented to pledge loyalty to the Queen, etc. So I modified the Investiture and had him pledge, I promise to do my duty to God aand to the Country which I serve. Later on, I had to collect parental consent from the boys before taking them to camp. I remember clearly this scout’s parent stated, I will let my son, Herbert to go swimming as long as he is in the company of a leader. Swimming time came and I told the boys that I was going to swim across the bay and those who could make it were welcome to accompany me. Herbert said, "scouter I cannot swim but if you let me hold on to your shouler I want to come". I allowed him and about half way he let go of my shoulder and he swam by himself. He grew up to become a doctor and the last time I heard he was the chief of staff of one of the old people’s homes.

I used to go to Lansing, Michigan often with my troop, and later with my Crew. At one of the International camporees, I was marking the semaphore event. I came upon a patrol who were all standing or squatting in the proper way. Impeccable. They started to send the message and with a staright face, the reader was shouting out, one letter at a time, for the “scribe” to jot down,

W-E-A-R-E-T-E-N-D-E-R-F-O-O-T-A-N-D-D-O-N-T-K-N-O-W-S-E-M-A-P-H-O-R- E

I grinned and gave them a passing mark for effort, and for their ingenuity.

At an international camporee in Wallaceburg, where we had patrols from Lansing, Detroit, Chatham, Sarnia and of course Wallaceburg, I was the Camp Chief. That weekend my parents were leaving and I wanted to see them off. So I discussed it with my assistant and all was ok. Meanwhile, I thought of the emergency contingency plan and thought to combine my being away with an emergency. I discussed it with my assistant and with the SJAB man who was on duty throughout the camporee. The plan was that when I returned to camp, late at night, or should I say in the wee hours of the morning, I would inform the SJAB man and drive my car into a ditch. All was set and the emergency alarm was sounded. My assistant who was in charge annnounceed that scouter Tom had not returned and a search party was organized. When my car was found with me slouching on the steering wheel, I could hear all their conversations. I was then lifted and placed in the Ambulance to be taken to Hospital. The bright light shining as I was placed on the stretcher and into the vehicle nearly made me blink and give the game away. When everyone was back in bed, I quietly was taken to my bed. Next morning at flag break I commended them all for the way they handled themselves. There were a couple of dissenting voices, but I felt it was a very productive exercise.