Bare Loon - it's over so soon !

About 14km from Happy camp over gently undulating terrain Bare Loon is a short walk. Our last camp: I am not sad, it's been a great memorable few days.

It can't be all blue skies can it?  
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This is a day of intermittent rain, so our party is at an end ! Not quite.  The enjoyment provided by the walk is not going to be dulled by a bit of damp weather. Rain is important to keep the lakes and rivers full as well as the foliage in a healthy state.
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On our walk I get to know a bit more about my friend Candace. She is widely traveled and has had quite an extraordinary life running various businesses from helicopter pilot servicing the Arctic regions to custom shirts and she is now an accomplished artist.  Her art is inspired by the places she has been to and great or traumatic experiences.  Have a look at her web site and draw from this quote -
The thing you won’t forget about my paintings is how they make you feel. Through exploration of remote regions both inner and outer, I have distilled every joy and fear, hope, desire and expectation and transmute them in my paintings.
Unfortunately her mind was not in gear for painting on this walk, but I'm sure what we have seen and experienced will flow in to some future works.
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As I write this blog, Candace has found inspiration and created a set of abstract paintings. Trees, mountains, the water and flowers all come out from the images.
We pass by a deep canyon with an enthusiastic stream of water running down it. As I walk in a third party mind set I'm imagining Stuart and his mates taking on the challenge with their pack rafts descending the wild ravine - the risk - escape route is not apparent. Hmm. Live another day !
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Lindeman City was as its name suggests, a thriving city - of tents. The now treed shores were denuded and replaced with a somewhat filthy alternative with thousands of people living in less than sanitary conditions.  I'd imagine that the now pristine clean lakes would have been quite polluted and the skies choked with smoke.
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The lower Lindeman campsite was closed due to reported rogue bear activity. Apparently there is a bear who is a bit too human aware so the rangers are trying to convince it that it should perhaps seek a new home. We met the rangers and the way they do it is use paint ball guns and noise makers. If that doesn't work, let us just say the subject was left to our imagination. Many signs are on the tourist stops " a fed bear is a dead bear".
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I am told bears have sharp claws. Looking at this tree I can only imagine what chance I'd have should I be on the wrong side of a sore bear !
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(I will admit to suffering a bit of anxiety prior to this trip about bears. We have our snakes,sharks and spiders, but bears along with moose win in my books. I am somewhat disappointed though that not one bear apart from a fleeting glimpse of black fur was encountered in my 40 days in Canada.)

We are wandering by rivers, through forest and by lakes. I can't think of a better way to spend the day really. Our camp site is perched high over a lake, it is a pleasant location for our final camp.

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As easy as it is to move on to Bennet lake, there is no real reason to rush away. It is time to rest and 'smell the roses' and immerse oneself in the watery scenes and to reflect on the wonderful few days we've had in this area.

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