Hi,

Here's what you've been waiting for--the report of the most unusual trip I've ever been on.

We left camp on Monday and arrived at Gooseberry Falls State Park (Minnesota) in the afternoon.  After visiting Split Rock Light House we went swimming under-and IN- the Falls.  This was one of the most exciting and unusual experiences I've ever had.  The Falls were quite large and at the bottom was a natural pool.  The drop off to the water was so sudden that it was possible to dive directly off the rocks (20 feet).  We also did what I've always dreamed of doing but thought it was something that happened only in movies of the South Seas--sliding down the falls!  It was fabulous!  The dinner consisted of "Geno Special" (Mulligan), and lots of soda.

Tuesday morning (5:00 AM) we left for Kakabaca Falls--a few miles outside of Port Arthur, Ontario.  There, we viewed the beautiful falls and then had another fabulous meal---grilled cheese burgers(3) and baked beans.  After dinner, David Jones, Chuck Sims and I got to know 3 girls who were camped near us.  I was amazed to find that the Canadians have a sort of English accent.

Wednesday we left for Falcon Beach, Manitoba--we drove through Kenora so I see why this is a favorite fishing spot. The drive was unbelievable.  While highways in the U.S. tend to bypass the really beautiful sights (mostly flat land), this highway--Highway 1--cut through beautiful forests with lakes appearing all around.  Falcon Beach is really "something else." Talk about sugar coated camping--WOW!--beautiful bathrooms, kitchenettes (deposit 10cents for 1/2 hour of electric range use), cafeteria, malt shop, drug store, barber shop, grocery store, magnificent beach, dances--all within walking distance of our "camp site."

Thursday, we left for a day (so we thought) in Winnipeg--about 90 miles away.  I saw the Parliament Buildings; the capitol was one of the most magnificent structures I've ever seen--domes, statues, thrones--all unbelievable.  I then walked around the city, called you, got the Toby, and went back to the truck (5:00).  At about 5:15 (I am taking the times directly from the log) the Greenbrier broke down.  We were towed to the station about 20 miles outside of Winnipeg.  A mechanic arrived at 6:25--we ate dinner and then found that the bathroom was out-of order.  At 9:45 the mechanic said the truck was ready so we were on our way once again.  At 10:30 the truck broke down again in Nowhere, Manitoba; it was dark and hot and were right beside a swamp.  For safety, we got out of the truck and got bitten to death.  Bob Heller and I hitchhiked to a station-store about 10 miles away.  We managed to get in touch with a tow truck which arrived at 12:20.  It took us to a GM station in Winnipeg--2:15.  We then went to a really bad hotel-The Cornwall-3:00, and we were finally asleep by 4:30. 

FRIDAY
The next day we learned that the truck required a complete overhaul, so we left for Falcon Beach in a rent-a-car that afternoon.  Before leaving, we saw "The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming," don't bother.  We went to a dance at Falcon Beach that night and went to bed thinking that we wouldn't be leaving until Tuesday or Wednesday.

SATURDAY
At about 9:00, Dan Schwartz told Gene that he was going to take a shower and would be back in 25 minutes.  The rest of us slept until 10:30, when Gene, back from calling Lou, woke us and told us to break camp--Lou wanted us back and were to catch a bus in Fort Francis; 4 hours drive.  We were ready to leave when we noticed that Dan wasn't back.  After a brief search, we realized we wouldn't be able to catch our bus.  Gene called Lou and told him (Tom Jaggers had already been sent to meet us in Duluth)--as you may have guessed Lou was a bit upset.  He told us to keep searching for "Bird Brain" and finally, Chuck Sims and I found him at the golf course---"I was caddying."  As you may have guessed, Gene was a bit upset.  Oh well; the tents went  back up and we had another day at Falcon Beach.  I got a hair cut and then went out with a girl from Winnipeg--really sharp!

SUNDAY
On Sunday morning Gene drove us to our bus which took us to Fort Francis-International Falls.  There we transferred to a  bus headed for Duluth.  On the bus I sat with a beautiful 17-year-old from London.  Her accent was out of this world.  Her fiancée, a student at Oxford, collects English campaign items.  She told me that there is a national organization similar to the APIC in England.  I'll write to her for more information.  Mom, you would have loved her-bright, beautiful, and English.  Tom Jaggers met us in Duluth and drove us back to camp-11:30.

Today-Wednesday-we got a call from Gene.  The Greenbrier was fixed.  It got him as far as Superior, Wisconsin where it broke down again.  All told, the repair bill is at least $500--plus the expense of keeping us in a hotel and providing meals for two days.

Despite the many mishaps, the trip was one of the best I've ever been on and the experience was one I'll never forget.

Please keep this letter for me as a record of the trip and as evidence that once in my life I sat down and wrote a LONG LETTER.

                                                         Chuck

Kawaga Alumni Association