The next and final post about my recent vacation.
MUSIC: Eddie Vedder
NOTE: This song comes from the soundtrack for the movie Into the Wild which is based on a book by Jon Krakauer (based on a true story). I highly recommend all three: the book, the movie and the soundtrack.
I have traveled up into Northern Ontario in Canada many times in my life. The first time I went up to Temagami, Ontario I noticed these rock sculptures along the side of Highway 11. At first, I thought I had just thought I saw something odd. But I would see many more of them. In fact, I started to keep a close lookout for them. I would later find out that they were a marker meaning “man was here”. I would later find out they were called an “Inuksuk”. (The link has a nice description) And the following is quote I found about them.
The Inuksuk are ancient Canadian Inuit structures. Built in the image of man, they are a signature on the Arctic landscape of a hunter who has previously passed this way. Their strength of presence gives comfort to the traveler, assuring him that he is not alone. They are also messengers indicating safe passages, natural shelter and good hunting.
As I said I find these to be interesting. Although on this trip I did not see as many as I have had in the past. It could be as a result of the gas prices that not many people are traveling into this region. It can also be that many of them have fallen down due to weather 
and the simply passage of time.
I guess you can call yourself a tourist when you buy and over priced item. I am guilty as charged here. I bought a miniature “Inuksuk” (pictured on the left) for top of the entertainment center in my home. I do not know exactly why. But I thought it was something the place needed. Save the comments on that is not all the place needs. I know it needs more.
The problem is I hate doing “touristy” things many times. A tourist to me seems to be a person who travels to places just to look at things. I need to be doing something. I like that “hands on” things. I want to be a “traveler”. That type of person who seems to be willing to do something. I had to do something for myself while on vacation. So I took a couple of solo kayak trips around the island (Bell Island) I was staying on. It was nice to just be able to go and do something without having a “committee meeting” beforehand. On the back side of the island there is a mini bay area. It was peaceful and the water was very still. The woods around the bay were dense to try seeing anything that may lie within. There are still nice places that do exist on this planet. Kayaking by myself gave me a chance to see things at my pace. I was also able to “investigate” further the things that caught my attention. It was nice to have a chance to float in the water looking down at the fish below.
I had to also do something on my own to add to my “traveler” experience. This time up there I had a chance to do something I have wanted to every time I have been up there. I got the chance to make a couple myself. They were both placed on the back side of place called Bell Island on Temagami Lake. The first one was built on a trail near a footbridge. I wanted to build my own “Inuksuks”. The first one I built was along the trail that runs on the backside of the island. It was on the other side of the footbridge that is located there. But sadly, a couple of days later when I went back there only to find that it had been kicked over by someone or something. I guess you find that anywhere you go.
I did build a second one. It is also near the footbridge. It was in the woods along the shoreline of the bay. I am not sure how long it will last. I realize that the weather along with march of time will probably reclaim my “Inuksuk”.
I am not sure if anyone out there will ever find them. I get why people take walks into the woods by themselves. It is a time to be with yourself and your thoughts. Without the distractions of modern life. And without the need to explain and defend those thoughts. If you find this marker by yourself some day. I just want to let you know that “I get it”.
I found your site on Google and read a few of your other entires. Nice Stuff. I’m looking forward to reading more from you.