Saturday, August 19, 2023

Killarney Baptism

                              Between George and Little Sheguindah Lakes, Killarney Provincial Park 

A quick word of thanks for you patience in my slow response to some of your comments (please check back.) We've been away for the better part of a week, camping and paddling, rambling and swimming. I can post blog entries in advance, and even see comments, but responding is a challenge.

We did tent but also had our first experience in a yurt at Killarney Provincial Park. The weather was great, the yurt was excellent, and the experiences of solitude and natural beauty were a soul tonic. 

 Congregational ministry took us to a downtown church in Sudbury for eleven years and over that time I ventured to Killarney well over a hundred times, often with our family, for the day or into the interior of Ontario's southernmost wilderness park on canoe ventures. As early risers we were able to enjoy time in our kayaks on Georgian Bay with virtually no one around. This is no small feat. Now trail access must be booked as well as canoe routes. 

Ruth and I chatted about the numerous congregational saunters and paddles at Killarney, as well as the Cup and Saucer Trail on Manitoulin Island, Chutes Park and other wonderful spots. We shook our heads at the realization that we didn't have waiver forms for the earlier outings, even though we were at the edge of cliffs and alongside raging waters, in all seasons. Yet dozens, even scores of St. A's folk took part and all survived, by the grace of the Creator!

Before we left we had a hectic week of guests and family activities, actually slipping away last Sunday while some of them were still asleep (they knew we would be gone when they awakened.) 

Because of the realities of aging we heard of a host of physical and cognitive woes from those we spent time with before leaving. We do not take for granted our mobility as we enter the geezer zone. When we swam in Little Sheguindah Lake, secreted away, Ruth declared it a baptism carrying our worries away, and I would have to agree. 


                                                                           Georgian Bay

2 comments:

kb said...


The importance of your outdoor ministry to those lucky enough to be part of your church in Sudbury was profound and long lasting. Thank you David and Ruth-KB

David Mundy said...

Thanks for the affirmation, Kathy. It really was the perfect blend of our passion for Creation and that of St. A's members at a time when there was still lots of energy in the congregation. There is a growing Wild Church movement in North America but I think we were "wild" before there was a name for it. Have a blast on the goddesses weekend!