Grundy Provincial Park by Susan L.

  It was with a great deal of sorrow we packed up yesterday from a wonderful vacation in a country of granite and water. The weather held for the most part only raining the first evening soon after we had everything set up. A heat induced thunderstorm rolled through later in the week. Otherwise, it was ideal for lazing at the beach, doing some painting or simply listening to the wind rustle through the trees.
 
We had a perfect site. There was a short path that lead to the water's edge of Gurd Lake.
  It was lovely to sit and watch the full moon creep its way across the sky. At night the water was as still as a mirror. A water beetle ballet was adorned with silver as they danced to the rhythmic strains of a bull frog's song.
  Our last night I saw a shooting star streak across the sky. (An answered prayer!)
  It appeared this area was a favorite place of a dinosaur-like snapping turtle. It was huge with a head the size of my fist and a shell the size of a turkey platter! Very accustomed to people, he (or she) let me get within a couple feet. It's not often you get to hear one of these rather shy amphibians breathe or watch them blow bubbles before they come up for air.
  We didn't see a bear even though there were bear advisory posters everywhere. There weren't many chipmunks either but perhaps that had to do with the fact there were numerous red squirrels swearing at everyone and everything. There were no racoons performing clandestine visits to the site. We were in a dog friendly area. They might have something to do with keeping the wildlife away. Although, if the wild things had taken a good look at my friends six pound silky terrier, they'd probably have laughed at her.
  There was a huge dock spider in the ladies washroom who came out at night. Her legs would have reached across the palm of my hand with no effort. I used the side where she wasn't. Even though my son has given me an appreciation of their hidden beauty some things never change.
  From the macro to the massive, everywhere was the opportunity to enjoy the incredible variety of God's creations.
  "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork." Ps 19:1-2