Day 5

One big advantage to staying in a hotel is that we get to start the day with a shower. It’s nice to feel clean. G3 and I also changed our shirts. Kati is a little better at changing more frequently. Before heading out for the day, we grabbed breakfast at the hotel. It was bland and subpar, but it was already paid for. While eating, G3 told me that he saw the original Deadpool movie long before we actually let him watch it. He said it was one of the times he was in Mattituck without me. He was upset because he desperately wanted to see the movie but I wouldn’t let him. My dad, who hated for him to be sad, told G3 they could watch the movie together, but G3 had to promise not to “throw him under the bus.” Did Dad really allow his grandson to see Deadpool? It’s not like I can call him up to ask, but it certainly fits his profile. He loved making G3 happy and giving him everything he could.

This morning, we drove up to High Falls on the Onaping River. Nearly two billions years ago, a meteorite slammed into the earth near what is now Sudbury, Ontario. According to scientists, the meteorite was traveling forty kilometers a second when it hit, forming the second largest impact crater on the planet. The damage was a hole in the earth’s crust thirty-five kilometers deep. The crust also melted, creating the largest concentration of mines in the word that produce nickel, copper, platinum, and gold. The falls plunge over the lip of the basin formed by the meteorite.

The walk from the parking lot to the first viewing platform was short, not even a hundred meters. We’ve seen dozens of waterfalls, and while these might not have been the most beautiful, the river framed by the surrounding landscape—lush green trees and craggy rocks and boulders—was gorgeous. We hiked along the path that led to a metal bridge. G3, our mountain goat, in the lead gracefully bounding from rock to rock, Kati in the rear, a cautious turtle, taking her time to avoid injury, and me, the pack mule in the middle, carrying a backpack with water and doing my best to keep everyone from getting hurt. Three years ago, I asked a friend—Mike Beckwith—to paint our family portrait with these animals because it seemed more appropriate than something more lifelike. We haven’t changed.

The path was rocky, which made for a more enjoyable hike, but when we got to the bridge, we opted to do a one kilometer loop. What a mistake that was. We traversed flat forest ground and were feasted upon mercilessly by thirty mosquitoes. We killed them as they drank our blood, but it seemed each death brought a pair or more of vindictive friends, determined to make us miserable. By the time we circled back to the bridge we looked diseased with all our bites. But the moment we recrossed the bridge, the insects left us alone. It’s like they were afraid to cross with us to the other side.

On the way back, we leisurely took our time, stepping off trail at one point. We climbed on the rocks and G3 tested the water temperature with his hand. It was so hot, if swimming had been possible or safe, I think we all would have taken a dip. A large bird, perhaps a heron or a crane—again my history knowledge is far superior to my science knowledge—came to visit as we were indulging in the beauty and peace around us. He must have been used to humans because he didn’t get spooked when we drew close to take pictures.

We are on vacation, going to new places, seeing new things, and all G3 wants to do is watch the new Deadpool movie. He’s been whining about it since we got on the road. So that is what we are doing this afternoon. I’m hoping that if he sees the movie he’ll stop complaining about everything else.

Warning—Light Spoilers—Skip this paragraph if you don’t want any information about the movie.

G3 loved the movie, I didn’t. The opening and ending were fantastic, but all the TVA stuff in the middle both bored and confused me. I appreciated Ryan Reynolds’s humor. I enjoy the way he speaks to the audience and jokes about Marvel and Fox and just about everything else. And the soundtrack was amazing. The movie revived old songs, choosing ones that seemed bizarre and not what you might expect, but somehow they enhanced the movie. Seriously, Olivia Newton-John and Madonna would not be my go to for fight scenes, but I liked the scenes so much more because of them.

Of course, watching a superhero movie reminded me of Dad. He loved action movies. I am certain he would have been excited to see Huge Jackman back as Wolverine. But he died before the TVA and the multiverse consumed Marvel. G3 thinks Dad would have liked the Loki show, but neither of us have any clue if he would have cared for the multiverse. At the end of the movie, thinking about Dad and the fact that he didn’t live to see Deadpool and Wolverine, I cried. It’s been more than four years since he died, and still the most random things make me miss him. I wish I could call him up and ask him what he thought of the movie. I’m sure G3 would have liked talking to him about it. No, if Dad were alive, they would have seen the movie together, and G3 would have enjoyed it even more.

After the movie we stopped by the Lake Laurentian Conservation center. The view of the lake was pretty, but nothing spectacular. We took a short walk along the trail, and might have stayed out longer, but the mosquitoes started feasting on us—specifically Kati, who must have the sweetest blood—again.

Back at the hotel, since it was not yet dark, G3 and I tossed the football around for a while in the parking lot.