July 26, 2004

The following is a transcript of notes made on July 19, the fifth day of my tour:

I left Alysia’s backyard later than I should have — Kat exhausted me the night before with stories about skinny-dipping and European travels — and exhausted I dragged myself down the river to reach Chatham.

A pleasant bike trail took me down the river, beyond Sarnia’s petrochemical machinery, towards lake Erie. And I found a campsite after taking endless back roads; the C.M. Wilson conservation area is is conveniently located next to the 401 and a railway track so instead of waves I heard cars zoom by all night long.

But camping was free — I arrived at the conservation area after the gates closed and I had to sneak my way inside. I know I should feel bad about it, but I don’t; I was exhausted and in desperate need of sleep.