We met some extraordinary people "George and Margaret, who are 80 years old", while on our hike. (their grandson is standing with them)
It's quite a rugged hike, took us 6 hrs to get to the top & back down again. To think they did the same route, just astounded me.

I met George 1st, as Pat and I were stumbling over a tight squeeze of rocks and crevices filled with water. Sensed there was someone behind me...it was an elderly gentleman, struggling to
find safe rocks to climb up on. I lean back to make room & asked him to please pass by me. He smiled and said, "It's okay, I'm not going fast". I replied, "You might not be fast but you are Fantastic!".
He looked up and said "What a wonderful thing to say, I'm 80, you know". "Well that is truly Remarkable", I said in AWE. Pat'll be in front of you and I'll be behind...these rocks are slippery...just till you get
to more even footing. I inquired hoping he wasn't alone, (he wasn't, mentioning that his wife & grandson were up ahead. Once on solid ground he thanked us and encouraged us to go on ahead.

After wandering along a river, to my surprise I saw George sitting in the distance. He was happy to see us and pointed to a lady laying down reading, saying, "That's, my wife Margaret,
she has cancer & just finished her 7th round of Chemo last week and we are waiting to hear test results. She wanted very much to come up and hike in Algonquin Park".
WELL...it choked me right up, I was so astounded by them...we hugged and hoped we'd meet up again near the top.

Much later at the top of the lookout...I climbed out onto a boulder to get a view of the autumn colours below. As I turned looking up the cliff, I saw Margaret sitting near the edge, eating an apple
just staring at all the beauty. I climbed back up and sat next to her (without telling her I knew what she had been through), I praised her for making this enormous climb & what a pleasure it was to meet them. We chatted about nature & life for awhile, then seeing George further back in the forest, eating a sandwich, I went over to him. He smiled a beautiful smile and said how wonderful it was that we met again. For me, it was an Honour! Emotionally...we hugged before I left. As I passed his grandson, he whispered "Thank You".

George and Margaret were inspiring in a multitude of ways. I told them that they would always be remembered, and they are. Hoping they get to see these pictures of themselves in my gallery.

George when we met again by the riverside


Margret resting, reading the map for the route to the lookout.