November 1st, 2004, 7:30pm

Last night was Halloween...

We didn't have any trick or treaters around here, we're a little too far removed for that. What we had instead was ~20 minutes or so of enchanting howling from the local coyotes. It was the first time I'd heard them since being here, and it was quite something. They were yipping, howling, barking, with their sounds echoing through the otherwise still forest. Dad had just gone to bed, and I was adding some wood to the fire so that I might continue with my reading & playing guitar. I left that and stepped outside to listen... The moon & clouds were visible up through the trees, and I listened, trying to judge how far away they might be, and wondering why this was the first time I'd heard them. I thought of the european settlers back in the day, and considered how they might have felt hearing such incantations. For me there was wonder, fear, awe... I decided that they were likely not moving as such, but staying put wherever they were. It sounded like they were within a thousand feet, not too far, but I really couldn't tell. Beyond "C" & "L"'s cabin anyway... After a couple minues I began to recognize different voices in the choir, characteristics of that particular call, and that one, and that one. Soon enough they were silent, and I went back in to the comfort of the couch, there in the midst of the forest, surrounded by glass walls, and warm.

A time of transition is upon us... in the next couple days we'll close up camp for the season, and head north. This has been an interesting time for sure. A great chance for my dad & I to spend a good long time together... and a great chance to be immersed in beautiful nature.

So... onward...