 Want
in on a little secret? Whenever I’m feeling a little out of sorts or a
little trapped behind my desk … I take out a folded little card (matchbook
sized), read three little words and get one big boost of It’s OK-ness.
The card suggests this: Go With Shirley.
Inside is a phone number and address for Shirley Mills of Wawa, Ontario,
who guides those who “yearn for a hike and want company.”
The mere thought that, should I want to, I could Go With Shirley
refreshes me. I could stop what I’m doing, give Shirley a call and she’d
guide me along gorgeous cliffside paths beside Lake Superior. Shirley is
my kind of a gal.
My husband and I found this folded gem at the visitor center with the big
goose in Wawa while on holiday last summer. Yes, we live near Lake Superior,
but, yes again, we often vacation beside it. I’ve been to Europe, to the
U.S. West, the U.S. East and the U.S. South. I strolled the streets of
a Mexican border town while visiting my snowbird dad and stepmom. All that
travel leads me to conclude that The Creator simply doesn’t do bad work
when it comes to planet making. But I admit, I believe that Lake Superior
was a particular stroke of magnificence. And I bet Shirley would back me
on that.
 While
in Wawa, we didn’t take Shirley up on her offer. I kept the card and wondered
what Shirley was like each time I thought about how nice it would be to
get up and Go With Her. I feared that the real Shirley might not be as
magical as my imagined Shirley. Therapists say we should confront our fears.
I say therapists should Go With Shirley. I can say this with great authority
because, recently, I gave Shirley a call.
Why, I asked Shirley, did she print up these cards?
“I did it for people who might be antsy about going in to the trails on
their own,” Shirley says. They shouldn’t miss the local hikes, she knows,
especially her favorite - Orphan Lake Trail.
“It’s glorious. It’s a moderate hike,” says guide Shirley. “Going down
towards the lake, there’s a lookout. In the right season, there are wild
orchids near the path and close to the water. Some of the trees are huge.”
Shirley will retire soon from the work-a-day world - she’s been a dental
assistant, in retail and recently worked part time at Lake Superior Provincial
Park. The avid hiker plans to take up more guide work. “It’s something
that I love to do.… How good is that!”
To Go With Shirley isn’t a financial burden. She charges $11 per person
- even for long hikes - often brings muffins and maybe her dog. “You bring
your own water,” she says. Shirley thought traveling women would especially
need a local guide for hikes, but after working at the park and seeing
women come to kayak, camp and such, Shirley says, “Jeepers … it’s unbelievable
what they do on their own.”
So you can either go on your own to take in the wonder that is Lake Superior
… or you can go with Shirley.
How good is that.
Konnie LeMay
Editor
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