23rd September 2014

We are still alive.

Last night we experienced an unexpected warfare, a siege that will not be surpassed easily. Beth, Aoife and I (Carly) barely survived, the physical attack was so swift and unexpected.

Arriving at the campsite in Algonquin, Ontario we were excited to spend the night in the wilderness, hoping to see some of the beautiful Canadian wildlife. ‘Beware of the bears’ signs greeted us at the campground gate along with written instructions on bear attractants and how to remove them – basically don’t smell like food, you won’t be food. So, very aware of how to not leave food out around the campground, we proceeded to sit down and enjoy our Walmart picnic lunch – with an eye out for a random bear.

As soon as we sat down, movement was spotted at the perimeter. Only very small and quick, we immediately recognised we were not under bear threat. Instead a very cute little chipmunk foraged around in the bushes on the edge of camp.

“Oh he’s so cute, we need him to come a little closer and hold still so we can get a picture,” we said. Little did we know what was about to unfold.

Over the next few minutes our chipmunk friend came closer and closer. He would run up, have a sniff, run back, then come a little closer, sniff, and run back. Closer and closer he came to our picnic table whilst we, poised with our cameras, were trying to get a perfect picture.

The next minute Beth lets out a sudden, “Whaaaa!!!!” mouth and eyes wide in surprise and fright. “It just touched my leg and started climbing my calf!!!”

“What?!?!” Aoife and I exclaim and begin looking under the table to see where the little guy has gone.

Suddenly another appears. It seems Chip has joined Dale and the chipmunk invasion is underway. Back and forth they continue to run, under our feet, closer to our Walmat picnic on the table.

“Can chipmunks jump?” I ask.

“I don’t think so,” says Beth. “They seem too small and cute to jump up on the table.”

Suddenly a chipmunk launches itself onto the bench next to me and is sitting up on the seat sniffing, with our picnic in its sights. Just as suddenly it jumps back down from the table, runs under, and climbs up Beth’s leg!

“Whaaaaaaat!!” Beth yells and the chipmunk continues to climb until it is sitting in her lap.

Thoughts of rabies and tetanus shots spring to our minds. The chipmunk then leaps from Beth’s lap into Aoife’s causing us all to spring to our feet, “Oh my God we are under attack!”

Screaming ensues.

The chipmunk is relentless. He and his mate are circling the tables, running under, over and between our feet, jumping on and off the bench seats.

“What do we do?!?!” We yell at each other.

Thoughts of abandoning all dinner food and climbing up on top of the trailer seeking refuge enter our minds. We may have to surrender the camp to our invaders, who are bringing in reinforcements.

Surrounded, I raise my foot and gently kick at a chipmunk whilst making a loud, shooing noise and waving my arms. It just sits there, looking at me completely unfazed. The expression on it’s face as I wave my limbs around clearly saying, “Seriously? You don’t think we have faced and won against an inexperienced Australian before?”

Meanwhile Aoife returned to her tent to sort out her stuff. After stepping out of her tent, walking four steps to the picnic table and then going back, Beth and I hear a yelling, “Get out!” In a stern Irish accent. A chipmunk is inside Aoife’s tent eating her Walmart Twizzlers! As Aoife gets closer to the doorway, it disappears further inside.

They have invaded our dining area and now our homes – again hilarious thoughts of surrender enter our minds.

Luckily, lunch over and total invasion imminent, it occurs to us that if we throw away the amazingly delicious honey maple ham packet, bree cheese and biscuits the chipmunks may lose interest.

Thankfully this was the case. Rubbish tied up in bags, delectable food smells removed, calm is once again restored. We have survived and maintained our camp, just in time for everyone else to return for dinner.