Some Old Memories ... and Some Hikes In a Few ONTARIO Parks

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We were planning a trip to CANADAs' East Coast this year; however, given the rising fuel costs we've decided to stay in our home province instead. We have other adventures planned for later in the season; ICELAND (driving the Ring Road) in September (3+ weeks) and a return to MEXICO (SCUBA & Snorkelling) in December/January (5+ weeks), so a short drive around Ontario will keep us well-entertained for now. 

It's always been a goal to visit as many Ontario Provincial Parks as we can; bought the passport booklet. More than 100 offer vehicle camping, many are backcountry only (canoe tripping, backpacking) and some are non operating. On this trip we'll 'crow-hop' between some parks we've never been to or haven't been to in a very long time. 

                        

Most of our reservations are at parks that offer good hiking and paddling possibilities. A couple of our earlier camps will be at places where Helen and I (each) first spent a few years of our late teens/early twenties; so ... we'll be tweaking our memory banks.  

We're shooting with 2 cameras. I've purchased a new DSLR camera. Once again, I'll be taking way too many photos; Helen, will only be taking the best 😏ones ... hopefully a few will be worth adding to this post. 

If you want to see our complete gallery after reading the blog from this adventure, then go here. 

As always, click on the blue links if you're interested in more detail.

As our new friend Mark said ... 

" Just get out there, the chores can wait ! "

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The CAMPs ...

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Farron Campground, St. Lawrence Parks                                                                                                                         

CAMP1 (1 night): No photos. Some very good cycling opportunities. Site#75 is a good one, great privacy, flat, across from the water. Just a quick stop to visit with friends we haven't seen in awhile.

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Shady Ridge Campground, Charleston Lake Provincial Park                                                                                                  

CAMP2 (4 nights): Site#352 is excellent. Helen's parents lived nearby on Killenbeck Lake for many years. We spent a lot of time in the area and also lived in their home on Killenbeck while we were developing our Tim's Lake retirement property. We have memories here.

Along the Trails: Shoreline (2.5 kms), Quiddity (2.4 kms), Beechwoods (1.8 kms), Hemlock Ridge (1.7 kms)

Charleston Lake

This Blue Heron was obviously working on a nest.

Northern Blue Flag Iris (#1)

Black Rat Snake

Hemlock Ridge

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Sandy Flats Campground, Bonnechere Provincial Park                                                                                                

CAMP3 (3 nights): My parents introduced my brother, sister and I to camping here; we graduated to car camping at Kearney Lake in Algonquin Park around the same time. Our family started in leaky canvas tents and evolved to hard topped canvas tent trailers ... lots of good times. My sister was staff at the MNR gate here. Helen and I have paddled the flatwater section of the oxbow Bonnechere River a few times. We spent a couple of nights in a Park rental cabin with my parents one time. I've inserted a couple of pages from a 1997 journal entry for comparison.

This is that same cabin from 1997 ... 25 years later.

There are 5 cabins for rent in the Park.

Along the Trails: The FIT (Footprints-In-Time) Trail (5 km)

Bonnechere River

Western Bunchberry

Pink Lady Slipper

Sideroad Drive: Basin Depot Road 

'ROUGH ROAD - Use At Your Own Risk'
The way the spur road to Basin Lake is now overgrown would scratch LOAF's sides and probably tear at the roof ... not worth the drive.

Old log building at the intersection to Basin Lake

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West Beach Campground, Driftwood Provincial Park                                                                                                   

CAMP4 (3 nights): Another excellent site, #10, waterfront on the Ottawa River, decent privacy to either side, level, good solar gain, hiking trails nearby, sandy beach and river bottom, paddling opportunities. 

Some nice sunsets ...

Along the Trails: Riverview (3.5 kms)

Ottawa River views

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Putts Campground, Restoule Provincial Park                                                                                                        

CAMP5 (3 nights): Site#235, great, water view, Helen has nailed 4 good site reservations in a row now - what could go wrong!, fairly level, large, decent privacy, near toilets and shower house.

Along the Trails: Angel's Point (2.8 kms + 2.8 kms side-routes), River (1.2 kms)

A meadow of ferns ...

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Haileybury                                                                                                                                  

MOOCHDOCK1 (2 nights): Boating on Lake Temiskaming (source of the Ottawa River) with Linda and Garry ... passed the largest home in Canada at 65000 sqft built by Peter Grant (Junior) and the Obadjawin-Fort Temiscamingue National Historic Site

Haileybury waterfront

Peter Grant Mansion

Stock Photo

Inside the Peter Grant Mansion

Private campgrounds along the shores of Lake Temiskimang.

Devil's Rock

Linda & Gary, our wonderful Moochdocking hosts ... you treated us too well;
' we will be back '!

National Historic Site Obadgiwan-Fort Temiscamingue

... the NHS from the water

 

Ville Marie Quebec

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East River Campground, Arrowhead Provincial Park                                                                                                   

CAMP6 (5 nights): Site#340, private, near Stubbs Falls Trail, good solar gain and level, sandy site so a bit dirty, nearby pit toilet, a resident raven that visits the site throughout the quiet, day and night. Sites 342, 344 also good.

Along the Trails: Stubbs Falls (2.6 kms), Mayflower Lk (2.0 km), Lookout (3.0 +1.5 (side-routes) kms). 2 does and 2 fawns on our hikes.

Do you see the face?

Nurse Stump ... parent & offspring

Old Hemlock

Fowler's Toad

Northern Blue Flag Iris (#2)

White Star water lily

Stubb's Falls

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Big Bend on the East River

Lets finish with some trip statistics ...

0 - injuries, illnesses, horrible weather or rig breakdowns (it was a good trip)
0.45 - LOAF's average fuel $ / km 
1 - moochdocking camp (@ LG Haileybury) ... free elec & indoor showers, we'll be back!
1 - National Historic Site boated past in QC
1 - pontoon boat tour (w. Captain Garry & First Mate Linda)
1 - camper repair (a broken fridge handle ... again!)
1.189 - LOAF's lowest fuel $ / litre (@ Tyendinega IR)
2 - provinces visited (ON QC)
2.197 - the highest fuel $ / litre (Ruthglen)
3 - campfire meals that fell/rolled off the grate (1 small steak, 2 grilled cheese sandwiches)
3 - new friends & new CTCO members (Dawn, Fred, Mark)
3 - showers each (4 good, 2 fair)
4 - deer spooked while hiking (2 does, 2 fawns - saw the same 4 twice)
4 - tent pegs found (1 really good one that's more of a ground stake)
5 - items removed from our camp by Park staff (clothesline, pins & bag, (2) fire irons, poker)
6 - firepits & campsites cleaned (cold ash shovelled & removed, site garbage collected, raked)
6 - provincial campgrounds dry-camped at
6 - treasures found (2 pieces driftwood, 2 wooden disks, 1 woven reed ball, 1 hawk feather)
11 - bags of firewood burned
21 - adventure days
21 - average litres / 100 kms (or 13.5 Imp mpg) (daily range was 20 - 22 litres) fuel economy
36.2 - kms hiked
308.1 - our longest driving day in kms
881.08 - total fuel $
1938.0 - kms driven

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We're LOAFin Around 

... follow along, if you like.

  

Refer to our Trip157 gallery for all the photography.

Cameras: Nikon Coolpix P610

New DSLR Canon EOS Rebel T8i

Unless noted, all content is by LOAFin Around. 

TEAM: LOAF, Crumby, Wry and Crusty 

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