Our son and his girl friend invited my wife M and I along on a car camping weekend. And so we threw some supplies into the van and the canoe on top and headed north. We hadn't car camped in years, and have never camped this early in the season before. The weather was changeable between chilly nights and sunny warm afternoons. The black flies were only just starting, but were easily fended off with a spray of DEET on our hats.
I left the tent at home and opted for the cozy confines of sleeping in our van. An inflatable mattress made for a luxurious bed every night for M and I.
Meals were much like those we eat at the beginning of any canoe trip. Fresh food keeps well for just a couple nights. I was the breakfast chef, so it was bacon & eggs & pancakes & coffee for day #1; bannock & bacon & eggs & coffee for day #2.
I"d printed off a basic topographic map of the surrounding lakes and streams to explore. Rather than putting in at a boat launch, we managed to wriggle through the tight trees and steep terrain at the shoreline 20 feet from our campsite. It was awkward but fun to push off straight from "home".
By mid-May most migrating birds have returned, and we saw many of them...bald eagles, osprey, ducks, geese, song birds and even humming birds.
My son A and I chose to explore up a small lake and waterway, away from the fishing crowd who try their luck on opening weekend of Walleye season. It was easy to leave the rest of the world behind, especially as we meandered up shallow stream channels. Many of these however were blocked with early signs of beaver activity. Although the dams were not very high, they had already spanned the broad expanse of the wetlands. There were Water Lily leaves just unfurling to the surface, and flower bulbs only days away from opening. I also found Pitcher Plants on boggy islands amongst mosses and flowering Labrador Tea. Not wishing to slog through mud and water any further upstream, we retreated to a small island for a midday rest. While A explored with camera in hand I cooled off with a dip. There was a fire ring in the middle of the island, the only signs of a campsite anywhere on the lake. The small piles of fish bones suggested it had been a good place to eat a shore lunch of Pike. Finally we paddled back out towards the park, and eventually returned to our campsite.
While in the park we all decided to walk the old growth trail. The trail loops through a stand of White Pines estimated to be 300 years old. It was inspiring to walk amongst trees towering above us, while carefully passing through drifts of Hepaticas and Trilliums at our feet. We'd occasionally hear the deep drumming of a Ruffed Grouse echoing through the forest. Our feet were sore and water bottles empty by the time we reached the parking lot.
That evening around the fire we quietly reflected on the weekend; how full our experiences had been, and how fast time had slipped by. And then we made plans for next year.
I left the tent at home and opted for the cozy confines of sleeping in our van. An inflatable mattress made for a luxurious bed every night for M and I.
Meals were much like those we eat at the beginning of any canoe trip. Fresh food keeps well for just a couple nights. I was the breakfast chef, so it was bacon & eggs & pancakes & coffee for day #1; bannock & bacon & eggs & coffee for day #2.
I"d printed off a basic topographic map of the surrounding lakes and streams to explore. Rather than putting in at a boat launch, we managed to wriggle through the tight trees and steep terrain at the shoreline 20 feet from our campsite. It was awkward but fun to push off straight from "home".
By mid-May most migrating birds have returned, and we saw many of them...bald eagles, osprey, ducks, geese, song birds and even humming birds.
My son A and I chose to explore up a small lake and waterway, away from the fishing crowd who try their luck on opening weekend of Walleye season. It was easy to leave the rest of the world behind, especially as we meandered up shallow stream channels. Many of these however were blocked with early signs of beaver activity. Although the dams were not very high, they had already spanned the broad expanse of the wetlands. There were Water Lily leaves just unfurling to the surface, and flower bulbs only days away from opening. I also found Pitcher Plants on boggy islands amongst mosses and flowering Labrador Tea. Not wishing to slog through mud and water any further upstream, we retreated to a small island for a midday rest. While A explored with camera in hand I cooled off with a dip. There was a fire ring in the middle of the island, the only signs of a campsite anywhere on the lake. The small piles of fish bones suggested it had been a good place to eat a shore lunch of Pike. Finally we paddled back out towards the park, and eventually returned to our campsite.
While in the park we all decided to walk the old growth trail. The trail loops through a stand of White Pines estimated to be 300 years old. It was inspiring to walk amongst trees towering above us, while carefully passing through drifts of Hepaticas and Trilliums at our feet. We'd occasionally hear the deep drumming of a Ruffed Grouse echoing through the forest. Our feet were sore and water bottles empty by the time we reached the parking lot.
That evening around the fire we quietly reflected on the weekend; how full our experiences had been, and how fast time had slipped by. And then we made plans for next year.
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