A Visit to Bon Echo

We recently spent 5 days at Bon Echo Provincial Park. The entire family had a great time. There was so much to do that we didn't even scratch the surface of our to-do list. It was the first time that we brought our bikes camping with us and we certainly put them to good use. I feel as though we biked 20 km in our first 24 hours, but that could be a bit of an exaggeration.

On our fist day we had lunch at the main beach then headed to our site to setup. Once we were setup we biked and did some swimming at the North Beach. The North Beach is much smaller than the Main Beach, the sand isn't as fine and there are lots of pebbles in the water but the view is far superior to that of the Main Beach.

North Beach with Mazinaw Rock in the background

Once everyone was shivering we headed back to the campsite to prepare our dinner. We had made some kabobs the night before, put them in a resealable bag (double then triple bagged) with some marinade. Come dinner time we just needed to start a fire and pop them on the grill. In addition to the kabobs we had bannock roasted on a stick. The kids really enjoy helping out. They get really excited when they can help prepare the food.

Bob, Not-Bob & Still-Not-Bob roasting bannock on a stick

Once we finished eating I took the two older kids (Bob & Not-Bob) for a bike ride to the Narrows while Sarah got Still-Not-Bob ready for bed. The Narrows is a great place to be while the sun is setting. Although you are looking East, the reflection of the sun off the rock creates an incredible view.

While we were at Bon Echo we took in a lot of the programming offered. On our second day Kevin Callan, The Happy Camper, was giving a 1 hour canoe tripping talk. We paddled from the North Beach (which was close to our site) to the Lagoon (map) where the presentation was being held. We weren't sure the kids would enjoy it but we thought we would give it a try, figuring we could always leave if they got bored. As it turns out they loved it. The presentation was very informative, humorous and really kept the kids' attention.

Kevin Callan helping Not-Bob with a heavy pack

Following the presentation we walked over to the Main Beach where we all had a great time swimming and playing in the sand. We made our way back to our site for a late lunch and a nap for the youngest member of the group, Still-Not-Bob. The others biked and played soccer at the grassy area of the comfort station. After nap time it was time to start preparing for dinner. We made nachos for dinner and S'mores for dessert.

Still-Not-Bob enjoying a S'more

After dinner we headed to the amphitheatre to see Kevin Callan give a talk about his family trip around Killarney last summer. You can find his videos of the trip here. Again the presentation was informative, entertaining and inspiring for the kids. One of the first things they said when we left was "When can we go to Killarney?". It's nice when they're asking to go places rather than us asking.

On the third day we decided that we would hike to the top of the Cliff Top Trail. You can take the Mugwump Ferry over for a small fee ($4 for adults/$3 for children) or you can paddle over and tie up at the dock. The ferry does not run on Tuesday or Thursdays making them good days to paddle over. We went on a Tuesday and only saw three other groups of people. The trail is only 1.5 km but is steep in places and has a lot of stairs. Having said that the kids did great. They got a little tired close to the top but nothing major. The trip was certainly a lot faster this time than it was two years ago. We made our way back down the trail and paddled along the rock for a bit observing some of the pictographs before heading back to the boat launch. Bob, Not-Bob & Sarah went for ice (outside the park) and then went to the visitor centre while I stayed behind while Still-Not-Bob was napping.

Snack at the top

We had pizza roasted over the fire for dinner. We've done this before with some success. Sadly this was probably our worst attempt. Not-Bob and Still-Not-Bob's pizzas were up first. They came off the grill just fine. For the most part the rest of us ended up with pizza that was either under-cooked in some spots or burnt in some (or even most) spots. I guess that's what happens when you forget to pack the make shift reflector oven. We'll work on it for next time.

The morning of the fourth day was cool so we got a fire going, which did little to heat us up but provided a great chance for cooking pancakes. It was a slow process but the pancakes turned out great. Once again everyone had a role in the cooking process. With our bellies full we biked to the High Pines Trail for the 1.7 km hike. As we arrived in the parking lot we spotted a baby snapping turtle. Once again the kids were great on the hike. The afternoon was filled with some biking, a stop at the gift shop and some burgers for dinner. After dinner we saw David Archibald perform at the amphitheatre. He's always popular with our kids. We make sure to see him at least once every summer at some park.

Snack time on the High Pines trail

On our final day Sarah took the kids to see a Living Fossils program while I packed up a bit. They really enjoyed the program and headed to the Visitor Centre afterwards to learn more about the native history of the park. Bob was very keen to learn about the pictograph and the stories behind them. Once we were done at the visitor centre we headed to our site to finish packing up and to have lunch. After lunch we were off to the main beach for an afternoon of swimming and playing in the sand. What a way to finish off the trip.

We had a busy five days but there were a few things that we didn't get to do. We didn't do any fishing. We had intended to but it seems that biking took over as the activity of choice. We saw lots of people fishing and heard from some of them say that Mazinaw Lake was a tough lake to fish. We'll have to give it a try next time.

In addition to car camping Bon Echo also offers some paddle-in/hike-in sites on Joeperry Lake. It's a neat lake with a beautiful beach at the North end. I thought it might be fun to paddle Joeperry and stop at the beach for lunch. It might also be worth testing out the fishing there.

Another point of interest in the park is the Kishkebus Canoe Route. It's a 21 km canoe route that essentially goes around the rock. The toughest part of the route would be a 1500 m portage from Mazinaw Lake to Kishkebus Lake. From there you could paddle across Kishkebus Lake and do a short portage into Shabomeka Lake. As you go into Shabomeka you leave the park and the shoreline is dotted with cottages. From Shabomeka Lake there is a 60 m portage around a dam into Semicircle Lake. Paddling across Semicircle Lake takes you to a 40 m lift over into Campbell Creek. The final lift over takes you from Cambell Creek back into Mazinaw Lake. With young kids I would likely do the route in reverse order in case we decided not to finish it. The lift overs and small lakes could make for some fun paddling. There are also a number of geocaches along the route that would be fun to try and find.

There is certainly lots to do at Bon Echo. We'll have to go back and do some more exploring.

Paddle in the Park Contest

If you like getting outside in the summer (and who doesn't?) you should check out the Paddle in the Park Contest. The contest involves finding paddles that have been hidden around parks in Ontario. When you find a paddle you get to keep it and you get a prize package. Clues are periodically posted online about where the paddles might be found. It then becomes a puzzle and a race to find the paddles. I've followed the contests for the past couple of years and have found it very interesting. However, given the age or our youngest daughter (she's two), we're not super mobile as a family. We're not likely to pack up on a whim drive a long distance in the hopes of finding a paddle (we'll get there one day). We still like to follow along and see if we can figure out where the paddles are.

This year in addition to the paddle hunt, the organizer are offering Paddle Points. The goal is to get us all 'out there'. They have created a huge list of things to do outdoors. Go do them, take pictures, upload them and potentially win prizes, including a canoe. You can double your points if you include the Paddle in the Park Flag in your photos. Although winning prizes would be really cool, the real rewards are experienced by everyone getting 'out there'. Enjoy. #RewardsAreOutThere

Picnic and a Paddle at Ferris

After struggling with the lawn tractor yesterday afternoon (the lyric: "One wheel's off and the axle's broken" came to mind) we decided we should end the day with a relaxing picnic and paddle. We packed up the gear, some food and the kids and we were off.

We headed to the park and made our way to the boat launch where there was a picnic table  right by the water. It was a perfect spot for a BBQ then to launch the canoe for a paddle. Once every thing was set up I turned on the propane and heard hissing coming out of the tank. It turns out the O-ring on the hose was missing. Luckily I had some bits of lumber in the van. We made our way to a nearby campsite and cooked up some wieners and s'mores. It was a great night for a picnic. Watching an osprey feed it's young while we were eating was certainly a highlight.

It was while we were eating that I pulled out the camera and realized that the memory card was in the computer at home. I had also left my phone at home on purpose since the only thing I could imagine needing it for was taking pictures. Who needs an old camera phone when you've got a DSLR right?

Approaching the suspension bridge from the south

After eating and playing at the park for a bit we made our way down to the water and put the canoe in the water. It was a perfect night for a paddle. We paddled upstream toward the suspension bridge. The current was unnoticeable at first but as we approached the generating station it was clear that we had to work a little harder. It was still very manageable.  It was cool seeing the bridge from below. The picture would have been great. We paddled under the bridge and made our way up to the falls.

Ranney Falls 

We paddled under the overhanging rock where the falls would be raging in the spring and got close enough to the portion that is flowing to get sprayed.

Under the Overhang

Time for a Shower

It was a hoot. We saw a lot of small fish swimming in the rocky waters just below the falls. The paddle back was leisurely with the current pushing towards our destination.

The kids loved playing at the park while we packed everything up and got the canoe tied on the van.

We will certainly go back and get all of the pictures we missed so that we can post them here.

Edit: We went back the next day for more fun and some photos this time. We also had time to cross the bridge.

A Turtle, Spotted From the Bridge

First Trip of the Season: Charleston Lake

My wife hates dealing with the bugs when we go camping. As a result I don't push for any kind of camping trip before July. Imagine my surprise when on the Wednesday before the Victoria Day weekend I got an email from her saying "What do you think about camping at Charleston Lake this weekend? We can test out the new screen house". She was referring to the screen house that I had purchased over the winter since the bugs were so bad last year when we camped in July. It seemed like a great idea to me except for the fact that we didn't get around to booking a site until Thursday night. How many sites would actually still be available ? The fact that we would only be able to camp for the Sunday night probably worked in our favour. We saw on the reservation website that there was a spot available about as close to the beach as you could get. No wonder I leave these sorts of things to the last minute. We booked it and a couple of days later we packed up all of our belongings and we were off.

Charleston Lake Provincial Park is a fantastic park for families. It has just about everything you could want while camping. They have great beaches, canoeing, hiking trails and if you bring the bikes everything is within reasonable biking distance. They offer great educational programs and have a neat Discovery Centre. The Discovery Centre is what used to be called the Visitor Centre. It has undergone some changes and promises to be more hands-on. We didn't get a chance to check it out this time but we will be back.

Upon arriving at the park we setup our site then paddled out to Whitefish Island for lunch. It was a beautiful day for a paddle and a picnic.

After lunch we paddled back to the beach so that our youngest daughter could have a nap. I took the two older kids out to do some fishing around Whitefish Island during nap time. We caught a lot of sunfish which they were happy with. Fishing at Charleston Lake has never been disappointing for the kids.

When we were done fishing we joined the others at the beach. The water was quite cold but that didn't stop the kids from wading, splashing and even swimming.

The kids played on the beach for hours. I snapped some photos while they were playing.

We had some family members join us for some great kabobs done over the fire. Once we were full and things were cleaned up we put the kids to bed. I headed out to take some more pictures from the beach then headed out for a night paddle. There's nothing quite like being on a lake in the dark all by yourself.

Monday morning was a beautiful calm day and our son wanted to do some fishing. So off we went. He was keen to try the same spot as yesterday. He got a few then wanted to head back to the beach. We joined the rest of the crew on the beach where the kids played while I packed up. We had lunch on the site then headed to the boardwalk for a quick hike.

What a great way to start the camping season. It was good to get out again, even if it was just for a short trip. The best part about it is that there were hardly any bugs at all. We could have gotten away without the screen room! We can't wait to go back.

Failed Winter Campout

Not all adventures end well. Having said that, not all failed adventures are bad. Over the course of the winter I grew more excited for a winter camping trip. Given the ages of our kids (7, 5 and 1) I knew that a full on winter camping trip was unrealistic. Doing anything in the cold with a not-yet-two-year-old can be tricky. She doesn't yet know how to tell us she is getting cold. She'll let us know when she is to the point of not being comfortable anymore, but we'd like a little more warning. In any case I pitched the idea of sleeping in the back yard in a quinzee to the older kids and they were really excited. Our five year old was keen to give it a try "as long as it isn't going to be cold". I'm not entirely sure what she meant by that, but one day I'm sure I'll find out.

Our backyard 'expedition' had to meet a number of conditions. The first was that it had to happen on a Friday or Saturday night. If the night out was going to be a horrible experience we didn't need the kids to be grumpy at school the next day. The second condition we had is that it couldn't be ridiculously cold out. I'm not exactly sure what we meant by 'ridiculously cold', but given how cold it was until recently, I'm not sure it really mattered. Don't get me wrong. I'd love to camp out no matter what the temperature, but we don't have the proper gear and I want this to be an experience that we repeat.

The ideal conditions finally materialized the first weekend in March and everyone was healthy. After school on Friday we started building the quinzee. We took a break for dinner and allowed the quinzee to settle before digging it out. I went back out once we had finished and started digging. Unfortunately, it was dark out. This meant that in my haste I accidentally dug right through the wall. Our quinzee now had a sky light. It probably would have been fine had I left it. Instead I decided to put some snow on it from the outside so we didn't lose our warm air. That was a mistake. The hole only got bigger. I gave up on the idea of sleeping outside that night and started building the mound again. Perhaps the following night would work.

The next night one of our family members was not feeling well so we had to postpone. Perhaps the following weekend would work. Unfortunately, the rest of us got sick and the temperature warmed up. Our pile of snow began to shrink quite quickly. Clearly camping out in the winter was not meant to be. However, all was not lost. The kids are now super excited to camp out next winter. Hopefully, they will be asking me next year rather than me asking them.

We're already looking forward to next winter!

Winter Day Trip To Ferris

Ferris Provincial Parks is a small park located just outside the town of Campbellford. We visit quite frequently since it is so close to home. I spend a lot of time skiing at Ferris and regularly try to convince the kids that they should come along. Last weekend we decided that we would take the entire family along for some adventure.

The parks offers 5 km of cross country ski trails and snowshoeing trails (officially, though I have skied quite a bit more than 5 km at a time). The trails proceed mostly along camp roads but there are a few sections that wander though the woods. One of my favourites is the Milkweed Trail (take the first possible left after leaving the gatehouse). It's a narrow trail through the woods with some nice up hills as you make your way to the top of a drumlin.

Milkweed Trail

 This trip was meant to be fun for the kids so we skipped the Milkweed trail. Instead we followed the trail up to the junction to the Valley View Campground, where we stopped for a break.

Trailhead

On Our Way

By the time we had stopped our youngest daughter was fast asleep in the pulk so I decided to do a loop of the Valley View Campground. After a short rest our son decided that he wanted to come as well so he caught up to us. We did the loop and made our way back to the rest of the group who were on their way to find us. We proceeded to the first campsite and had a snack.

Picnic Time?

Unfortunately, we stopped for a little too long and the girls started getting cold. Other than that we had an amazing day. The sun was out, the snow was perfect and it seemed like we had the park to ourselves since we didn't seen anyone else. It's a small park but when you're travelling with young kids, you don't need huge tracts of wilderness. Take the kids out on short outings to local parks and conservation areas. The memories and experiences will not likely be forgotten for a long time.

A Winter Visit to Frontenac Provincial Park

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of visiting Frontenac Provincial Park. One of the things that I like most about Frontenac Park is that it's a wilderness park that isn't too far a drive from many locations in Eastern Ontario. Don't let the term 'wilderness park' scare you off. It simply means that you need to use your own power to get to where your going. They have short hiking trails and campsites that are a short paddle from the access points. The park also offers great opportunities for longer trips.

In winter the park office is open so you can use the facilities, get changed or sit by the fire and have a bite to eat. The Friends of Frontenac Park even offer free hot chocolate on the weekends (They also offer some great Skills Training Program).The park has 10 kilometres of groomed and well maintained trails, which offer some incredible scenery. While there we skied a portion of the Corridor Trail which was narrow and curvy. Having said that our seven year old, who went the furthest, had no troubles with the trail. It was very peaceful and we felt as if we were in the middle of nowhere.

Corridor Trail

If you're looking for something a little on the easier side try the Big Salmon Lake Road trail, which essentially runs parallel to the Corridor Trail (Trail Map). It's quite a bit wider with two sets of ski tracks and a path for snowshoeing. There are some ups and downs but nothing too wild.

Big Salmon Lake Road Trail 2013

Although on this trip we skied, two years ago we snowshoed a portion of the Big Salmon Lake Road Trail. It was great. Our kids were too young to do the entire trail, but we still had so much fun. We snowshoed until the kids were tired then we plopped down in the snow next to the trail for a snack and some hot chocolate. The trail was wide enough that had anyone come by they could have still passed easily. There are many other options for snowshoeing. See the trail guide for details.

Snowshoeing Big Salmon Lake Road Trail 2103

Although we have been to Frontenac Park a couple of times there is still a lot to explore. You can snowshoe on any of the hiking trails and they offer winter camping. We will definitely be taking advantage of this opportunity at some point in the future. I get very excited every time I think of camping in such a beautiful winter wonderland. If you're feeling adventurous why not try their Camping Challenge where the goal is to spend at least one night per month camping in the park.

Boardwalk on the Doe Lake Trail

Overall, we always have a great time when we visit Frontenac Park. It is stunning any time of year, but there's something about the fresh undisturbed snow that makes it so especially appealing in the winter. We will certainly be back (in all seasons).