I generally load my blog with stories of adventure, exploring and conquest, which has been a challenge the last few months for obvious reasons. Restricting travel, social gatherings and team sports has been a real damper which makes it tougher to get out there and have fun.
Recently, the provincial parks https://www.ontarioparks.com/en reopened for camping reservations and we took advantage of a week in the bush. Here is our latest and hopefully not last trip of the summer!
Awenda!
This is a screen capture of the map from Awenda Provincial Park https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/awenda It is the first time we adventured here as it was a little out of the way, and is located close to relatives so we usually just visited them rather than camp. Several camping areas and a number of beaches from which to choose are bound together with plenty of trails and bike paths to keep one active.
We were told that the beaches get better as you move from 1-4 so we were determined to visit number 4. Upon doing so, we discovered that number 4 was pretty much non-existent because of high water levels.
Setting up all of your equipment and making your plot of forest into a camp is a necessary thing that we try and make fun. Tents, tarps, chairs, picnic tables and even hammocks do the job.
You can see that there are plenty of hardwood trees that make up this forest which is pleasing because there are so many dense and unremarkable spruce forests in other parks. Makes for better fire wood as well.
The beach is where it is at when you camp in this area as there are so many lakes and the kids can burn a whole day having fun in the water. We pack up a picnic, jump in the car and take the chairs to the parking lot closest to the beach. Bright sun and blue sky greets as we find parking.
At this park, the lots are closest to beach 1 which means there is a little hike to get to the ones we are seeking. Good news is the mosquitoes are almost non existent because of an influx of moths which apparently feed on mosquitoes? I have a newfound respect for moths if this is the case.
This is a pic I like to take every year as our girls grow up and still support each other as we journey along the path.
This park is along the southern shores of Georgian Bay which is part of Great Lake Huron. There are smaller bays all along the shore as you can see 3 different peninsulas jutting out northward into the mild water.
The water is cool but not cold as it tends to get up north. It is relatively shallow which is great for the kids even though they each swim like fish.
This region is neat as there are plenty of large rocks that were deposited from elsewhere by the glacier that scraped the Canadian Shield clean. With the inflatable boats, the kids can swim or paddle out to any number of these rocks and appear to walk on water as some are just beneath the surface.
It seems like sand is enthralling and immersive no matter how old the kids get. One of our little artists found it entertaining to make little stalagmites of sand by getting a handful mixed with water and letting them drip through to make towers.
A beer and some relaxation on the beach makes me consider the impossible series of events that eventually culminates in each of these millions of grains of sand assembling into this structure for a short period of time.
Speaking of beer, nothing says camping than a cooler-dented can of craft beer. I try not to look at the clock very much which makes it easier for it to be beer-o'clock. This one is a strong hazy and hoppy IPA which is brewed in Gravenhurst at Sawdust City Brewing https://www.sawdustcitybrewing.com/. It takes approximately 1.5 hours to drive the windy road from camp site to brewery despite it only being 50 or so KM as the crow flies.
There was a little rain on the trip but that didn't hinder us from enjoying the hell out of it. Plenty of beach and hiking. Camp Fires and hammock time for reading. The fauna was nice and thin with no raccoons but plenty of chipmunks and birds. The Flora was neat as these funky little mushrooms bloomed from something decomposing under the surface. The closer you look, the more intriguing these little mysteries are.
We have the camping gear packed away in case this is our last trip of a goofy summer where we normally camp a half dozen times. If we can get out during a lock down when they are leaving 25% of the sites open and restricting day use, we can camp anytime.
It is nice to imagine the jet setters unable to fly away for their vacation and taking the opportunity to discover the beauty that lies right under our noses. This may have been one of the last few years to camp as a family before kids go off and do their own thing so I am cherishing every moment.
Get out there and explore your wilderness and sleep in a tent! There is camping on the blockchain.
I am honoured to curate for:
