MacGregor Point & Area Photos

These photos were taken within the last couple of days while enjoying scenery in the area.

The beach at the lower end of C.A.W. Road

Sunset at Sauble Beach

The Chi-Cheemaun ferry docked at Owen Sound for the winter

Owen Sound Festival of Lights

Twas the Day Before Christmas

We arrived at MacGregor Point around 1:45 today, December 24, 2010.  After signing in at the Park office we drove to our site and Peter shovelled a bit of snow, plugged in the hydro and turned on the battteries and furnace.  We unloaded the car and Judy proceeded to transfer the contents of our coolers to  the fridge.  However, when she opened the  fridge door she got a nasty surprise. During our two week absence from the Park we had left some Diet Coke in the fridge, figuring the night termperatures wouldn't be cold enough to cause any freezing problems.  We were wrong and several cans split in the fridge, making a great mess and actually breaking one of the plastic trays on the door.  Several cans had also split in a closet.  We proceeded to have lunch, after which we spent about an hour cleaning up the mess.

Shortly after our arrival Peter put out birdseed in the feeders and on the ground for the birds.  Around dusk we had a nice treat... a visit from four deer.
 

A group of  deer visiting Site #61. A fourth deer is not visible

 

Winter Wonderland

 Upon arrival mid-day at MacGregor Point Provincial Park today we were treated to a winter wonderland.  Leaving Waterloo earlier in the day there was only a light dusting of  snow on the ground and local farmers were doing some late fall plowing.  Unknown to us, the previous day MacGregor Point had received a heavy snowfall which, based upon the accumulation on our picnic table was at least 14 inches.

Winter Preparations

A full winter of snow can take its toll on an RV if proper precautions are not taken.  Hence, most RV'ers who participate in the MacGregor Point on-site prgram install a tarp to prevent ice buildup on the roof, awnings and slideouts.

Below are a couple of photos showing various stages of the tarping process for our motorhome on site # 61.


November 2009

 

November 2010


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On The Road Again

At 8:00 o'clock this morning we arrived at Lewis Motors in Owen Sound to pick up our motorhome.  What we thought on July 14 would be a quick fix, turned into a four month repair job for reasons we will not discuss.  However, the wait was worthwhile as the RV now performs like it has never done before during our time of ownership.  The likelihood of any future breakdowns has also been greatly diminished.

Around 11:30 a.m. we left the RV at Bast Tire just North of Waterloo and picked it up several hours later with two new tires.  Off to our home to load up groceries, etc. and all the materials required for the tarp installation at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.  Then back on the road again, arriving at MacGregor Point around 7:00 p.m.

What a day!

Mechanical Problems

     We left Tobermory around 1:15 p.m. and as we reached Highway 21, decided to take the Highway 6 bypass around Owen Sound rather than back country roads.  Within a kilometre of the Rockford intersection our motorhome started to vibrate and lose power.  Stopping at the Rockford intersection we realized there was a diesel fuel leak so we shut off the engine and began to "regroup" our thoughts.  After seeing an International truck go by we decided there must be an International truck dealership in Owen Sound, so after a couple of phone calls we located them and made the five to six kilometre trip to their shop.  The diagnosis was quick and seemingly painless... a broken high pressure injector line to the number one cylinder.  We unhooked the Jeep and headed for home, figuring we would be returning within a day or two to pick up the RV.

     As we headed for Waterloo we were obviously disappointed about the breakdown.  However, as we gave more thought to the chain of events leading up to the breakdown it became obvious that God was with us in the face of adversity.  Firstly, had we taken the same route that got us to Tobermory a few days earlier we would have been out in the country when the breakdown occurred and unable to "limp" to a repair shop.  Secondly, we realized that the Rockford intersection was the closest possible point (relative to the repair shop) on our chosen route.  A right turn onto Highway 6 would have taken us further and further from the repair shop.  Praise God for small blessings!

Tobermory

From July 10 through July 14 we stayed at Tobermory Village Campground,  a family operated campground just a couple of kilometres south of Tobermory.  On the morning of July 11 we drove to the Bruce Peninsula National Park and hiked the Georgian Bay Trail to the Grotto on the Georgian Bay side of the Peninsula.  This is a very popular spot for swimming and photography.

In the evening of July 13 we took the sunset cruise on the Great Blue Heron glass bottom boat.  Saw a bald eagle and got lots of nice pictures of the Georgian Bay shoreline and sunset. 

 

 




KOA Campground - Owen Sound

Perched on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment, the City of Owen Sound offers a wide variety of scenery and attractions.  The KOA campground has a spring fed trout pond stocked with several species of trout but unfortunately, no fishing is allowed.  The network of campground trails provides access to the Bruce Trail . 

Trout Pond at Owen Sound KOA

A beaver lodge at Bognor Marsh

A young water snake at Bognor Marsh

Inglis Falls

Blue Jay Festival

 While camping in Ash Woods (site 42) at MacGregor Point Provincial Park we hung our usual bird feeders in the trees and placed some cracked corn on the ground.  Later that day we had as many as fifteen blue jays on the site and as you can see in the photo, they were getting along very well.  The next morning there was only one blue jay to be found so we assumed that the group from the previous day decided to continue their migration Northward.  Incidentally, most blue jays are permanent residents and do not migrate.


Bluejays feeding at site 42 during migration

 

Rockwood Conservation Area

Located less than an hour's drive from Kitchener-Waterloo, Rockwood Conservation Area is a campground to consider for a nice weekend getaway. Situated on the Eramosa River near the outskirts of Rockwood, the park is operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority. Highlights include the pothole Trail with its ancient potholes that still mark the surface of the Park. Some of these potholes are over 200 feet deep.

View from hiking trail

Woolen Mill Ruins

Spring Camping at the Pinery

Some photos taken on a cool and windy day at the Pinery Provincial Park near Grand Bend on Lake Huron.

Interesting view of a hollow tree trunk

White caps on Lake Huron