Minding the Grandkids at MacGregor Point

Day 2

Another gorgeous winter day... a clear, blue sky and seaonal temperatures! While Peter prepared the bonfire, Judy and the twins checked out what was going on in Birch Boulevard campground and took some photographs of the fresh snow. 

Once the fire was ready, we enjoyed a lunch of roasted wieners, hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows. Then it was off to the skating oval once again for a few more loops before heading back to Waterloo. 

Another great weekend at MacGregor Point!


Saturday night's fresh snowfall







Ready for a new day



Ready for a picnic?

  
 Every picnic table piled high with snow became a new opportunity for Drew and Colbey to amuse themselves or develop their shoveling skills.

Roasting wieners

Colbey enjoying a pickle with his hot dog



The first bite (Drew)

 

An excellent place for beginners

Drew and Colbey in full flight



Don't try this at home



These young adults from one of the yurts were seen on several occasions just being kids again.

Minding the Grandkids at MacGregor Point

Day 1

 A very beautiful day with lots of snow and temperatures around  -5 degrees Celsius.  Once everything was unloaded we got right into some serious shoveling.

Before taking a short hike around turtle pond, we stopped at the skating loop.  The parking lot was full and cars parked on the roadway all the way to Birch Boulevard.  Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

After supper Drew and Colbey got a chance to do about eight loops around the skating oval.

Snowy house in Paisley (approx. 15 minutes from the Park)



Let the shoveling begin

Drew & Colbey at work



Filling the bird feeders



Entrance to the skating loop

Lacing up the skates

Taking a break

Boots & backpacks waiting for their owners



Overflow parking at the skating loop

On the way to the lake



Lake view from the Old Shore Trail



Turtle Pond



Colbey & Drew catching some snow during roof cleaning



Soccer shootout

Colbey & Drew under the lights on the 400M Skating Loop

End of Day!

F Y I

At 7 am this morning we used the new Ontario Parks online reservation system to book a nine night stay in May at Rondeau Park.  So far we are favourably impressed by the new system.

Overnight the temperature dropped from minus 3 Celsius to a low of minus 10.4.  A bit of snow and wind throughout the night but things have now calmed down.  The OPP closed Highway #21 last evening and it was still closed at 10 am today. 

The ice skating oval is open at MacGregor Point Provincial Park as of January 15.  Saw lots of people with skates walking past our site yesterday, so people appear to be putting it to good use. 

One of our electric heaters failed last evening and at 8 am this morning our external "extend-a-stay" propane tank ran out.  Switched over to our on-board propane tank and after a trip to Port Elgin we now have a full complement of electric heaters (including one spare) and a full tank of propane.

Will be returning home to Waterloo this afternoon but obviously avoiding Highway 21.
  

Chicadee at our window



 

Ampitheatre at the Nature Centre



Winter Activities

Since arriving  at MacGregor Point Provincial Park yesterday afternoon we received at least four inches of fresh, fluffy snow.  Wind gusts have removed some of the snow from the cedars.

A great day for various winter activities. While talking with some fellow campers (from Guelph) at the Nature Centre a group of six deer crossed the roadway.  Unfortunately, by the time Peter remembered that he had the camera only one deer remained in sight.

 

From our front window

Skiers we met





 

  

 A father and daughter from one of the yurts test driving
their remote controlled 4 x 4 on the freshly plowed roadway. 

 

 Huron Fringe Trail approaching Lake Huron 



Where did my buddies go?



A peanut breakfast for the blue jay 



MacGregor Point Weekend

What a difference two weeks can make... bare ground on January 2 and now 8 inches of fresh snow.  Snow was falling quite heavily as we approached the Park but soon tapered off to just a light dusting.

When we arrived at 3:45 pm today the temperature was -3 Celsius outdoors and -2 Celsius in the RV.  However, with the propane furnace and electric heaters going it doesn't take long to attain the present temperature of 21 degrees.  According to our digital thermometer the minimum outside temperature during the past two weeks was -14.2 with a high of -3.3 degrees.  A good test for any winter precautions you may have taken with your grey or black water tanks.

Lots of cross country skiers out and about and with a favourable forecast for the remainder of the weekend, there should be lots more activity tomorrow and Sunday.  Around 4:45 pm a large trailer pulled in on site 63 and judging by the amount of dirt and slush on the front, hadn't just come from the storage compound.


  



Late arrival at site #63



Have rabbit, will travel

In July 2010 we adopted Konijn, a six month old Netherlands dwarf rabbit from Rabbit Rescue.  Although we originally received him through a fostering arrangement, we quickly fell in love with him and decided upon adoption. 

We enjoy having Konijn with us while RV'ing.  Using Rubbermaid shelving components we have created a designated area in the RV for him to get exercise.  He is fully house-trained (i.e., doesn't require early morning walks).

We are planning to be at MacGregor Point Provincial Park for the January 14 - 16 weekend so if anyone would like to be plugged in prior to arrival, please e-mail us and we will  accommodate you if possible. 

Looking forward to another enjoyable weekend at the Park.


Konijn with Christmas bag of treats from Lisa





Nightly grooming



Konijn's place



How can I get over that fence?



New Year's at MacGregor Point

Winter decided to go on "hold" for a couple of days at MacGregor Point.  However, a bit of rain earlier on December 31 didn't dampen the spirits of the winter campers.  Temperatures were above freezing New Year's eve and the New Year's day forecast is 7 degrees Celsius, falling to below freezing late in the day.

There were still a few camping sites available on New Year's eve but the yurts appeared to be filled.  The new yurts under construction should be available within a couple of weeks.

.