Family Day at MacGregor Point

The down side of Ontario Family Day at a provincial park is that most people are heading for home by mid day. However, the weekend as a whole was great.  By late Saturday the strong winds had tapered off.  The Sunday evening candle light skate at the skating oval was well attended.

By noon today the campers on site 54 had removed the tarp, stove, etc. from their snow dwelling and headed for home.  A travel trailer and two fifth wheel RV's were also seen departing from the Park.   

Snow flakes in the air at the skating oval (Sunday evening)

The snow dwelling on site 54 vacated

 

Trailer leaving from site 65





Fifth wheel RV from Milverton

 

February freeze at MacGregor Point

The drop in termperature helped solidify the walls of of this dwelling on site 54. This is the second year for the project by two fellows from Kitchener and Cambridge.  As we recall, last year they slept in a tent but this year they've added a high-tech furnace and are sleeping inside. 

Their humble abode was undergoing some renovations when these photos were shot.  They were ready to leave for Port Elgin to purchase a right angle stove pipe elbow that would enable them to relocate the position of the stove.  Notice the stove pipe (i.e., chimney) protruding from the left front corner of their dwelling.

February Thaw at MacGregor Point

Above freezing temperatures for the last couple of days have greatly reduced the snow pack. Water is standing in the low areas and non-paved roads are a bit muddy.  With a minus 6 Celsius temperature forecasted for tonight, the Park staff are hoping for a quick freeze of the skating loop.

Winds of 45 kmh gusting to 60 (?) kmh.  At one point this afternoon the power went out for about 5 to 10 minutes.  A few snow flurries are materializing as this blog is being written.  Snow squalls and 50 km/h winds are in the forecast for this evening.  Things could look much different by morning.



A "lake" in front of the Park office





A soggy roadway




Turtle pond still frozen




Ash Swamp transformed



Winter update from MacGregor Point Provincial Park

Six inches of fresh snow has fallen in the past week and temperatures are seasonal.  The yurts appear to be fully in use, including those recently constructed.  An ice rink is under construction by the Visitor Centre and should be ready for use by the Family Day long weekend.

Quite a few people in tents, including a group of Boy Scouts. Not many Winter Warriors though. Incidentally, Winter Warriors are those who keep their RV's here all winter as part of the "on-site winter program". 

On another note, this past week we bought an external booster antenna that plugs into our USB modem for the laptop.  Wow... what a difference in speed.  Cuts the blog maintenance time tremendously. 

 

One of the new yurts (site 60)







Another avid group of cross country skiers





 


 


 



Chow time



Boy Scout campout

Ice rink under construction at the Visitor Centre