Winter Photos from MacGregor Point Provincial Park

Although we have already done a blog posting for today, the beauty of the freshly fallen snow was just too great to ignore.  Once the wind comes up the snow will soon disappear from the tree branches.

We hope you enjoy the photos.

The Park's snow blower cleaning out our campsite entrance

Visitor Centre Ampitheatre

Entrance to the Skating Oval

Christmas at MacGregor Point Provincial Park

Wishing you a belated Merry Christmas from site # 61 at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.  It appears that the Park missed most of the ice storm we had in Waterloo earlier this week.  As we passed through the Drayton area yesterday (about a half hour from Waterloo) it became obvious that the ice coating on trees, hydro wires, etc. was heavier and the tree damage much worse than we experienced in Waterloo.

The Park had more than a foot of accumulated snow on the ground when we arrived early yesterday afternoon and it has been snowing steadily since we awoke this morning.  It's very beautiful.  The Skating Oval appears to be a "work-in-progress" but would guess that if the cold weather continues, it should be opening soon.

Last evening we had a knock on the RV door at three different intervals.  The first was a lady from a nearby Yurt, offering us some chocolates and Christmas greetings.  Later in the evening fellow Winter campers (a.k.a. Winter Warriors) John and Nikki brought Christmas Greetings and a nice card.  The third time it was another group of Winter Warriors singing Christmas carols.  How thoughtful of these campers.

We plan to be here until New Year's day and are looking forward to seeing more campers arriving at the Park, as well as the proliferation of wild life.  Last evening as we got ready for bed, three deer appeared on our camp site.  This morning the birds are also finding the freshly filled bird feeders.

Our side door decorations (at home)

Shoveling a path to the bird feeders

Lots of Snow (photo taken last night)

A shot from our RV bedroom window

Snow covered branches just outside our RV bedroom window

Winter Warrior carolers

A hawk that visited our camp site this morning

A quiet weekend at MacGregor Point PP

Not many people at the Park this weekend. Although we received a light dusting of snow, the winter campers are likely waiting for snow shoeing and cross country skiing conditions.   Even the wildlife were in short supply, with no deer, flying squirrel or snowshoe hare sightings.  But as we write this blog, Judy sees (in the distance) what appears to be a bald eagle.  The usual assortment of small birds is at the bird feeders.
 
As a result of a previous commitment, it was nearly 8 pm Friday when we arrived at the Park.  Most of the day Saturday was spent on a television upgrade project   Peter removed the original 60 (?) lb. television above the RV driver's seat and replaced it with a 32" LED smart TV.  This involved covering the front of the existing cabinet with a painted (black) piece of 3/4" plywood, cutting an "access port" for cables, etc. and mounting the flat screen TV brackets.  A lot of measuring (and double checking) involved.  Spring will tell us whether the TV will remain attached while driving down the road. We also upgraded the receiver to an HD version which gives us a lot more channels as well as the benefit of HD quality.  Oh, the joys of "roughing it"!

Looking forward to our return to the Park at Christmas.

Just a wee bit of snow on the ground

Wild Turkeys near the Park

Beach scene at the bottom of Concession 4

 

Pileated Woodpecker at our campsite

 

 



Setting up at MacGregor Point Provincial Park

Friday, November 1 was the beginning of the 2013-2014 On-site Winter Camping Program.  With high wind warnings in effect yesterday we were a bit apprehensive  about heading for MacGregor Point.  However, as we travelled the winds seemed to decline and aside from a few "white knuckle" moments, the wind didn't really bother us to much.

Approximately 12 km from the Park we heard a flapping sound and noticed that our slideout awning was starting to unroll.  We pulled over on the shoulder of the road and Peter crawled on the roof to check things out.  At the rear end of the awning the straps we use to pull down the awning had wrapped around the "ratchet mechanism" that keeps the awning from unrolling, thus preventing the ratchet from doing its job. After a temporary fix we turned onto Concession 4 and  the awning was fine.  Fortunately nothing got damaged and once we got the stepladder out at our campsite we were able to untangle the troublesome awning straps.

In spite of the high winds yesterday the Park is quite busy.  A majority of the "Winter Warriors" are already here and a lot of the transient sites and yurts are filled.  In addition to the sites in Birch Boulevard campground, Ash Woods has been opened this year for the On-site Winter Camping Program.

Looking forward to a good winter camping season.



Awning repair by the roadside

Whitecaps on Lake Huron

Grouse beside the road near the recycling centre

MacGregor Point Provincial Park - Winter # 5

Today we got our first taste of snow in the Waterloo Region so it got us really thinking about the 2013-2014 On-Site Winter Camping Program at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.  The RV has been serviced and the Drive Green test done so with my birthday coming up next week we'll be able to renew the vehicle permit. 

A week from tomorrow we'll be on the road to MacGregor Point for another 5 and a half months of winter camping.  This will be our fifth winter of participation in the Winter Camping Program and once again we'll be on site #61 in the Birch Boulevard camping area.

Arrowhead Provincial Park - Day 6

Yesterday (Wednesday) we took a day trip, stopping first in Huntsville at the Lions lookout.  Then we continued on to Dorset for lunch and to Baysville at the South end of Lake of Bays.  On our return trip to we made a brief stop at the historic Brunel lift lock on the river just South of Huntsville.  About 23 years ago we actually made a trip in our 20' boat through this lock to Mary Lake, returning to Huntsville later in the day.

Today we are enjoying what may be our last day of sunshine as the weather forecast for Friday and the weekend includes rain.

View of Fairy Lake from Lions lookout in Huntsville

Rabbit's Bay on Lake of Bays

Docks at Dorset

"The Narrows" at Dorset, facing Westward



"The Narrows" at Dorset, facing Eastward

Colourful dock at Baysville

Brunel historic lift lock

Mouth of Little East River at Arrowhead Lake footbridge



Cabin on Site 248





Yurt on Site 246

Yurt on Site 247



Deer on camp road 9




Smoke signals

 

Arrowhead Provincial Park - Day 4

After a rainy Monday the sunshine has returned.  Another great day for relaxation and taking photographs of fall colours and the little critters around our campsite.

"Big Bend"

Entrance to "Big Bend" lookout

Maple in prime colour

Lower end of Arrowhead Lake

Lumby Beach

Footbridge over Little East River

Canoe rental area

Bluejay in flight (with peanut in beak)

Chipmunk stocking up on sunflower seeds

 

Now what do I do?

Hey buddy! What are you doing in there?

Arrowhead Provincial Park - Day 1

Arrowhead Provincial Park is located just Northwest of Huntsville, Ontario.  Although we have previously visited the park to "scout" good campsites, this is our first camping visit to the Park.

We arrived mid afternoon Friday and although our RV "setup" went well, the TV satellite dish aiming was another matter but eventually we got it working with a 93% signal.  With so many trees in the campground there are not many campsites with TV satellite access.  Bell Mobility phone access is good.

Today was a perfect fall day and we took the opportunity to just relax, walk around the campground and take some pictures.  A short distance from East River campground, on Little East River is the Stubb's Falls rapids.  Kayakers were coming down the river and stopping above the Falls.  Below the falls we were treated to a Great Blue Heron that had positioned him / her self just across the river, snatching fish whenever possible.  Amazingly, there were noisy kids and dogs less than 10 metres away but that didn't seem to bother the Heron.

We plan to be at the Park until Sunday, October 6 and although there is a bit of rain in the forecast, the overall weather picture looks pretty good. 

Judy catching up on paperwork

Parking lot by Washroom / Showers

Me and my shadow



Site 229, East River Campground

Path entrance to Stubb's Falls

Canoes at the "pool" above Stubb's Falls

Another Kayak coming down the river

Great Blue Heron waiting for lunch

Judy on the bridge taking my picture

More Kayaks