Potluck at MacGregor

Thanks to Tom & Kerry for organizing a potluck supper for the Winter Warriors. Twenty one people attended (including three new couples) and the food was plentiful and tasty.  Also thanks to the Ontario Parks staff for allowing us to use the Visitor Centre.

On another note, earlier today Ontario Parks staff and the winter hosts decorated the Birch Boulevard comfort station with Christmas lights.  It's sure to add a bit of cheer to that "midnight run".
 

Pre-dinner Chat

Tom & Kerry organized the event

The Food Line

Decorated Comfort Station

Snow at MacGregor Point Provincial Park

Arrived at MacGregor Point Provincial Park around 2:30 this afternoon.  What a joy to see a light blanketing of snow on the cedars, roadsides and campsites.  The tarp on our RV had done its job as all of the snow had slid off.

Not much activity here yet but that should change tomorrow as more Winter Warriors arrive for the 5:30 pm potluck supper at the Visitor Centre.

Entering the Park

Birch Boulevard Campground

Our Site (#61)

One of the new Yurts waiting for occupants

A new sign for Maynard & Lorraine

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There's a fifth wheel RV under there somewhere

Home Sweet Home Away from Home

Winter Warriors Update

It's now official...  22 of the 26 available sites have been booked for the winter on-site program at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.  Considering 2 of the remaining 4 sites are a double site that leaves just 2 single sites open.  A big improvement from last year's 16 sites booked.  All "transient" sites in Birch Boulevard  seemed to be filled this weekend, as well as at least one site in Ash Woods.  A good number of the yurts were also being used.

Today was relatively warm (at 14 C degrees) and very windy, with winds gusting to 56 km.  A good day for checking how well the winter tarps were secured,  "tweaking" some ropes and adding a few more.  We drained and winterized the fresh water system and emptied the gray and black water tanks with the tote / honey wagon. 

Yesterday we heard and watched a pileated woodpecker in flight and saw a female pheasant at the rear of our campsite.   Lots of red breasted nuthatches this year.

Newest Winter Warrior

Gray Skies over Turtle Pond

New Wood Storage Shed by the Office

Another Mud Room Under Construction

Transition

The temperature was about 3.6 C degrees when we arrived at 3:30 this afternoon.  After running the furnace and electric heaters for about 45 minutes the temperature inside the RV was quite comfy.

During half of the two hour trip we saw between 2 and 3 inches of snow on the ground, but at MacGregor Point Provincial Park the ground is bare.  On our way into the park we came upon a young deer eating grass beside the road and a few seconds later a second young deer came out of the cedars.

Things seem to be relatively quiet at the Park.  We are staying until Sunday afternoon and hope to provide blog updates.  Now we're off to Port Elgin for fish and chips.

Snowy field near Brockton

Konijn enjoying the ride to MacGregor

Deer beside the Park road.  Photo taken through window with smartphone. 

Winter RV "Coverup"

With the beginning of the MacGregor Point winter on-site program each year there is a flurry of "construction" activity.   Each participant has his/her own unique design, depending upon the type of RV and their expectations of what "old man winter" has to offer.

Maynard's "low roof pitch" approach

"Conventional" approach

"RV in a garage" approach

Hugh and Dot's "new and improved"

Will this setup include a "mud room" again?

Tom's "high roof pitch" approach plus porch

"The campground hosts'" approach

And the winner is?

To be determined after a winter of heavy snowfalls.

Ready for Winter

A beautiful morning here at MacGregor Point Provincial Park after a light frost overnight.  Birch Boulevard campground is full and new arrivals are being accommodated in Ash Woods campground.

Once the fresh water tank is drained and winterized tomorrow morning our winter preparation will be complete.  As you may know, we continue to use our Grey and Black water tanks throughout the winter, using a tote / honey wagon to empty the tanks and adding plumbing or windshield washer antifreeze when necessary.

Other Winter Warriors are still arriving and are busy constructing the elaborate structures that will support their protective winter tarps. Last year (not requiring the roof mounted TV antenna) we extended the tarp by 3' but had to occasionally remove some snow and ice that accumulated at the rear of the RV.  This year we eliminated the overlap between the two tarps and were able to extend the tarping to cover the complete 38' of RV roof.  We understand that Maynard & Lorraine will be arriving today with their RV and "revised rafters" (as described by Lorraine).

Last evening a few Winter Warriors gathered together for good food and discussion at Allan's Fireside Grill in Port Elgin.  As the season progresses it would be nice to have all 21 on-site participants / couples in attendance, especially the newcomers.

White breasted Nuthatch at our site

Discussions with some potential Winter Warriors

Mid afternoon visitor to our campsite

Deer on the mound behind the RV dumping station

Attaching one of many ropes

Tarp extended this year

Front view - no changes

At Allan's Fireside Grill

Konijn soaking up some sun

Winter preparation at MacGregor Point Prov. Park

We arrived at MacGregor Point Provincial Park Tuesday around 2:00 p.m. and spent the remainder of the afternoon setting up the RV, unloading lumber, etc.  Mid morning Wednesday Hugh O. from site 59 helped me get the lumber and tarp up to the roof of the RV and I spent the remainder of the day erecting the support structure for the tarp.

It rained Wednesday night so we got a late start today but managed to permanently string the electrical cables, TV dish cable, bird feeders, etc.  Tomorrow the tarp will be placed over the superstructure and anchored with ropes.

We understand that 21 sites have been reserved for the Winter On Site Program, an increase of 5 from last year.  Presently there are about ten sites occupied, of which about five are in the On Site Program.  This afternoon a bus full of public school students arrived for an overnight camping expedition.  There goes the peace and quiet and the animal life.

The beach at CAW Road

Still some Fall colours

Site 61 before tarping

Turtle Pond

Construction in Progress

Taking shape

Red breasted Nuthatch feeding

Almost ready for tarping

New Winter On Site participants from Guelph

Leblancs have moved to site 91

Beaver Valley Day Trip

What a gorgeous Thanksgiving weekend. However, due to prior commitments and our inability to reserve a campsite months in advance we chose to remain relatively close to home this weekend.

After babysitting two grandchildren last evening, we got up early Sunday morning and headed toward Beaver Valley and the town of Kimberley.  Our first stop was at the Flesherton municipal park to use the washrooms and enjoy some lakeside scenery.  By then it was nearly lunch time so we stopped at the Flying Spatula just outside of town for the Sunday buffet.  The next highlight was Hogg Falls on the lower valley road.

Tomorrow we'll bring the RV home to start preparation for the winter camping season at MacGregor Park.  Last Saturday (October 1) we had a little surprise while returning from Orangeville.  On Highway 86 a pickup truck pulled along side to get our attention.  When we stopped beside the road we noticed that the small rear awning over the a bedroom window had opened up.  Upon further investigation we learned that a few weeks earlier the RV repair shop had removed it do some repairs and when they reinstalled it, forgot to apply tension to the springs.  All it took was a very windy day to cause the awning to unravel.  A couple of bungee cords held it in place until we got home and then I was able to reapply tension to each of the springs.  Furtunately, no damage was done.

Flesherton Municipal Park

Buffet at the Flying Spatula

In Case You're Lost

Hogg Falls near Kimberley

Remains of a dam constructed in 1935,
complete with racoon tracks made in the fresh cement

Roadside awning repair with bungee cord