Day trip to Lindsay

After getting some much needed rest and an early lunch, we headed down to Pigeon River to check out the beach and boating facilities of the Park.  Then onward to Lindsay, a town approximately 25 minutes west of Emily Park.

Lindsay is located on the Scugog River which joins the Southwest leg of Sturgeon Lake in the North, to Lake Scugog in the South.  As you may see from some of our photographs, they have done a beautiful job with the parklands that border the river.  Within walking distance of the downtown area are the remains of an old mill, as well as Lock 33 which enables pleasure boaters to migrate to and from Lake Scugog. Having boated on the Trent-Severn Waterway for eight years, we still take every available opportunity to visit the various locks and canals.

Docks near South Beach



Canoe waiting for a paddler

Osprey nest on Peace Road near Fees Landing



Judy "on a mission"

Across the river

People enjoying the Park

Inside the old mill ruins

Old Mill

40"s or 50"s era Cockshutt tractor converted to a forklift

Lock 33 of the Trent-Severn waterway



Lockmaster shutting down the lock for the day

Stuck in the muck at Emily PP

Emily Provincial Park is situated on Pigeon River which flows into the South End of Pigeon Lake on the Trent Severn Waterway. When we reserved site #208 at the Park we did see the "poor drainage" note on the site description but opted for that site rather than adjacent site #207.  What we didn't know was that the Park had recently received heavy rains and in fact it had rained each of the past five weekends.  Parks staff indicated they have had to tow several RV's out of their campsites.

Although site #208 was quite large, the gravel area was rather short and by the time the front end of the RV was off the roadway, the rear wheels were on soft ground and began to spin.  It was obvious this wasn't going to work so we drove our Jeep Liberty to the Park gatehouse and obtained a list of alternate sites.  While scouting out a new site it became obvious that a large number of campsites were in peril from the heavy rains.  The only suitable, available site was #187 so we fired up the RV to exit site #208 but alas, the wheels also spun while trying to go forward.

For a while it looked as if we might require a tow but after about forty-five minutes, a lot of digging with our spade and use of some 2" thick boards we often carry with us, we were back on the roadway.  The new site #187, although well-drained was also a bit soft in some spots so we entered from the "wrong direction" on the one-way road to avoid having to make too many maneuvers.  With sunny weather in the forecast starting next Wednesday, that should help.

Note the hubcap reflection - Photographer & "Digger"

We did it!



At the new site

Pinehurst Lake

     In spite of un-seasonably low temperatures, we were pleased to spend this weekend at Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area. It's just slightly more than a half hour drive from our home in Waterloo and as a teenager growing up in Waterloo Region, my brother and I would often drive to Pinehurst for an evening swim in the lake after a hot summer day of farm work.  It's a beautiful park with some good hiking trails, although they do tend to be a bit hilly.  Although we did see a deer yesterday, generally speaking you are unlikely to see many birds or other wildlife.

     It was in the Spring of 2007 that we first camped here with our Class A Motorhome and met Gary and Lori from Waterloo.  Upon our Friday p.m. arrival at site 319 we were pleased to learn that they were also camping at Pinehurst.  In fact they were actually "next door" to us on site 318 with their new Rockwood Roo trailer.  It was great to visit with them and discuss old times.

     Below are some photographs we took during the weekend:

Fungus on rotting tree stump

Field adjacent to the Park

Shadows

Our campsite, photographed from entrance to a trail

Marshy area adjacent to the lake



Got a fish

 

Tree knot hole (see photo below)



Inside of hollow tree, photographed from knot hole

Nice playground for the kids

Marsh Trail

This afternoon I hopped on my bike and headed out to the Marsh Trail along the West side of Rondeau Park.  I usually stop at the 4 km mark where there's a gate across the roadway.  Beyond that point the road becomes a "two track" and once the grasses get tall there's the possibility of picking up ticks along the way.  However, this early in the season the grasses are quite short so I continued about one kilometre beyond the gate.

I stopped at the "observation tower" for a few photographs.  As I arrived at the aforementioned "gate" and the nearby boardwalk to the shoreline I scanned the trees to the east, for in prior years there has been a bald eagle nest visible in the distance and bald eagles soaring in the area.  However, today I saw neither the nest nor eagles.

Upon my return I took photos of a couple of cottages along the trail.  Our understanding is that the Park will ultimately be phasing out all cottages situated in the park.  So long as they continue to be leased by the present individuals or their spouses, each lease will be extended but upon death of the last surviving spouse, the lease will be terminated.  Hence, the cottages may not be transferred to another family member or third party.

While having supper this evening we thought a Rose Breasted Grosbeak was looking at us through the lower portion of our RV windshield.  However, we soon determined that in fact the bird was sitting on the dashboard after flying in through an open door.  It couldn't seem to find its way back to the open door so we managed to catch the bird and toss it out the door.  Within seconds it had covered a distance of 100 metres and was still going full speed.

Tomorrow we head for home.  Although it would be nice to remain here for the long weekend, the park is fully booked and we have lots of work to do at home.

Boulder at entrance to observation tower boardwalk

Lower level of observation tower

Upper level of observation tower

Sign at observation tower

Canal through the reeds and grasses

Boardwalk near gate on roadway

Cute cottage #1

Cute cottage #2

Boathouse for cottage #1

Shoreline near the park store and dock
 

Dock extending into Rondeau Bay

Grosbeak on RV dash

Spice Bush Trail

After overnight low temperatures of near freezing and daytime highs of 9 or 10 degrees Celsius, we've finally had a break in the weather, and what a break... 27 degrees today.

This afternoon we took the opportunity to hike the Spice Bush Trail in search of birds and critters.  The highlight of the hike was spotting and photographing a Worm Eating Warbler.  According to our bird book this warbler is seldom seen north of the US / Canada border.  On the way back to our campsite we also saw an Osprey in the trees along the roadway.

We finished the day with a campfire, some roasted marshmallows and a nice talk with the park superintendent.



You take my picture, I'll take yours

 



Beech tree well carved

Trillium

Judy

Shadows

Jack in the Pulpit

Scarlet Tanager (a bit blurry)

One of several boardwalks in Spice Bush

 

Yellow Warbler

Redstart




Mayapple ready to flower

Worm Eating Warbler



Osprey taking flight