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

Conestogo Lake

Having a limited amount of time this weekend, we decided to find a campground close to home.  Conestogo Lake is about three quarters of an hour drive from Waterloo.  It is a multi-recreational use park and campground covering over 350 acres.

We had not previously camped here but did some boating on the lake in 1989 and 1990.  Although the water level drops considerably over the summer, it is a popular waterway for fishing, sailing, tubing and water skiing and the shoreline is dotted with cottages.

The Grand River Conservation Authority is presently completing some improvements to the lower part of the dam.  While touring the "lower park" we made an interesting discovery.  An "old order" Mennonite couple in their twenties were enjoying a day at the park, tossing a baseball back and forth and using one of the barbeques provided in the park.  Nearby was their buggy and the horse was tied at a special area designated for horses.  It became obvious that the park gets some regular use from these local folks.

Entrance to the Park

Campsite #70



At the docks

Looking Westward

Looking Westward toward the swimming area

Water levels are dropping

By the dam

Swimming area view from parking lot

Civic Holiday 2011

Having boated in Georgian Bay for more than eight years, we still take every opportunity to visit marinas, watch boaters at launch ramps, and visit some of our favorite locks on the Trent Severn canal system.  During those boating years we often took advantage of the Civic Holiday long weekend to make a trek up the Trent Severn canal system, starting with lock 45 at Port Severn and ending at the Port of Orillia on the South shore of Lake Couchiching.

For the August 2011 Civic Holiday we took a day trip to Orillia followed by a visit to the Couchiching Lock (#42) a few kilometres from the North end of Lake Couchiching.  It certainly brought back a lot of memories.

Some of the prettiest and unique locks are off the "beaten path" and hence many tourists never see them.  An example is the Swift Rapids lock (#43) which is the highest conventional lock on the Trent Severn system and is only accessible by boat.  Another very unique lock is the Big Chute Marine Railway (Lock 44) for which we have included a 2005 photograph.

Port of Orillia facing Southward

Port of Orillia facing Northward

A couple of beautiful hanging pots

The Boardwalk

Hobby Boats

"Hotdog Run"

On the Boardwalk again

Lined up for the Launch Ramp

Lock 42 Sign

Waiting to Enter the Lock

Entering Lock 42

Lock 42 Upper Entrance

In the Lock

Lock 42 Lower Entrance

Big Chute Marine Railway (2005)



Sunset View during Homeward Trip