A March Summer Day

What a perfect day... 23 degrees Celsius and solid sunshine.  Hard to believe it's March 17. 

We started the day with the removal of the winter tarp and within minutes, Hugh and Tom arrived to provide some assistance.  By 12:30 pm the job was finished.

Lots of activity in the Park with children making good use of their bikes.  At the beach we actually saw some kids in bathing suits and others wading out to a small island.  Turtles in Turtle Pond were soaking up the sun and the Wood Frogs in Ash Swamp were calling for mates.

We finished the day with a bonfire and roasted some marshmallows.  A terrific day!

Tarp removal in process

Judy's camera caught Hugh & Tom helping (or supervising).

Young family down by the lakeshore

Wood frog in Ash Swamp

The Fire Watcher

Are they ready yet?

Spring Break Friday

What was forecast to be a very sunny and warm day turned out to be a mixed bag with fog patches for much of the day and a high of about 8 degrees Celsius.  The drive from Waterloo was quite enjoyable with numerous sightings of Tundra Swans making their northward migration to the arctic breeding grounds, stopping occasionally to feed in farmers' fields.  The two photographs below were taken a few kilometres southeast of Palmerston on Perth Line.

With no snow in the long term forecast, many of the "Winter Warriors" have already removed their winter tarps and tomorrow's blog will likely include some photos of our own tarp removal process.  It is expected that Birch Boulevard campground (including the Yurts) will be full tonight with overflow campers going to Ash Woods campground.

Family Day Weekend Windup

We began the day with an early morning trip to Port Elgin to enjoy breakfast at Aunt Mabel's restaurant.  On returning to the Park we took a photo of a snowman someone had made near the ticket office.















Before heading back to Waterloo I had the opportunity to sit with some other "Winter Warriors" around a roaring campfire at site # 79.  Not having the camera with me, I had to settle for photos with my BlackBerry smartphone.

Another enjoyable weeekend at MacGregor Point Provincial Park!

Family Day weekend (2012) at MacGregor Point

This is Family Day weekend at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.  We woke to fresh snow that started around 6 a.m. and dropped about 3" of wet snow on the Park.  Perfect snow for making snow men and forts.  Park activities for the weekend include an Owl Prowl and Coyote Howl this evening, a guided hike Sunday afternoon and a scavenger hunt all day Monday.  Unfortunately the skating oval is not open because of the recent warm weather.

We started the day with a trip to Southampton to buy some groceries at the Offshore Bakery.  Before heading home we drove North about 5 km to Denny's Dam Conservation Area before returning to the Park via the lakeshore road between Southampton and Port Elgin.

Offshore Bakery in Southampton

Denny's Dam, a popular trout fishing spot

Lake view during heavy snowfall

Entering the Park during heavy snowfall

Chickadee on our window feeder

Deer spooked by campers

Cheers!

Standing guard at Yurt (site 64)

Tenting in the smow

Our roadway, facing toward site #63 (with Motorhome)

Tent trailer visiting for Family Day weekend

Another tent site

Cute trailer framed in snow

Our site (# 61)

Blue Jay at our site

A quiet weekend at MacGregor Point

A rather quiet weekend here at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.  Yesterday we took the opportunity to drive along the lakeshore through Port Elgin and up to Southampton, taking a few pictures along the way.
Most of the yurts were filled Friday and Saturday nights and two transient sites were occupied with tenters.  Only one Winter Warrior couple here other than ourselves.

We decided to extend the weekend to Monday so tonight (Sunday) is "really" quiet.  However, that does tend to bring the deer into the campground as evidenced by our numerous sightings of a threesome of three does.

Tara Girl Guide leaders

View from Old Shore Road Trail

Another view from Old Shore Road Trail

One of several tent campers in the Park

Skis waiting for more snow

Street hockey by site 59

Action viewed from our front window

Lake view of approaching snow flurries 

Chantry Island

Southampton pier

Another view of Chantry Island offshore of Southampton



Two (of three) deer behind the dump station

Visitor to our campsite

Oh deer!

Winter has returned to MacGregor Point Provincial Park

Although the snowfall forecast is less than what's expected for Collingwood and Toronto, there is indeed about 2" of fresh snow on the ground at the Park.  The roads were bare throughout most of our drive from Waterloo.  However, things changed as we passed through Paisley and by the time we hit Highway 21 a full blown storm was under way.  At the intersection of Concession 4 and Bruce Road 33 we almost got "broadsided".  Although it's a 4 way stop and we had the right of way, the car approaching from our left was unable to stop and skidded through the intersection in front of us.  Had I been a bit less observant or quicker on the pedal, we would have been hit.  It pays to be a defensive driver.

Yurt occupants have been steadily arriving over the past couple of hours so it will be interesting to see how things look in the morning.  The skating oval was flooded this morning but the park staff weren't sure what shape it will be in for the weekend.

Our arrival at the Park office

Beautiful Winter Day at MacGregor Point

Last evening we had a rare treat, a visit from a Snowshoe Hare at our campsite.  It stayed around for quite a while, enabling us to get a number of pictures but we chose to post one of the rabbit sitting straight up on it's hind legs.

Today was the official opening of the 400 meter skating loop.  While visiting the loop this afternoon I had the privilege of speaking with a family that was using the skate change house.  Speaking with Lisa Howell of Elmira I learned that the skate change house was provided in remembrance of her late husband David Howell.   Apparently MacGregor Point Provincial Park had always been a special spot for Lisa and her husband and hence she approached the Parks staff with the idea of a joint project that would benefit the Park as well as providing a lasting remembrance of her late husband.  Thank you Lisa.

Can you spot the Snowshoe Hare?

MacGregor Point Zamboni

Plaque on door of skate change house

Some of Dave Howell's family

Winter at last!

Our trip from Waterloo to MacGregor Point Provincial Park was relatively uneventful.  Roads were mostly bare until just south of Paisley when some "lake effect snow" appeared.  We arrived about 12:30 pm to an outside temperature of minus 6 degrees.

Inside the RV the temperature was about plus 10 degrees with three electric heaters going, thanks to the campground hosts who had plugged in our electrical cables a few hours earlier.   Upon arrival we immediately turned on the furnace, hoping to accelerate the warmup process but unfortunately it refused to start.  After making several attempts to get it going we reached for the operator's manual and behold, the furnace started of its own accord.

When we left the Park on New Year's day the ground was bare and rain was falling.  Most of the snow now on the ground has fallen within the last two days.  Now this is winter!

The Ontario Parks staff have been flooding the 400 meter skating loop whenever they get the chance and it looks as if the loop may be open for use this weekend.  We were totally surprised to see a rustic looking skate change / warmup house beside the skating loop entrance.  Inside there's a full length bench on each side and a wood stove that obviously had been going for an hour or more.  A great idea!  Kudos to Ontario Parks.

Driving on Concession 4



Arriving at site #61

Filling the bird feeders

View from our bedroom window



Skate change / warmup house at the skating loop

Interior view from the entrance

Interior view toward the entrance



Trail to the Permit Office