Family Day Weekend update

Although this update will be brief, we thought you may wish to see the completed Snow Hut on site 49,  complete with smoke coming from the chimney.  Previously the occupants used a stove they had made from a 45 gallon drum.  However, this year they've invested in a new wood stove.  Given that smoke comes from the chimney intermittently (perhaps a minute at a time), this sounds like a "high tech" stove , maybe even burning wood pellets.

Lots of snowshoes and skates being used in the park this weekend.  Although a bit cold at night (minus 13 Celsius), the days are basically sunny and seasonal.

 




Lake shore ice in Port Elgin

Male Cardinal at our camp site

Family Day Weekend at MacGregor Point Prov. Park

Today is the first  day of the February 2013 Family Day holiday weekend.  The weather has cooperated and the Park is a popular place for snow shoeing, cross country skiing and skating.  All of the yurts appear to be occupied and aside from a double site, all campsites in Birch Boulevard campground are in use.

Early last evening our campsite was visited by 4 deer and 2 cottontail rabbits. No flying squirrels yet.

Campfire watching

Coming or going?

Overflow parking for the skating oval

At the skating oval

 

 



Zamboni

Snow hut under construction

A happy group of yurt campers

Winter at Last

Winter has finally returned at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.  We arrived at the Park around 4 pm Friday and aside from the last 30 km, driving conditions were quite good. 

Everything was OK at our camp site, aside from some storage compartment locks being frozen from all the rain earlier in the week. Fortunately we had some lock de-icer and wind shield washer anti-freeze in the RV and soon were able to thaw the locks, switch on the batteries and retrieve a snow shovel. The RV was already quite warm inside, thanks to the camp ground hosts for plugging in our hydro cables earlier in the day.

Given the fresh snow and seasonal temperatures, we expected there might be more activity in the park.  However, today being Super Bowl Sunday might be a factor.  In spite of the rainy weather earlier in the week the skating oval is open once again.  Campers as well as "locals" appear to be making good use of the facility.  About 7 "winter warriors" on site and Saturday afternoon a rental Class B RV with Alberta license plates pulled in..

Driving conditions South of Paisley





Arrival at our camp site #61





Judy and our pet rabbit Konijn relaxing



 



Heavy snow falling at one of the Yurt sites





At the Skating Oval



January Thaw 2013

Although at least one January thaw is the "norm" for Southern Ontario, this year has been exceptional with a high of 12 C degrees yesterday at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.   The ice surface on the Skating Oval has disappeared and the ground is bare.  A couple of yurt cancellations were received by the Park but overall, a majority of the yurts appear to be occupied.  Snow shoeing and cross country skiing have been replaced by cross country hikes and walks along the Lake Huron shoreline.

A foggy drive from Waterloo on Friday

Deer grazing  near the Ticket Office as we arrived on Friday

Still some ice on Turtle Pond

Hairy Woodpecker at our campsite

Winding down 2012 at MacGregor Point Provincial Park

As we approach the end of the year 2012, MacGregor Point Provincial Park is coming to life.  This morning we awoke to see three deer at our camp site.  As the day passed the yurts began filling up and a number of RV's, tenters and "Winter Warriors" have arrived.  Families with children are noticeably visible, enjoying the outdoors and soaking up the beauty of the Park. The skating oval has been flooded and the park staff are hoping to have it open for New Year's Eve but of course that will depend upon the weather during the next two days. 



Host site #71

Nicely decorated site



Another colorful site



Judy heading back to the RV

Porcupine tracks

 

Slate Colored Junco

Downie Woodpecker

Cottontail Rabbit on our site



Flying Squirrel on one of our window feeders

A morning visit from some deer

Where`s the picnic?

Skating Oval waiting to be opened

Enjoying the fresh snow (note the steering wheel reflection in windshield)

Next generation of winter campers

Wildlife at MacGregor Point Provincial Park

Since arriving at MacGregor Point Provincial Park on Christmas Day the birds have been noticeably absent.  A pair of Cardinals and the occasional Chickadee were the only ones to visit our feeders.  Lucy (a friend who spent numerous winters in the Park) has a theory that the birds go into "hiding mode" when a storm is approaching.  Although the worst of the storm passed South of us, we did get about 2.5" to 3" of fresh snow overnight and behold, the birds reappeared this morning, proving that Lucy's theory is correct. 

In spite of the birds being absent for two days, we did have a visit from five deer on Christmas night and were entertained by a flying squirrel for an hour or more last night.  We got a new camera for Christmas and hope you enjoy some of the photos in this blog posting.  The Park has been very quiet but the yurts appear to be filling up this afternoon, so this may be the end of our wildlife pictures for now.

Inquisitive deer on Christmas night

Red Squirrel on our picnic table

Flying Squirrel

Blue Jay on one of our feeders

Chickadee

Red Breasted Nuthatch

White Breasted Nuthatch

 

Male Cardinal on Christmas day

 

Christmas 2012 at MacGregor Point Provincial Park

 Merry Christmas to our friends, family and other visitors to this blog.  May you join us in the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and feel the peace that he offers to each one of us.


After celebrating Christmas with our family on Sunday, we arrived early this afternoon at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.  We will be here on site #61 until New Year's Day.



Our Christmas message to other campers



Not much snow, but at least the ground is white

 

Waiting for the birds to arrive