Driving, Driving, Driving . . . Camping, Camping, Camping!

July 10-12


The other theme of our eastern trip was driving. We did a lot of miles and as pretty regular cyclists we don't sit and ride/drive in vehicles much but we sure were grateful for the vehicles and drivers we had to help get us around.

After we left Fred & Lois' Birder's Paradise, we made the trek west to meet Becky, Dan & the girls at our campsites at Inverhuron Provincial Park. After a stop in Barrie for Brandon to pick up a few things at his place and then a stop in Stayner for some food and the requisite Beer Store & LCBO orders, we made it to the campsite in time for a dinner of fire cooked sausages. Oh yes and some serious and excited hugs from some of our favourite little girls! Thanks to Brandon for his masterful driving through Toronto & beyond.

Becky & Dan & the girls set up our main campsite before we arrived.

Marissa

Alyssa

Hayley

Our delicious dinner!

Our chef - note sausages on the grill to the left and the the coveted Bud Lite Lime on the right.


Dan & Brandon enjoying dinner.

After dinner Mom and Paul came to join us for a campfire, marshmallows and spider dogs. It was a nice warm night and we had a good visit. Keeping up our pledge to drink local, Bruce and I had picked up some Kawartha Lakes Brewery Raspberry Wheat Ale on our stop in Stayner and enjoyed that during the campfire. Marissa went to bed first and even after the other two had fallen asleep, she continued to knock on the trailer window until well after midnight wanting to join the party. She was a pretty tired girl the next day.

Spider dogs on the fire.

After a good sleep we enjoyed a yummy camp breakfast and a nice lazy morning. After lunch (& some playing with our food) we headed to the beautiful beach!

Saturday breakfast - blackened french toast. Camping food always tastes better.


My half eaten breakfast is documented.


Bruce, Alyssa & Hayley - some favourite games at the campsite.


Marissa at 'her' window.



Fun with food.

Inverhuron Provincial Park is located on Lake Huron just south of the Bruce Power nuclear plant. The park was closed for overnight camping in the 1970s with concerns over heavy water being released into the lake from the plant. The park was reopened to camping in 2005. The park is one of the nicest in the province with its beautiful beach and sand dunes and it is located on a site rich in aboriginal and settler history. From our campsite, the walk to the beach was short and though it was quite windy at the water, Saturday's weather was sunny and warm and we walked all the way to the mouth of the Little Sauble River where there was some warm shallow water for playing in.

Our walk to the beach.


Bruce & Dan leading the way.


The Little Sauble River


A view down to the river from the high sand dunes.

The lake looked beautiful and there were some fun waves but the water was cold! We enjoyed some time on the dunes and then once I got hot enough I took a dip. I really do miss this lake and its sandy beaches.

Alyssa, Marissa and Aunt Brandy on the dune.


A view from the dune with the warm trickle from the river in the foreground and the beautiful lake beyond.


Bruce & I with the girls in the water - they loved it!


Walking back to the campsite along the shore with the dune grasses.

We were all sad to leave the sunny, sandy beach but we were getting a bit hungry. On our walk back to the campsite we saw our long time friends Brooke, Laura and Laura's son Dylan. We invited them to join us back at the campsite for a BBQ supper.

Brooke, Laura and Dylan enjoying our BBQ dinner.

This photo shows our guests enjoying dinner after a bit of a down pour. We all got a bit damp but luckily we had the large trailer awning to keep dry. You never know with that Lake Huron weather - it's like an ocean out there!

Bruce, Hayley, Dan, BBQ, Becky

The Trepanier Family

Later that night Dad came out to the site for the campfire - we had a good visit and enjoyed a taste of the home grown steak that he brought yum!

Grampa & Marissa

The next morning, after some rain and some wind we all emerged from our respective tent or trailer fairly dry and enjoyed another campfire breakfast.

Campfire Breakfast #2 mmm bacon

Dan with his 2 double yokers!


The girls enjoying breakfast.

After breakfast it was time to clean-up and pack up our site.

Dishes

Here are the girls posing for a photo in the tent Bruce & I borrowed from Mom.

Before we left the camp site and headed to Mom & Paul's for supper, we spent some more quality time at the beach. It wasn't as hot on Sunday as it was on the Saturday but the girls had a good time - especially when their friends from the neighbouring campsite came to join us.

Marisa playing in the river - looking cute, and cuter!


Bruce & Dan soaking up some rays.


Becky taking the girls out on the wave rider - did I mention I miss that lake?


Marissa sharing her carrot with Daddy - what a nice girl!


Alyssa & Mommy staying warm.


The Trepanier Family


Becky & Dan lookin' slick


Bruce & I lookin' less so . . .


The illegal ride back to Walkerton in the back of the trailer - shh don't tell anyone.

After some vehicle switching and dropping off the trailer we all made it back to Mom & Paul's for supper with Paul's son Adm and his partner Corine. After the little ones headed home to bed Bruce & weren't too far off either and so, whipped from camping, we bowed out of our duties to be charming guests and headed to bed so we could be well rested for our next visiting adventure - a day trip to Fergus.

Supper! mmm chicken skin.



Adam, Corine, Mom & Paul


Marissa, Becky & Hayley