The First Days
Keith’s unedited photos at the end.
Day: 2
Mileage daily: 421 km
Mileage total: 421 km
Campsite: Beta Lake
Services: Pit toilet and water
Cell Signal: none
Cost: $15
We decided not to try and push too hard today. We have weeks to enjoy the road. We stopped at Beta lake, a small campground we found about 8 years ago while looking at properties near Chip Lake. It is quiet with only two other campers. The sunset over the lake was gorgeous. Chickadees and what looked like a black tern were enjoying the water. A beaver swam by and had a bite of the water lilies. The bees were buzzing, likely enjoying the clover! A gin and tonic with sunset was just the thing!
But with water comes mosquitoes! The area was thick with them, and combined with the humid heat (about 27 when we parked) it was uncomfortable. On the plus side, our homemade spray did the trick... kept them at bay while not inciting a rash in poor Kayenne. They got her as we arrived before getting any protection, so the poor girl is still pretty itchy!
We know that the mosquitoes and other biting bugs will only get worse, especially with the moist warm weather. We need a better plan! Given Kayenne’s sensitivity, a plan that does not involve DEET. Wish us luck!
Dog thoughts:
BORING
At least I have my comfy bed in the car, though it is hard to choose between that, lounging on the back seat or being perched on the other bed Dad made for me in the far back of the truck. Sadly, the view sucks...I mean the Giant Yellow Kennel is kinda fun, but who wants to stare at it for hours on end.
OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!! Is that a Beaver? Is it drowning? Do I need to save it or eat it? Damn the long restraining device!
OUCH ITCHY- the fc*k is with these tiny angry bloodsucking birds.
Day: 3
Mileage daily: 305 km
Mileage total: 726 km
Campsite: Young Point PP
Services: Full (flush toilet, water, shower for a buck, power)
Cell signal: none
Cost: $34
Morning
Woke up still sleepy...to a massacre! There were mosquito guts and blood everywhere from the battles of the night! [Keith’s art to follow]. As lovely as Beta Lake is, we decided to hit the road and will check out Young Pt PP. Next stop we will stay for a day or two, setting up the tent to limit mosquito entry into the camper.
Coffee is the elixir of life!
After a brief romp, Kayenne crashed, snoring and chasing squirrels in her sleep!
Evening:
Wow! What a lovely provincial park! We found a great site in C loop (95). A thunderstorm warning prompted us to rapidly set up camp. So far, everything is working really well.
The tent for the Yellow Submarine went together like a dream. Hard to believe it has been two years since we used it! It makes one helluva difference in the camping experience. It more than doubles the effective space, providing storage and a zone to chill away from the elements. Yet even more important than the space, is the buffer zone. The buffer zone created by the tent keeps out the rain, wind, and the less adventurous local wildlife. For example, both Beta Lake and Young Pt on Sturgeon Lake have a lot of mosquitoes. Having a buffer zone means the vast majority of mosquitoes are kept out of the camper itself. Kayenne Approves!!
The new peltier-driven cooler/fridge is awesome. It connects to the car during the day and when we don’t have a powered site, it uses a glass-matte battery overnight. We use it for long term storage. The best think is that as long as we are driving around, it can stay mostly cool. The fact that stuff doesn’t end up swimming in melted ice is another bonus. Things like butter, garlic and capers (all nicely stored in mason jars) just need to stay cool. Vacuum-packed cheese and Italian salami are the same. Finish it off with OJ and cream and we are set. It does require power, so we shall see how well the solar panel charges the battery. We are also using a traditional ice-based cooler for drinks, open supplies and the like.
Whispers: power = AC shhhhhh...we are serious campers!
After hours of threatening clouds, the thunder started. Distant at first and then CRACK! A strike so close we could hear it sizzle. Impressive to say the least!
Day: 4
Mileage daily: 0 km
Mileage total: 726 km
Campsite: Young Point PP
Services: Full (flush toilet, water, shower for a buck, power)
Cell signal: zip
Cost: $34
Morning...kinda sorta. The thunderstorm was pretty epic, with strobe-like lightning and thunder that shook the ground. Then the rain came. It has been a deluge! We were wise enough to put our duffles and any absorbent material into the car overnight. The tent room is good, but keeping water out when it is coming down like this is a challenge at best and an exercise in futility at worst. But it sure is soothing! Once the temperature dropped and the lightning abated it lulled us into sleep.
Kayenne woke us up at 8:30 vomiting. She kinda does that when a bit stressed. The lovely ball of grass she hourked up suggests her tummy was upset yesterday. Her travel dog bed took the edge of the mess and the floor the rest. As Keith exited the camper in his socks, he discovered just how much rain has fallen. Soggy socks, cleaned floor and walked dog later and we decided to snuggle back in for a few minutes.
It is remarkable what happens when you don’t have clock, or watch. We decided we were ready to face our rainy day with a cup of coffee and a quick check on our phones showed it was 12:30. The Coffee was delicious!
The rest of the day passed in quiet contemplation: Keith with his iPad drawing and me reading the latest in my stack of books. All to the quiet pattern of the rain.
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