Home to Finlay Point PP, day 1

 So Sunday 20th June 2021 at about 9.20am we set off on our much anticipated journey out to Stony Plain, Alberta, from Rockland, Ontario, a journey we anticipated to take until Monday 28th June to complete. We had pre-booked camp sites for our stays in Ontario provincial parks but didn't book any further ahead in case schedule/routes ending up changing. The trip meter was set to zero and off we set.

We knew that we wouldn't get a lot of mileage per tank of gas because our gas consumption would obviously be higher than usual with a 3500lb trailer behind us and the Nissan Pathfinder only has a gas tank capacity of 74 litres. So we had decided to stop at Antrim truck stop near Arnprior to gas up for the first but not last time this trip! It was not long after we pulled into a stop at Matawa for lunch before setting off again for Findlayson Point Provincial Park. A scenic drive with plenty of views of forests and lakes. At North Bay we stopped into Walmart for a few essentials as well as topping up the gas tank again.

Arrived at Findlayson Point PP at 4.45pm where our overnight camp site was quite narrow and uneven but at least it was a pull through site so no messing about reversing. The trailer A/C made the sticky evening more comfortable and the mosquito killer was put to good use.

The sky was clear and someone snapped a picture of the sky through the nearby trees.

I will just slip in here that a few days earlier we had gone to Voyageur Provincial Park on a trial run. While there we explored the park and walked to the main beach just a couple of minutes too late to get a great sunset shot but maybe this is a good sunset shot? I like this picture too much to not include it somewhere.

The next morning it was time for a quick breakfast, a snap of the lake nearest our site and back on the road.....

Trial run

 Well, less than a week has passed and I'm back here already. This past few days have been a little hectic as we try out the trailer in a 'real campsite setting' as well as get on with other things in the normal course of our lives, especially now that the provincial borders are open.

Wednesday saw us head to Voyageur provincial park on the Ontario/Quebec border where we set up camp without any trouble except to initially forget to ensure that the trailer was level side to side. A little to-and-fro-ing and a few plastic blocks later we were leveled.

We spent time re-organizing the trailer and exploring the park on a couple of walks, one of which took us to the smallest of four beaches in the park and another took us to a larger beach just a couple of minutes too late to get a perfect sunset shot.

We had managed to previously re-schedule our Covid-19 2nd shots from August to 25th June but, after booking this camping trip, then managed to re-schedule the shots 8 days earlier which fell neatly in the middle of this camping trip. So, after a leisurely morning we headed back up the highway, past home and into Ottawa for our shots then back down the highway to the campsite.

Friday morning was a walk in the woods before packing up and driving back home.

Come Saturday morning and, yes, you're right, it was time to head back down the highway, past Voyageur Park and on to watch our youngest granddaughter play her first soccer game which she proudly won (with teammates help) by 3-1. How did I not get any pictures? It was also a chance to reconnect with family on the Quebec side of the border that had been closed for a while for reasons you probably know about!

After some shopping it was time to finally get back home and repack the trailer ready for a bit longer of an adventure......watch this space :-)

 Well we've not disappeared off the face of the earth just yet! Life seemed pretty routine with work and the normal things of life but after taking retirement in Spring of 2020 we planned to travel a little. Unfortunately Covid happened so the past year has been pretty much revolved around staying at home. Now though restrictions are lifting and we are expecting to soon be able to embark on a journey or two with our travel trailer. If we can get internet service (and the inclination!) I'll try to keep this blog updated as we go. Stay safe and come along with us for the ride if you're able.

Madawaska

August 1st, Colonel By (a.k.a. Civic day) meant a day off from work and time to explore the Calabogie region. We headed up the 417 to Arnprior...leading to the 17 then turned west onto route 508 following the Madawaska river. Spot the canoeist.

After a stop for a cuppa and watching the fish (trout?) jumping for their snacks we continued to on the 508 until we turned south onto the 511. A little way down we turned east, south, east and south again, all of it on route 9 through the hamlet of Tatlock. We saw a sign for the Tatlock Quarry outlook and naturally had to take a look. The road is a private road, apparently not maintained but in reasonable shape anyway (better than the Ville-Marie in Montreal!).

The quarry was used to extract marble but is now disused. It's larger than it looks in the picture, it was quite a way away and maybe the white does something.....

Out and about to Arnprior

Canada day long w/e....stayed home on Canada Day (1st July) despite, or maybe because, Will and Kate were in town with about 300,000 others. Did I hear you ask Will and Kate who? Shame on you - off to the Tower!
Sunday lunchtime we headed up to Antrim Truck Stop (on White Lake Road on the edge of Arnprior) for lunch. It might be called a truck stop but is very popular with people who don't drive trucks as well and deservedly so.
Then it was into Arnprior to look at the Madawaska River horseshoe falls then just downstream where the Madawaska river meets the Ottawa river for a couple of hours doing nothing much.


Madawaska falls....



















Arnprior Beach...
















Ottawa river

Tiled out

We couldn't miss the opportunity to check the progress on the house during a quick trip out to sign more paperwork so here's the latest pictures. All the floor tiling is done, the kitchen cupboards are roughly in position but not secured and likewise the oak caps on the half walls.

Looks like bathroom tiles are next....

A glimpse of the ensuite...

A gaze at the kitchen cupboards....

A gaze on the kitchen from a different angle....

and a glare at the hallway and stairs to basement....

Drywall on

So, a visit on 11th June showed that the drywall is now installed. This week they are installing the trim that can be seen stacked in the Living / Dining Room.

I was dis-appointed that only the drywall had been done since our last visit. However I spoke to the builder today and he said that closing could be at the end of July if we wanted that. I was happy to hear that although I said that the end of August suits us perfectly.

Here's the pictures...(look at previous posts for more inc. outside)

Family room

Dining Area from the Living room

Front Door / Living Room windows

Breakfast area (th'other side of half wall)