Not So Shabby Camping

Long Weekends

The summers in Canada are short so we have a tradition of extending one weekend each summer month by one day.  These “long weekends” are justified by linking them to historical events, such as Queen Victoria’s birthday, Canada’s birthday, and Lord Simcoe Day.  The September long weekend is called Labour Day, in celebration of worker’s rights.  Here’s a link if you’d like to read more about origins of Labour Day. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/origins-of-labour-day-feature Long weekends give us a small break in the 5 day work week.  For me, it is just enough time to go camping at an Ontario Provincial Park.  Being the cautious traveller, I plan my camping weekends just as carefully as I plan out of country trips.

Camping in Ontario

Because I love camping but I am no longer comfortable sleeping on the ground, my husband and I made an investment in long weekends and summer vacations.  We initially purchased a used pop-up tent trailer and upgraded to a new Aliner in 2014.

The planning for this year’s Canada Day long weekend started 5 months for the first day of camping.  That is the earliest you can reserve a campsite on-line or by phone.

I always reserve a site using the https://www.ontarioparks.com website.  Almost all of the campgrounds have maps available so you can evaluate the site you select.  There is fierce competition on the site starting at 7:00 am five months before a long weekend, so you should have a few campsites picked before you log in to reserve our spot.  Here’s a short video on how to use maps to pick your site. 

 A successful camping trip requires a lot of planning and equipment.  When I started out, we had a little nylon tent, sleeping bags, cook stove, lantern, a few dishes, pots, and flashlights.   We gradually changed our style of camping as we desired to be comfortable despite cold and/or rainy weather. We enjoy camping because it gives us a chance to rest, read, and hike.  Camping is restorative for me and I immediately forget the stresses of work and life the moment we arrive at the site.   

The dog beaches at Provincial Parks are usually separate from the other beaches but provide a chance for your pet to swim, run, and fetch without being restricted by a leash. However, your dog must be very sociable and tolerant of others. We are always standing close by Minnie with leash in-hand in case of a dog squabble.

I love the bike trails at MacGregor Point. They Deer Trail runs parallel to the main park road and then veers off in to the forest. For more information on MacGregor Point trails, check out the “friends” website: http://friendsofmacgregor.org/page/trails

There was only a half day of rain on the Canada Day weekend at MacGregor Point so we spent almost all of our time outside. We returned to work rested and recharged. I’m looking forward to the next trip to Arrowhead Provincial Park on Lord Simcoe Day long weekend.