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Trail Tales

Trail Tales

Camping stories are the best. We love talking about memorable moments from past trips with our paddling partners. The stories never seem to get old.  We also find ourselves telling friends about our camping adventures as we try to convince them to join us.  While many friends have joined in the fun, a few have declined.  One friend patiently explained her idea of roughing it was arriving in town without reservations.

Trail Tales captures some of our stories. We share things we have learned; some funny stories and some painful lessons.  The interesting thing about painful lessons – over time they too become funny stories. 

Join us here for some short tales and of course a few tall ones.

Storms

The tent was breathing. That was how my husband described the tent during the storm we had just survived. The wind was so strong our tent would collapse and then it would spring back, then collapse again, like lungs. The roar ended and the tent was still standing.  My hands were still shaking when I . . . Read More about Storms

Camping with Kids

We don’t camp with kids often, but this year we did, and what a pleasure! We spent four perfect days on the beach. We had sunshine, more stars than you can imagine, beautiful sunsets, great food and amazing S’more filled campfires. There were crafts, and reading and fishing. There were frogs to catch and bugs . . . Read More about Camping with Kids

Finding the Right Wood

We see it all the time, people cutting live trees to burn.  Green wood (freshly cut) does not burn, it smolders and smokes. So unless you like smoked marshmallows, you don’t want to use green wood. If green wood doesn’t burn, and cutting live trees damages the forest for future generations, why do it?  We . . . Read More about Finding the Right Wood

Never Forgotten

Our canoe trips will not be the same without our campfire storyteller. John was part of our paddling group for the past 18 years.  John passed away in November 2018, he was 63.  We remain in shock.  We had just spent two weeks together in August paddling in the Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park.  He was . . . Read More about Never Forgotten

Portaging

I don’t know anyone who really likes portaging; however portaging gives you options. Portaging means you get to see things you would never have access to otherwise.  And portaging gets you further away from the crowds.   It really is all about attitude. I try to see it as a challenge/accomplishment and an adventure – OK . . . Read More about Portaging

Maps

In the early days we would spend hours looking for a portage. I remember paddling the wrong way across a lake in high winds.  For some reason when it’s windy, it is even harder to read landmarks and you can’t really stop to consult the map when you are in the thick of things.  Maps . . . Read More about Maps

Bears

No morning should ever start at 6 am with a bear rummaging through your campsite. That is exactly what happened to a group of people camped across the lake from us.  How do we know this?  We were woken up by the yelling. The sound carried across the still waters and blasted through our earplugs.  . . . Read More about Bears

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