Camping trip 2012 - day 5

July 18 - Day 5

The day started out with us switching beds again as Dean woke up. I don't mind, that little mattress really holds its air... Which is funny as it has the 

hole I can see.

Dawn arose and I woke up to what I hoped wasn't another skunk. It wasn't, or at least I couldn't tell. After that, I was up and at around the table. I warmed up the stove to find out the propane was out so I walked to the drop off for the cylinder and enjoyed the early morning and the ducks. Walking back I heard some loons. Turns out 3 of them. And, as to dispel the possibility of seeing more than one at a time, ruining their reputation as a solitary creature they split up as soon as I saw them. Interesting birds. 

Then some more ducks came out and I enjoyed watching them as well. Watching nature is something I can't describe, but is wholly absorbing and reflective. 

After I watched the neighbours put away their pop up trailer and I was thoroughly intrigued as we've been thinking on one for a while. All in all a great little morning for me and having that whole pause moment.
Then the gang woke up and we had breakfast, which was oatmeal instead of pancakes. Yay... Variety. 

After breakfast we had to deal with some more "accidents" with Dean and then got to watch two movies at the visitor centre - winter logging camp (narrated by Eric Peterson... Jackass) & Paddle to the Sea. Dean was entranced. Probably because he hasn't watched tv in 5 days.

On the way back grandpa showed up. Another couple of accidents and we had lunch of hot dogs and s'mores.

Another accident then on to the beach (as grandpa bought Dean some new beach/sand toys). Good times. Even grandpa swam.

Then it was time to start dinner on our new portable camping barbecue (from grandpa as an early anniversary gift)... And to christen the bbq - steaks... And baked potatoes (which we cooked over a fire with some green and orange peppers... Hey we had all that wood. We're using it.)

After dinner Dean and grandpa played while we took down the dining tent (one less thing to pack in the morning).

I also used the time to figure out the wet floor in the tent. My guess is after the rain some pooled under the tent on the drop cloth. So I raised up the fly and let the breeze through to dry the interior and lifted the base a little to let air and sun at the drop cloth. Didn't take long to dry. We'll see what happens in the morning.

Then grandpa left. Another catastrophic accident later which involved the throwing away of Dean's favourite towel we started our third fire of the day for marshmallows.

Dean didn't take long to crash, as he made us some glow stick necklaces, and then even got to see a star. I told him about the first star wish and he wished for a new lightning McQueen towel.

After he wanted to go to elephant's fire in the tent and pretend to roast marshmallows with him. Minutes later he was out.

Just Mandy and I to tend to the fire, and it was roaring. Huge. Then I heard a noise in the woods and flashed my light over to see a skunk raise on his front paws.. crud

We retreated to the road and eventually he passed by. The fire took 3 full emptying water bins to douse.

watching the movies (Dean was zombified -- first 'tv' he'd watched in DAYS)

gorgeous skies

oh, site 150, how we love thee

Camping trip 2012 - day 4

July 17 - Day 4

The day started out a little slow. I was dog tired. I don't think I've eaten this much while at home. Finishing everything Dean and Mandy don't eat as I don't want have food in the garbage.

We meant to make it to the early activity going to Sibley creek and learning about aquatic bugs. We meant to, but were a minute or two late (or 5) and couldn't quite find the right spot.

We found a spot for a trail anyways and went for a little hike ourselves.

After we came back and made ourselves a little picnic for the beach. We saw some butterfly wings, 2 snails in their spiral shells in the water and a mollusc (?).

When beach time was over we visited the centre again then rested. Yay... But not really. I was hoping Dean would nap as he hasn't stayed up late for a fire or stars yet. No luck.

We had one more accident with Dean and needed to do laundry and called grandpa and bought ice and wood.

Soon there after we tested out the action meals my dad gave us and they were good. Mandy opted for a freeze dried meal. Mine and Dean's said single serving, and Mandy's said 2... Not for a guy of my size as I wolfed down my meal and as I eyed up Mandy's remains of the second portion she said that she was starved so I made another meal. After I started was when Mandy saying she was full before she started her second serving... Oh well. 2 from the one I just started, the remainder of Mandy's, mine and the left overs of Dean's... I was full. So I relaxed on the saggy bed for a bit and then Dean and I walked to the beach for a stroll.

It was cold and light was starting to fade so I made it brief and headed back to start a fire and have s'mores.

Fires just getting good and Dean is now falling asleep... Too bad he missed out on the s'mores... Gotta save him some for tomorrow. Greg'll be here, maybe he'll stay late enough for a fire and some roasting marshmallows. I've got 3 bags of wood left, we're roasting something.

diorama(?) of the sleeping giant

Camping trip 2012 - day 3

July 16 - Day 3

So it rained last night.... And it's still raining.... Hard

The dining tent was good for breakfast, but even it was getting drenched. So we've retreated to the tent some more. I've always felt like the fly on this tent was too taut... And in some areas I'm right. Now there's no drops in the tent... And fingers crossed that holds, but holy smokes it's coming down out there... And I'm starting to hear thunder now, so no sign of it letting up. 

There's talk of going to silver islet to help kill some time.

The rain let up enough to just stay raining even heavier.  As that eventually let up we headed out for a trip to silver islet... which has lost some of its lustre. We also decided on a quick check to the thunder bay lookout, which was nice as we got some cell service, so we called Grammy and grandpa, who were on their way out.

Heading back to the camp we smelled a fire, and as it turns out the inflator doesn't have an overcharging circuit and it was smoking in the back of the truck... yoiks.

Now the fun is watching Dean as we had the issue last year of him going every few minutes in his pants, this year he hasn't gone at all. He had an accident at the lookout and we broke a rule and let him go in the bushes... stinky.

He just had his second accident. D'oh!

In soon time my parents had come by and they brought with them a full dinner. Not necessary but appreciated. More appreciated was the ice packs they replenished for us.  After dinner my mom for to enjoy our roly poly bed (I.e. semi inflated mattress) and then we went to the beach for a quick look, but it was too cold so we played on the equipment. I then learned who taught Dean the under dog move on the swings.

After, we went to the store to kill time before the board game night; where grandpa bought two stuffed birds that make the sound of the birds they were. One was a loon (for himself) and the other a blue Jay (for Dean).  

Then it was time for the board games. It was already started and we were late... But we figured out what was going on. It was a nature version of taboo... Some of the parents helped fill us in. Some of the kids had a hard time trying to describe the item... And some grandparent (not Dean's) was having a hard time concentrating with all the racket. She was really into it. Let the people know that we were NOT on their team, but rather just happened to sit near, and a couple times asked my parents to be quiet. Fun. They left after hanging around a few more minutes... Then we cashed in for the night. No real drama that night except Dean rolled off the bed twice, I think... And Mandy snored way more than normal... Rough.

meet the snake in the visitor centre

dean loved this display of the silver mine

silver islet

view of the wet tent

Dean needed to make light necklaces so we can be safe at night

some craft time with Dean

teaching dean to play tic-tac-toe

teaching him to write his name (by connect the dots)

hot, hot, -- hot chocolate

Grandpa and Dean with their birds

camp, sweet camp

view from the 'lookout'

Dean and Mandy hamming it up at the lookout point

the view down from the lookout point (I was so scared about dropping my phone)

Freaky ride yesterday [85/104]

So, I know I've had one accident this past year on my bike.  But yesterday I experienced another.  No, I didn't have an accident, but it felt like it.

I was biking a different route as I had to stop by the in-laws.  And on the way back along James [going South, on the East side] I passed another biker.  I moved onto the grass, and he moved closer to the house's side of the pavement.

After we had passed I heard some noise (see, my headphones don't block out sound) and I looked back and he had gone into the bushes just a bit and had fallen over.

Now I knew I didn't do anything to cause that, he clearly did it after we had passed, and I did give him ample room.  But somebody falling is nasty, so I stopped and ran over to him.  Hey, I am first-aid certified you know.

He assured me he was fine; but it was still spooky as he was just laying there for the less than minute it took me to stop and run over.

I couldn't tell if he was shaken or really hurt, but his demeanour was just odd.  He could have been just embarassed, or pissed off at me... and that part of me wanted to say "hey, this wasn't my fault you know".  But I wanted to ensure he was alright.  I offered like 5x to call an ambulance and asked if he was okay.

Just weird.

---

On other fronts... not much new.  Been uber stressful at work lately with newsletters and deadlines and events and shows...

Band did really well at the Miles with the Giant.  I was extremely proud of Mandy going in the 10K walk... more than I did.  The band also sounded awesome at the Scottish Rite.

The Band calendar is coming along, Jarron's working hard to put it together and get some funky shots.  Will look amazing I bet.

Can't think of much else... knew I had to write today, as I hadn't all last week.  That bugs me... but it's a sign of how busy I've been [tell my jaw to relax somebody, it's giving me headaches].

Mark it, 33 days without an accident, there goes my streak [34/44]

So here I sit with a cold pack on my elbow... I made it 33 days without an accident... Probably a lot more, as I can't remember the last time I crashed on my bike.
I had just gone past a spa for you and somehow I flipped.
I bet it would have been hilarious to watch. I think I used one hand to hit the brake, and it was the front wheel (lesson for next time) and some how it skidded, then turned the wheel and I remember a vaulting motion, then I was tangled up in my bike.
Nothing hurt but the ego, thankfully. Scraped off the part on the shifter where it indicated which gear you were in, but I'll manage.
Bound to happen sooner or later right?

34/44=77%