May 2018

Wye River – Attack of the Killer Swans!

By |2018-05-31T09:40:33-04:00May 15th, 2018|Categories: Adventure, alone, animals, birding, birds, bridge, Canada, day trip, Exploring, kayak, Kayaking, Nature, Ontario, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, River, tangii|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It has been a very long time since I paddled and I had been anxious to get out, but the ice wasn't cooperating or getting off the lakes.  It seemed like forever and finally, the first Wednesday in May,  the ice went out in Muskoka.  I was so happy and my mind began doing that thing it does, planning an adventure and figuring out the where, when, how, etc. Last year I visited Wye Marsh [...]

March 2018

Algonquin Logging Museum – A Cool Place to Visit In Winter

By |2018-05-31T10:19:57-04:00March 27th, 2018|Categories: Adventure, Algonquin, Algonquin Park, Algonquin Provincial Park, Canada, day trip, Exploring, family day weekend, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hikingtrails, Mew Lake, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Outdoors, Provincial Park, scenery, scenic, sightseeing, walking, walks, winter|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Have you ever been to he Algonquin Logging Museum Trail? Up until last February, I had never been there and was quite surprised there was a trail in the Park, that I didn't know about. Of course, had to rectify that quickly. The trail starts off around the side of the actual logging museum, which isn't open in the winter, unlike the trail. Some of the trees are marked with that types they are, which [...]

November 2017

Go Home Lake – Time to say goodbye to another paddling season

By |2017-11-22T10:55:19-05:00November 22nd, 2017|Categories: #lake, Adventure, alone, animals, birding, birds, Canada, creek, creeks, day trip, Exploring, go home lake, kayak, kayak portaging, Kayaking, lakes, Nature, navigating, navigation, Ontario, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, sightseeing, Uncategorized, water, waterways|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I woke up on a Sunday to a beautiful day with a great forecast and for the first time in a long time, I had nothing to do! I thought about what to do and settled on a nice relaxing paddle in my kayak. The weekend before this one, I was at  Ontario Sea Kayak Center to take my Instructor Course and I needed a stress free fun paddle today. I thought about all the [...]

Fall Paddling Trip to Nunikani – Snorts, Surprises & Snow

By |2017-11-14T17:14:16-05:00November 14th, 2017|Categories: Adventure, algonquin highlands, backcountry, backcountry camping, Campers, camping, campsite, Canada, canoe camping, canoeing, cold, cold camp, day trip, Exploring, fall, kayak, kayak camping, kayak portaging, Kayaking, Nature, Ontario, ontarios highlands, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, recipes, tarps, tentcamping, waterfalls|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was a great weekend, it was cold, it was wet, it was windy and I vowed momentarily not to camp again until next summer, but it was a total hoot! I had been in correspondence with Mike Burns who had provided me with a huge amount of advice and information regarding my recent solo trip to Killarney.  I had met Mike at the 150 through another friend Derek, from Paddling Adventures Radio, a podcast [...]

September 2017

Killarney Days 3 & 4 – Magic Mountain to Silver Peak!

By |2017-09-05T17:00:24-04:00September 5th, 2017|Categories: Adventure, backcountry, backcountry camping, Bear Barrel, camp, camping, Canada, canoe camping, canoeing, day trip, enthusiasm, Exploring, Fun, gear, girls, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hikingtrails, inspiration, killarney, Killarney Provincial Park, morel, morels, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, outdoor products, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, Provincial Park, swimming, women|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had been waiting for this trip since last year and was so glad I was finally here.  In the last post, Killarney Days 1 and 2, Rainy Plains to The Magical Mountains, I left off at the end of day 2.  We are staying on an amazing campsite on David Lake where we have a view of Silver Peak and on Day 3, the plan is to hike to the top of it.  I'd [...]

August 2017

Daddy Daughter Fishing Day Fun in Parry Sound!

By |2017-08-01T17:45:20-04:00August 1st, 2017|Categories: Adventure, Canada, day trip, education, enthusiasm, Exploring, fish, fishing, inspiration, learning, mill lake, motor boat, Nature, Ontario, scenery, scenic, speed boat, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had not been fishing with my dad since I was about 5 or so when I lost my plastic fishing rod to Greenbough Lake.  It was a traumatic experience for me and I was heartbroken. I loved that little plastic fishing rod and the cute colored fish that came with it.  With no other options, I went back into the bow of the boat with my coloring book and wrote off fishing for many [...]

July 2017

The All Canada Weekend – On Smokey Lake With The Happy Camper

By |2020-05-18T14:00:08-04:00July 5th, 2017|Categories: #fish, Adventure, animals, backcountry, backcountry camping, Campers, camping, campsite, Canada, canada day, canoe camping, canoeing, Conservation areas, conservationarea, cooking, creek, creeks, day trip, education, enthusiasm, Exploring, fishing, Fun, Nature, Ontario, outdoor products, outdoorproducts, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, sunset, swimming, tourism, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I camped with The Happy Camper last month, I had no idea we would be heading out on another trip so soon.  We had discussed the big 150th birthday this year and I had mentioned I wanted to do something awesome, but hadn't made plans yet. Kevin had originally had something booked, but it was cancelled, so,  it left us both open for the long weekend and  it being such a big deal, we [...]

May 2017

Torrance Barrens Hike – Spring Sensory Overload

By |2017-05-16T19:28:05-04:00May 16th, 2017|Categories: #marsh, #rain, #spring, Adventure, alone, bog, bugs, Canada, conservatationarea, Conservation areas, conservationarea, creek, creeks, day trip, Exploring, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hikingtrails, Muskoka, Nature, navigating, navigation, new beginning, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, pond, puddles, River, rivers, sagan, senses, sensory overload, swamp, torrance, Trails, Uncategorized, Up north, water filter|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Have you ever been to Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve in Torrance? I headed there on Saturday to check out the trails and go for a short hike. I had been there in the fall with some friends, and another time in the summer,  and really enjoyed the area. I stopped to take a photo of rose petals strewn out over some rocks near a campsite.  I hoped it was a good experience someone [...]

April 2017

McCrae Lake – Kayaking in Kokatat

By |2017-04-25T16:33:35-04:00April 25th, 2017|Categories: Adventure, alone, Canada, conservatationarea, Conservation areas, conservationarea, day trip, Exploring, inspiration, kayak, kayak portaging, Kayaking, loons, Muskoka, Ontario, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, scenery, scenic, tangii, Uncategorized, water, waterfalls, waterways|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was a gorgeous Easter weekend with warm temperatures and beautiful sunshine, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Sunday I managed to get out with a few friends in Niagara for a hike in Niagara, but by Monday, with my return to Muskoka, it was back to below zero and not so lovely or springlike.  I had decided to stay in, relax, get caught up on things until the Fedex truck pulled up with my brand new [...]

Mizzy Lake Trail – Mushy, Melting & Magical

By |2017-04-18T20:57:33-04:00April 18th, 2017|Categories: #frozen, #snow, Adventure, Algonquin, Algonquin Park, alone, animals, Canada, creek, creeks, day trip, Exploring, grouse, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hikingtrails, ice, Mizzy, Mizzy Lake, Mizzy Lake Trail, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, ontarios highlands, Outdoors, Parks, River, rivers, ruffed grouse, rushing water, solo trip, Uncategorized, Up north, walking, walks, water, waterfalls, waterways, winter|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Sunday, April 2nd, 2017, was forecast as a beautiful spring day with high temperatures in Algonquin Park of 9 degrees.  I had been cooped up for a few weekends working on my Canoe Symposium presentation and I needed to get outside! So I got up at 7am, got myself ready, jumped in the car, and headed to Algonquin Park! When I arrived at the trailhead... it was snowing.  Not very warm at all, about -1 [...]

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