Heidi and I travelled up to Silent Lake for our second annual fall camping trip to test out gear. It was not super cold and we even spent time lying on the beach soaking up the sunshine. Just a nice chill camping trip. Last September we went to Charleston Provincial Park near the end of the month and then to Silent Lake in October.
Heidi and I hiked Silent Lake Provincial Park to test out colder weather camping and see if we would be warm enough. When we got up there we set up our tent and then set off for a loop around the lake. We cooked on the trail and took a longer break. We also took a break every 2 miles and a little bit of a longer one later on.
Continue reading “Cold Weather Camping At Silent Lake Provincial Park”
Plan C was heading up to Silent Lake Provincial Park for 5 days and 4 nights along. Plan B was with the kids, but my ex squished that and Plan A was taking the kids to Europe and that was impossible to make happen with my ex. So I packed my backpack and went up to Silent Lake which is such a sweet park north of Peterborough and just south of Bancroft, Ontario.
Last minute booking was perfect in Site 85 in the walk-in campsites. I had nobody behind me since that was open forest that went towards the lake, Nobody to my left since there isn’t a campsite there and I had a open campsite to my right. In front of me was a campsite I did not have a view of so it was really private. Nice big rocks by the fire which was kind of nice. I moved the picnic table to be near the fire and great slope for the tent since water would run away if it rained.
I sat by the water quite a bit. It was nice to go in the morning with my coffee and also at dusk and listen to the lake brush against the rocks. A loon came to see what I was doing and just like that it was gone. A twisty road would lead you uphill to the nice modern showers and laundry room. Just walk to the lake and follow the “blue” marked path that would take you along the shoreline up and down rocks with the lake by your side. Walk the 16km’s around the lake if you want. Kayak and Canoe rentals are very reasonable and so it firewood at 7 bones for a bag.
Easy stuff to cook and woke to two lovely omelets with veggies. I used my little one burner stove for this trip to cook and boil water. Even cooked steak over the fire on the first night which was sweet.
Set up the hammocks that I bought each for the kids since it had a little bug fly on it that you zipper yourself inside. I spent 4 hours in it the first time I crawled into it.
Fires each night and two nights had some brief rain which is nice to listen to and I had some nice music by the fire. Yes… I like to listen to sappy stuff since it was nice to think about how much fun it would be to go camping with someone that you want to kiss. Cooking for them and enjoying a fire would be nice… so I let my mind wander a little. I had my good buddy Ben with me a little… so that was nice.
The last night was some unexpected rain so no fire on the last night and went into the tent early. By doing so and spending a extended night in the tent… I was dying to get out and stretch my back in the morning so went down to the beach before sunrise and waited for the sun to come up. After it came up the dew started to burn off and the mist of the morning over the lake was quiet and magical. I found a rock in the sun and had a little nap for about a hour which was nice. It was not my plan A or B… but plan C with myself was nice and the reflection and solitude was quite refreshing and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Purchased a pack for Noah for our trip. He needed a good little pack for travel that can be used as a carry on. This little pack from MEC will be good for him. It’s a 24L pack and also can be used with a hydration system that can go inside for hiking. His is the MEC Trail 24 Daypack. 430g this bag is perfect for him and his smaller frame.
Below is the MEC Flair 60 Backpack for Chantal. This 60L pack is perfect for a weeks worth of gear and the great thing about this pack is that there is 3 different ways to get inside to your things without always going down via the top. So you get at your gear from the sides and the front. Lots of pockets in this waterproof bag. This pack is designed for women.
I’ve always wanted a Hammock. For backpacking or camping or relaxing in the summer. I actually picked up one each for the kids also for this summer. I hoping to do some hiking with them and one task is that all three of us will set up a camp somewhere and spend the weekend suspended in our own little shelter complete with a mosquito net. Can’t wait to try it out and get used to it.
The CHILLAX Hammock is a double travel hammock with integrated suspension. Ultralight parachute silk is super compact and portable. Patented SmartHooks allow you to hang your hammock and adjust rope length in record time. You never have to tie a knot! Hammock and suspension are packed into an integrated travel bag. The bag or “stuff sack” is sewn onto the hammock so you never lose it. While you are hammocking, the travel bag hangs down and becomes a pocket for your phone, keys, or drink. No trees nearby? No problem. Detach the suspension loops (hammock handles) and the CHILLAX Hammock quickly converts into a beach or picnic blanket. The CHILLAX hammock is roomy enough for 1 or 2 people. Hammocking is better with friend(s)!
Two Hammocks purchased for the kids also. I picked up two like the one below with a mosquito net on them. Can’t wait to get outside and try them out.
I had a chance to bring it with me camping and it was great and I loved that it had a little bugnet attached to it. Great little hammock that both the kids now have.
