Algonquin Park Canoe Camping

Nope. Not us. Our extended family! These four braved the bugs, wind, rain, and poison ivy to go camping Aug. 8 - 11th. It was epic. Aster, a school chum, Caitlin and Jean-Luc were off. Jordan had popped in for a couple of days, home on the bus Friday, back on Sunday. He took their photo.

I watched the lightning radar just as they were on their way! There is no cell service in the park. It is a strange feeling, knowing we cannot contact them! 

They were quite prepared, as they are very experienced canoe campers. Maps by Jeff are amazing! You can purchase these detailed maps created by another experienced camper. The maps even warn of poison ivy patches in camp areas.

 

The Algonquin outfitters do a really cool thing. You can have the company take your canoes to the launch spot for you. Then, you can have them take your car to where you finish, and they pick up the canoes. It is a wonderful modern take on such an experience, in my mind. Not that I have ever camped, but I have canoed a lot in my time, and I know how tricky it is to haul on those sore muscles. 

I looked it up online, and found several people who have done this route: Achray, through Barron Canyon, to Squirrel Rapids. This is the video JL took at their campsite! 

 Tuesday we were visiting Jordan in Kingston! Our Kingston trip!

Trip over (Saturday => Tuesday), Caitlin kindly texted to say they were back in cell phone service. By then we were home, too. 

They stopped in Renfrew to recharge the car and grab lunch! Happy Campers! Then, they headed home, safe and sound. Muskoka chair photo-op!

The photos and videos trickled in. Everyone took photos. It was great fun. I absolutely adore Muskoka rocks, flora and fauna.

 I'd love to visit Big Falls in the park, but that won't happen! This was epic. Aster took a flying leap! Twasn't a skill I knew Aster had managed! 

At home, this is what we had. No sound, just a light show. Ah, nature is grand.

Our Kingston trip!

 We planned a trip to Kingston to visit Jordan. He's living and working in Kingston. He is all signed up courses for September (astrophysics and a minor in geology). He's enjoying his work, receiving and organising goods on 6-hour shifts at a grocery store. 

This is Jordan at 18 months old, 2009. 'What happens at Grandma's stays at Grandma's' I still have this roll of tape. The little one wanted to be covered in it! I told Jordan the story about us babysitting. Momma and Papa had a wedding to go to somewhere in southern Ontario, while we were in Muskoka.

2009

In preparing for our visit, I used the tape to close the lid of the parcel. 

 What do you take a university student in student housing? A tea towel I regifted and a nail kit. Freebies from the Red Cross fundraiser. 

Also, I took 18-year-old the window crayons! 

We used those a lot. This was 2017-ish. 

Here are the kids using the window crayons!

I wrote about Papa putting in the air conditioner in their top floor apartment, left by the previous renters. It makes a huge difference on the top floor.

 

We had a great chat and talked about all sorts of things, past, present, and future!

GIFTS

Jordan's bathroom was renovated in the summer. While teeny, it has a nice, newly renovated shower. 

The next photo is the toilet paper we gifted him. When he was in residence last year, he'd run out. As with this rental, they come in weekly to clean, replenish toilet paper, etc. There was never enough. We gave him some last Christmas! Not so much a gag gift, as a necessary one.

Jordan harvested the sign on the wall behind a dumpster. Guests are invited to sign it!

A great university. There is quite a variety for student housing. There were 29,000 students for 2025/2026.  Jordan's roomie is at home for summer, but will return for university in the fall.

It really is a great city. Summer brings lots of tourists, and summer employment for the students.

mural for a spa

Tragically Hip mural

A couple of passenger tours left as we had lunch.

It was a lovely drive home.

UPDATE:

Jordan sent a photo. He's already decorated his window!

Ah, summer...

The kids are back from camping in Algonquin Park. Whew! "Almost a tornado," JL said. I can't wait for more stories. 

We took a drive to Kingston to visit with Jordan. More on that later! 

I had 5 great photos of the stormy day, with the red sky in the morning. 

Sunrise before the storm...

I spotted a buck in the backyard. 

I often think about the critters in the dark. First the doe in the dark. Look for the eye balls in the upper right of the video. This is what spooked her. Coyote or fox? In the day, the fawn wandered by.

   

 I like talking to the crows. They answer me back.

 

The storms have been frequent. First the clouds rolled in. I sped up the footage, split and reattached the actual audio. 

I keep trying to capture lightning, but I missed out. If you like the sound of a good storm... 

 

I am looking forward to processing photos! I took a few in Kingston. It is a great city. We hadn't seen Jordan in a long time.