Camping in Algonquin
Algonquin Camping
Escaping Life
Camping in Algonquin
By Terri MacKinnon
We decided that we needed to take a complete get away from it all vacation, the kind of trip that meant checking out of society and escaping from everything.
Although I love the outdoors I have technically never been a fan of camping. I use to joke with friends that my idea of camping was staying at a Holiday Inn. It had been many years since I had the experience and from what I remembered of it, there was peaceful solitude that allowed for an escape not only of the parents but ones inner self.
I was in desperate need to get away from life and all of the telephone calls, cell phones and computers that seemed to possess it. I agreed that it was time to take up the challenge and venture into the unknown. I needed more then anything to find the solitude that seemed to not only escape my life but had been totally forgotten.
I grabbed the tent from the bottom of the storage unit, dusted it off and started gathering everything that we were going to require. Having made a list the night before we headed out, I realized it meant literally taking our home with us or just short of it. Outside of the kitchen sink and my cozy bed everything else seemed to be piled into the van.
I had the Coleman stove, lantern and new batteries. I put the plastic cutlery, paper plates and cast iron pans put into a box along with paper towel and the most important supply Toilet Paper. Not ever to be forgotten Bug Spray camping version and your camera.
Having been quite a few years since I had the opportunity to camp, I really forgot how much you actually need to take with you. When I was sixteen and went out camping for my first time Love was all that was needed. It didn't matter that it rained, that the tent was soaked or that the bugs were three inches thick, Love conquered all. With our cans of beans on the campfire and the beer cases stacked we feasted for the weekend. There was not one person in our group that was going to complain, we were all making memories.
However as we grew and realized that cottages existed the need to take the house with you was somewhere in the background I guess. In some ways I realized that I had became a little spoiled. It was now time for me to go back to my roots and rediscover the serenity and peacefulness that I so much needed in my life.
We arrived up to Whitney at AlgonquinPark and filled up the boat with our supplies. Since we weren't sure how long we would stay we literally packed for what seemed like a lifetime. We found a beautiful camping spot that was totally secluded and one we could call our very own. There was no one around for miles and the scenery was outstanding.
We had a beautiful sandy beach that allowed us to park the boat right at our site and on shore. The camping area had been well taken care of by others and it was obvious that we had lucked in on probably one of the most pristine spots up there.
We had a special area that was dedicated to cooking and cleaning, a great fire pit, quite a few flat tent area's, picnic table and the ultimate outdoor bathroom that any camper would be more then happy to use.
Our ultimate port-a-potty was like winning the lottery of camping. Who wouldn't be happy to find such a luxury in the outdoors? I felt like I was in that commercial with the Charmin bears and there soft toilet paper in the great outdoors. The toilet was actually made from a big wood box and was extremely sturdy and on top a White Toilet seat and it was clean. There was No smell and it was an incredible experience to actually know someone had thought of others to not only build it but for others to have actually kept it so clean.
On our first night camping we had a funny incident after we fell asleep. We were probably sleeping for a couple hours when we were awoken to sounds close to our tent. It seemed we had a visitor and he was playing in all of our dishes. My husband tried making a lot of noise to scare it away, but it seemed like our new friend was not giving up that easily.
Finally, my husband got out of the tent buck naked. Well almost, he actually put on his slippers first. He then started to yell and grunt and make even more noise stomping his feet and flailing his arms in the air. It didn't take to much more time for that raccoon to take off running. He probably was laughing all the way through the forest telling his friends you wouldn't believe what I just saw. I know I was killing myself laughing in the tent and for days after when I thought about it. Poor little raccoon terrorized by the naked guy. I only wish I had grabbed my camera to capture the moment. I'm sure I would have won the funniest video moment.
Our goal was to be away and find quiet peaceful serenity that we had been lacking. Having the opportunity to actually escape to be alone and not have civilization interfere in our quite time was something that I could not only appreciate but now have the need to do again. Once I returned home I realized how noisy our society has really become. Oh how I miss those quiet nights and look forward to heading back to our special spot again soon. Camping really does make amazing memories.
To find out more about AlgonquinPark in Canada check out.
