May 2-4 long weekend is always a tricky one to go camping. You never really know what the weather is going to be like and it still gets pretty chilly in the nights. Being prepared for the cold nights is huge!!!
I left my house on Saturday morning and drove up to Fairbank Provincial Park. This is the furthest north I have ever camped. The drive up was beautiful. The rocks cliff on the side of the road and so many lakes everywhere! When I arrived at the campground it was very wet and rainy. I first set up the screen tent so I was able to have some shelter. I then set up the tent underneath that so no rain would get inside. Once the tent was set and the air mattress was inflated I was soaked to the bone. I changed out of my wet clothes and put on dry clothes and warm socks. I woke up super early to get there, and the weather was very unpleasant so I decided it was just best to lie down with Rosie and take a little nap before going out and exploring the park.
The mist that covers the lake after the rain is just mesmerizing to me. We stood at the lake just taking it all in. I slipped off my socks and shoes and pulled up my pant legs and ventured into the lake. The water was so cold. It was so cold it felt like needles digging into my skin. I didn't spend much time in the water, but the beach was nice. There were a lot of really beautiful waterfront sites at this park. We walked through the entire park before heading back to the campsite for a relaxing bon fire.
On day 2 we decided to check out the hiking trail.
There was only 1 hiking trail that was 1/2 km in length. Along the trail there were some amazing lookout points where you could see so much of the lake. Rosie and I really took our time on the trail and took in all of the sights. I really enjoy this time doing some deep breathing exercises and grounding myself. It was also a really great place to sit and journal. Looking out to the lake and just breathing in the fresh air was just what my soul needed. After our hiking adventure we decided to take a little road trip in to town. I have never been to Sudbury before so I was intrigued to check it out.
Before going to the park I had done some googling and knew I wanted to see the Big Nickel. I
really wasn't sure what to expect when I got there but it was pretty neat to see. There was a big discovery centre inside to teach you about mining and what not. I wasn't able to check that out because I had Rosie with me and dogs were not allowed inside. I did pop in quickly and take a look around at the gift shop and found a Sudbury tourism book that I picked up. After flipping through the pages in the book, I decided to go an check out Canada's Largest Mural. I had no idea this even existed. It was quite a site to see. It looked like an abandoned hospital that had been painted. I'm really not sure what the point of it is. If you know, please send me a message and let me know. We drove around the town for a little while just to see what was going on and there was really nothing. Coming from the city, it was very strange to me the way the town was laid out. There was no real "downtown" area that I was expecting and the house looked very old. There was not a lot of new development. Where I'm from, there are condos popping up everywhere so this was interesting to me, not seeing cranes or condos anywhere.
Once we got back to the campsite, it was time for dinner. I grilled up some chicken and heated some pasta with Nonna's Sauce that I packed. The temperature was dropping and I wanted something nice and warm inside my belly. While dinner was cooking I started the fire and just sat there until it was time for bed. It got very cold that night. Even with my heated chair, I took the heated blanket out of the tent and ran the extension cord to the fire so I could use the blanket outside. Rosie was also cuddled up nicely with her blanket. When we went to bed that night, Rosie cuddled in close to me and was inside the sleeping bag. it was even too cold for her to be out.
Monday morning I got up, made some coffee and journaled some more before starting to pack things up. For breakfast I made scrambled eggs and hash browns. When I camp, I like to crack a few eggs at home and store them in a water bottle. It saves a ton of space and you don't have to worry about the eggs breaking. Just a little tip for your next camping trip. Rosie and I took one more walk around the park, and then it was time to pack up and head home. The drive home was slower than the drive up, but that's always the way on the 400 south on a long weekend. Once we got home and unpacked it was a nice hot shower and bed.
I love these camping trips but by the time I get home, all I want is a nice hot shower and fresh clean PJ's and my bed. I am hoping to scoop up a site for sometime in June, but if that doesn't work out my next trip is to Charleston Lake Provincial Park for Canada Day! Follow along on my Instagram for more realtime updates.
Happy Camping
Love, Liz
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