Annual R-Pod Ontario Rally

The annual Ontario R-Pod Rally was the brainchild of Christine M. and her husband. In order to participate you must owe an R-Pod RV. However, in saying that Christine did not turn away anyone that wanted to be an R-Pod owner. 

It all started 3 years ago and has culminated into a wonderful annual 3 day event. This year it was at MacGregor Point Provincial Park, near Port Elgin  from 20-22 September. The rally included an organized hike, games, crafts, evening bonfires, a potluck, and more. In total there were 20 R-Pods from across Ontario with the furthest away being Ottawa.

The weather co-operated for us the entire weekend. Here are some pictures of the fun times. 

Great group of R-Podders

Several games/crafts were played throughout the afternoon including corn hole, axe throw, ladderball toss, and rock painting.

After a fun afternoon of games/crafts and of course friendly chit chat we all sat down to a wonderful potluck dinner. The food was absolutely amazing.

After the wonderful potluck, prizes were handed out courtesy of Forest River R-Pod and Brian from Goshen, Indiana.

All in all a fantastic weekend. We all met and made many new R-Pod friends and shared stories both good and bad. The one thing everyone indicated is they can't wait for the next R-Pod rally. Thank-you again Christine.

MacGregor Point Provincial Park

Visited: 19 - 23 September 2024

Nights Stayed: 4

MacGregor Point Provincial Park is part of the Ontario parks system located on beautiful Lake Huron near Port Elgin. Covering over 1204 hectors, it was established in 1975. The park is open year round for a multitude of activities from camping to cross country skiing. There are over 360 camping opportunities including rustic to sites with power to roofed accommodations.

An Ontario R-Pod Rally was happening this weekend that is why we chose this park, more on that later. 

Entrance to MacGregor Point

Our Site # 240 Foxway Campground

The park offers over 20 km of very well marked hiking and biking trails. The park is huge so bringing a bike makes getting around so much easier. The Old Shore Trail follows the lakeshore for approximately 6 km. It was a roadway at one time and provides a hard packed surface for walking and biking.

Susan walking Old Shore Road Trail

Black Capped Chickadee

Pair of Mute Swans

Knapweed

This marl wetland has very poor soil due to the low level of essential nutrients like nitrogen. The plants that grow here in the marl have adapted to these poor infertile conditions. This marl is one of the most fragile spots in MacGregor with its frost heaved boulders and clumps of vegetation. Several of the plants are carnivorous with specialized leaves enabling the plant to capture and digest its prey like the pitcher plant.

Pitcher-plant Marl

The Tower Trail is a 3.5 km circular trail providing views of the Ducks Unlimited wetland. Some members of the rally decided on a morning hike, so I couldn't pass up this opportunity. This trail is considered to be an easy one and is also very popular with birders.

Invasive species - Autumn Olive

Another beautiful sunset on Lake Huron

Enjoying early morning campfire

The 4km Lake Ridge Trail winds through an area of woods, wetlands, and abandoned farm fields. Evidence of Lake Nipissing, a glacier lake that occupied much of the Great Lakes basin 5,000 years ago can be seen along this trail. Evidence of historic homesteads can be seen with stone fences, stone wells, and apple orchards.

Old homestead fence

Old homestead stone well

Lake Nipissing Bluffs

The trail was steeped with so many beautiful plants, fungi, and trees. Here are just a few.

Glacial erratics is a term given to a boulder which has been transported from its source by a glacier. Many can not be traced back to their source. However, this one is a large piece of quartzite, a rock that outcrops in Killarney Provincial Park area about 160 km to the north. Originating in the Precambrian Period, this quartzite is believed to be 2000 million years old.

As a glacier advanced across the area it carried stones and pebbles in a mixture of clay and sand. These materials got laid down in the form of till and remain on top of the limestone bedrock in various thicknesses. Over time the waves of glacial Lake Nipissing washed away the smaller particles leaving behind boulders of various sizes.

As another wonderful hike comes to an end, Macgregor Point Provincial Park did not disappoint. Around every corner there was beauty and a wanting for more. After 4 days I still did not get to explore all of the park. It just makes me want to come back.

Jerusalem Artichoke

Komoka Provincial Park

Length of Stay: 1 morning

Visited: August 2024

Komoka Provincial Park is a day-use park located near the town of Komoka along the scenic Thames River. The Thames River served as a major transportation route for early forestry and the fur trade. The park now is open year round for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and snowshoeing. Much of the land is former agricultural land but now it's beautiful meadows and mature forest. There is a large parking lot with LED lighting, garbage bins, picnic tables,  and a privy. A DVP(day vehicle permit) is required to hike in the park which can be purchased online. 

The park provides a map at the trailhead of all the trails which are well marked. We chose to hike part of the white trail which I have marked in orange in the picture below. It started as a very easy hike but as we got closer to the river it got rougher and hillier.  

All in all a wonderful hike on a beautiful day. We passed only one person with a dog (on lead) while hiking for over an hour. It was so nice and peaceful all while listening to the birds and cicadas. 

Day 29, 30, & 31 - Homeward Bound

Day 29 - Camping Domaine du Lac Louise

Visited - 9 September 2023

Nights Stayed - 1 night

Knowing we had a long drive, we were up early and on the road by 8 am. Leaving Matane is bittersweet since it was our last stop in the Gaspésie Peninsula. It was still pretty foggy when we pulled out but got better as the day progress. As we left highway 132 and got on the A20 near Mont Joli, we have now official completed the Gaspésie Peninsula circle and are homeward bound.

The day was pretty unremarkable. Stopped for doggy and human pee breaks, lunch, and diesel. We reach the campground around 3:30 pm, I took the dogs for a quick walk then relaxed for the rest of the evening. Know pictures since this is just a quick overnight stay. 

Day 30 - Rideau River Provincial Park

Visited - 10 September 2023

Nights Stayed - 1 Night

Not having as long a drive, we left Lac Louise around 9ish. Got diesel just down the road and back on A20 by 9:15. It's great driving on a Sunday since there is little traffic and no transport trucks...or very few.

We pull into the campsite and get set up. I take the dogs for a walk, give them supper, then have supper ourselves. We were planning on staying here for 3 nights but I changed our reservation to only one. We will catch up with family another time. Got to get Brownie home to the vet appt.

I have blogged on Rideau River PP before so not going to do it again. I will say it is a favourite of mine. See previous blog for pics.

Day 31 - Home

11 September 2023

This will be our longest drive of the trip so we are out of the park at 7:30 and on the road. Traffic is good so far but the closer we get to Toronto I'm sure the uglier it will get.

Nothing remarkable about the trip...traffic, road construction, and slow downs which is the normal when driving on highway 401. People have often asked if driving through Toronto towing a 5th wheel scares me. My answer is never...what does scare me are those crazy people who think they are on a race track. 

  

After a month on the road we are home, filled with wonderful memories and excitement of wanting to do it again. People have asked about the cost factor involved towing the 5th wheel. My answer is simple...if you worry about cost then you shouldn't go. Anyway here is the breakdown for the trip. Hope you enjoyed the trip with me through my blog. Feel free to leave a comment if you want. Thank-you

Travel Distance: 4,550 km or 2,827 miles

Number of Campgrounds: 13

Campground Fee Total: $1,829.93

Diesel Cost: $1,887.26

Tolls: $20.80

Parks Canada Discovery Pass: $123.50

Seqec Quebec NP Pass: $172.00

Unexpected Vet Visit: $587.51

Number of Days on the Road: 31

Memories - Priceless  

Day 2 - Thousand Island National Park

 Visited: 13 August 2023

Thousand Island NP is one of Canada's smallest national parks with a total area of 24.4 square km (9.4 sq mi). It is located in the beautiful 1000 island region along the St Lawrence River. The park consists of 21 islands, many smaller island called islets, several mainland properties, and a visitor center at Mallorytown, Ontario. That is where we start our adventure today.

Why is the park here? The area became extremely popular in the late 19th century, people were buying up property and islands to build their summer homes. It was the local community that saw a need to protect this precious area, so they petitioned the Canadian Government for a national park back in 1904.

Where did Parks Canada red chairs get it's start you ask? In 2011 individuals at Gros Morne NP in Newfoundland(one of my favorite NP) came up with an idea to place red adirondack chairs in lesser known area around the park. Now there are over 200 chairs in unique places across Canada. This is the Thousand Island NP set at Mallorytown Visitors Center.

The Thousand Island NP is known for it's many trials ranging from rugged and difficult to flat and easy. The trails at Jones Creek are all of those. After buying our yearly Discovery Pass at the visitors center, off we go to Jones Creek just 5 kms up the road.

We head out with lots of water, a snack just in case, 3 dogs, and ourselves. The decision was as we get to each cross trail we would judge how we were feeling. At the start the black trail is flat and well groomed.

We got to the first intersection, all was great we headed off to the left on the Bear Trail. A picturesque trail though the forest and  over rocky surfaces . All the trails are extremely well marked with colour and hiking markers.

At the intersection the trail divided again into the easy to moderate 1 km red trail or Heron loop. Everyone was great so away we went. We were rewarded with two more red chairs and a beautiful lookout.

We made are way around Turtle loop an easy trail through oak, beech, and maple forest but not before passing Jones Creek.

The final trail was Eel loop an easy .7 km hike with old pine and red oak trees.

We finish by traversing the black trail again back to the truck and a much needed rest. It was a workout but well worth it. New adventures awaits us tomorrow.