It was our first trip without John, our long-time paddling partner. Our other paddling partners were not sure how long they would be able to camp this year, so we only booked an 8 day trip on Spider Lake in Massassauga Provincial Park. I was dealing with an ongoing knee injury too, so we wanted . . . Read More about A Two Site Trip
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Curry, Rice and Stuff
Many camping meals include curry, but I just never get tired of it. This meal makes an excellent lunch if you are extra hungry. It is enough for a quick dinner too. It is just so easy and delicious. Because the “stuff” part of this recipe is always different, you won’t get tired of this . . . Read More about Curry, Rice and Stuff
Camping with Kids
We don’t camp with kids often, but this year we did, and what a pleasure! We spent four perfect days on the beach. We had sunshine, more stars than you can imagine, beautiful sunsets, great food and amazing S’more filled campfires. There were crafts, and reading and fishing. There were frogs to catch and bugs . . . Read More about Camping with Kids
Algonquin Park – Book Recommendation
I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked “Are you related to Kevin Callan?” OK I can tell you – it’s 4. That may not seem like a lot, but how many times have you been asked if you are related to someone you are not related to? They even tell me . . . Read More about Algonquin Park – Book Recommendation
Girls’ Trip – Spider Lake – Massassauga Provincial Park
This year we did a ‘girls’ trip’. It has been years since I organized a canoe trip for women only. I met an old friend at a silent retreat last November. At the end of the retreat when we had a chance to talk, we started talking about canoeing – because what else do you . . . Read More about Girls’ Trip – Spider Lake – Massassauga Provincial Park
Creepy Keen Story
I was sitting on the dock with a group of friends talking about how we are all now wearing Keen sandals. I mentioned that I should have bought the ‘tie-dye’ Keens I saw last year because I have been thinking about them ever since. I got home that night and there on Facebook was an . . . Read More about Creepy Keen Story
BioLite Camp Stove
I have never liked starting our stove. It is actually a great stove, but the fuel makes me nervous. It’s an Optimus Nova Multi Fuel stove we purchased from Wild Rock Outfitters. It has worked well for years – no problems. It is light and folds up so it doesn’t take up much space at . . . Read More about BioLite Camp Stove
Finding the Right Wood
We see it all the time, people cutting live trees to burn. Green wood (freshly cut) does not burn, it smolders and smokes. So unless you like smoked marshmallows, you don’t want to use green wood. If green wood doesn’t burn, and cutting live trees damages the forest for future generations, why do it? We . . . Read More about Finding the Right Wood
Saws are Best
According to most camping guides, you don’t want to take an axe into the forest because it is dangerous. I once saw a group of kids chopping wood in bare feet – YIKES. We also had a family member cut the tip of her finger off with a hatchet, luckily, they were only one portage away . . . Read More about Saws are Best
Never Forgotten
Our canoe trips will not be the same without our campfire storyteller. John was part of our paddling group for the past 18 years. John passed away in November 2018, he was 63. We remain in shock. We had just spent two weeks together in August paddling in the Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. He was . . . Read More about Never Forgotten