Naughty by Nature

Some of my favorite memories as a kid living on Raleigh St. in Brantford were of the times we would set up my Grandfather’s Boy Scout army tent for summer sleepovers in the shared backyard that stretched behind our row of townhouses. Constructed of deep, dense green canvas and held upright by dozens of 1” thick poles that required meticulous assembly plans and great physical commitment, setting up the tent was rarely free of argument and near surrender. Eventually however, the tent would always rise and the rewards of our hard work savoured.

 Needless to say, camping has always been a part of my life.  I love the sensation of huddling beneath the low roof, zipping up tight in the dark, the click of the flashlight and waking to the murmurs of random creatures. When in a proper forest, camping of course becomes more about the surrounding environment and “survival” activities: collecting wood, starting a fire, tying up the dry line, cooking dinner, tarping against rain etc/etc. And sometimes, as I’ve always wanted to do in Algonquin, portaging to the site.   

Unfortunately, I did not get to Algonquin this summer. I did however, have the amazing experience of spending 24 days driving to and around the east coast during which I camped in 11 different places, for the “First” time. Here how it all went down...  

E18 - Whale Cove Campground, Digby, NS
13 - Blomidon Provincial Park, Minus Bay, NS
XX - Darrel’s back yard, Louisburg, Cape Breton
33 - Hideaway Campground, Dingwall, Cape Breton
T1 - Adventures East, Baddeck, Cape Breton
412 - Ponderosa Family Campground, Hopewell Rocks, NB
144 - Cabot beach Provincial Park, Cabot beach, PEI
22 - Green Park Provincial, (near) Tyne Valley, PEI
31 - West River Countryside Inn, backyard of Power family cottage rental, Charlottetown, PEI  
38 - Cymbria Campground, Cymbria, PEI
54 - North Beach Campground, Burlington, VT (USA

Thanks to advances in camping equipment (and a healthy competitive, must-beat-our-best-time spirit), setting up camp reached a personal best of under 5 minutes. My Grandpa would be amazed!