Site #52

We knew today was going to be am ambitious day when we booked two nights at Rushing River a few days ago. Having enjoyed my stay here with the girls on the way West, we decided to return to the Kenora-area park, given its proximity to Lake of the Woods. It wasn't initially clear what we’d be doing on our trip back. We contemplated various options, including a States-side run, which we eventually decided against, given the uncertainty of how to transport my Western microbrew finds and the fact that I wouldn’t get a chance to do any fishing. In the end, we elected to head back through Northern Ontario so I could fish, even if briefly, with the kids. We also decided that it would be fun to sprint across the prairies so we could spend more time fishing. So, we booked two nights at site #52.

Once we made the reservations, we committed ourselves to a minimum of 15 hours travel. This would be the longest day yet, by several hours and hundreds of kilometers. In fact, we travelled a total of 15.5 hours and 1401 km. In order to not arrive at the campsite at 2 am, we got up early. Really early. Early enough that the moon was still shining brightly (should have really gotten a picture!). This meant being prepared the night prior. Leia and I packed the truck, got the kids clothes out, and made sure that we had the bare minimum of tasks to complete in the morning.

At 5:15 am, no matter how prepared, when you jump out of bed and start shoving kids into carseats and packing up a tent trailer, things are bound to go a bit awry. First, there was the problem of the pull-out dining room not sliding in properly. Second, there was the problem of not noticing this right away. Third, while I made a mental note to make sure I put up the mostly useless shelf that holds keys and the odd dishtowel behind the sink (it folds up into the ceiling), I forgot. When Leia was cranking the trailer down, she didn't do the normal walk around mid-way, so she didn’t notice one end not going down, impeded by the shelf. A thrown-to-the-ground hat and some hushed unpleasantries at the situation – after all, it is around 5:35 am, and the neighbours are sleeping, precluding any kicking of things, boisterous cursing, or throwing of pots and pans – we rectified the situation, and got moving shortly there after. A quick stop at the washroom and to take a picture of a deer grazing in the parking lot (one of eight deer today!), we were on the road. Departure time: 6 am.

Leaving at 6 am, aside from being mental, is actually nice. There are few people on the road. You feel good for having accomplished so much in such a new day. The temperature is cool. Leaving at 6 am and driving until 10:30 pm (technically, 9:30 pm, but we crossed time zones from Mountain to Central), well that sucks. Especially when there are three kids in tow.

As mentioned in an earlier post, I’ve driven across this fine country many times. And, many of those trips included late into the night driving, including straight through the night. I’ve only ever gotten up early to drive when I’m sleeping in my vehicle. On at least two occasions, I awoke simply because I was cold. The worst was in Foam Lake, Saskatchewan with Isaac in January of 2009. We parked around 2 am, and when we awoke a few hours later, it was -40ish. While we had warm sleeping bags, it still sucks to sleep in a truck in a random parking lot. I believe I drove in my sleeping bag for about half an hour before the Expedition had sufficiently warmed up. Getting up early to pack the trailer, however, was a great strategy. Aside from our mistakes, I’d call the start to the day a success.

Driving all day wasn’t so bad either. Hoping to make Rushing River before it got too late, we stopped very little. Other than washroom, gas, food, and coffee breaks, we drove. That meant forcing the kids to do jumping jacks in parking lots, or while waiting to have subs made. We were in four provinces today. There were a few moments, but the kids were more than reasonable. One of Leia’s highlights of the day was making fun of Evelyn. The poor kid gets slaughtered by mosquitoes, much the same way I do. What can I say, we’re sweet! Anyhow, she has mosquito bites over each eye, making her appearance a bit goofy. I got enjoyment out of capturing Leia sleeping in the truck. A few days ago we took pictures of Jordan and Evelyn pulling a “Papa”. That’s when you sleep with you mouth wide open. Turns out, they might have actually inherited that from Mom. I was made to promise that I wouldn’t post that picture, so you’ll have to ask me in person to see it.

The only real downside in the day of travelling was learning of Kathleen’s passing on Monday when we finally were able to get online. When we left KW, we fully anticipated that Kathleen would pass away during our trip. As we neared our return, however, we began to think that we might get to see her again. When we pass through Thunder Bay, I think we’ll make another stop to lay flowers at the Terry Fox monument.

The day was going well, until about 9:30. Then it started to rain. For most of the evening, there had been dark storm clouds gather on the horizon. I fully expected to have to write that today was the first time I set up in the rain. As it turns out, that didn't occur. While it was raining west of Kenora, Rushing River was, and remains as of now, dry. But, the thought of rain did dampen my mood a bit. Then there was the deer. We saw seven in total, and six of those in about an eight-minute span, all to the west of Falcon Lake, Manitoba. Leia noticed that I had slowed down some. With a long day, I elected to burn some extra fuel and speed up. Seeing the deer, I subconsciously slowed down. In 2008, when I was driving home load 1 of 2 for our move back to Ontario, I hit a deer east of Yorkton at about 11:30 at night. That was with the Expedition. I won, but it did cost my insurance company about $3500 to fix. The Expedition is much bigger than the XC90. I didn't want to hit a deer.

Finally, as the girls were coming undone at the seams, we arrive at Rushing River. We immediately headed towards site #52.

How I hate site #52.

Ontario Parks has an online reservation system. I reserved this site from Squamish. There is no way I could have possibly known that it is most on an angle. I knew it was rock, but that’s not a problem with a tent trailer. The angle is a problem. I also had a hell of a time getting the trailer in. It is up a slight hill. My truck has pulled fantastically this trip, but those little hills, with loose gravel and no momentum, are tough. I got up the hill, only to learn I wouldn’t be able to back in the site. I know, I’ll pull into the big site and do a big u-turn.

That failed. Miserably. I almost got stuck in the site, and then almost hit the power pole with the Volvo trying to get out. I spent several minutes going back and forth, conscious of bugging my neighbours (as it was then close to 10:45 pm), and ruining my truck.

So, I tried backing in. I was almost in, when I realized that to complete the maneuver meant sliding down a giant cliff – ok, more of a gully – fine, a ditch, but still scary. I couldn’t back in from above, and while I didn’t try, I don’t think I could back in from below, given the angle, my truck’s power, and the absence of the requisite skill.

Finally, Leia discovered that I could pull in between the fire pit and some trees. I realized afterwards that, despite not being my site (I suspect), that I could have parked my truck behind the firepit. Too late! The trailer is now set up at the bottom of the little hill, a tad unlevel, and everyone but me is sleeping. I shot my nerves a bit trying to back in this site after such a long day, so I’m rewarding myself with some scotch.

My biggest problem was that I arrived in the dark and couldn’t fully assess the situation. Even sweeping the site with a headlamp did little to help overall. I also probably tried to go too fast, so as to not annoy my neighbours, which made things worse when all of my maneuvering was only successful at annoying my fellow campers and leaving me feel exhausted.

Oh well, we’re in. Getting out – that’s another day’s problem (and perhaps not a problem at all!).

If tomorrow works out, and Doug, whom I met several years ago (he leant me the ice fishing gear that caught the giant lake trout on Lake of the Woods that is my banner picture), might take us fishing. If he doesn’t, I’ll rent a canoe. Getting on the water will make me forget tonight’s horrible conclusion, as it always does.

The length of the day, and its awful conclusion, left me feeling quite exhausted. My eyes keep going blurry – and, no, I didn’t have that much scotch. Good thing tomorrow I don’t have to move or drive anywhere (unless the weather completely sucks, which means we might bail). Instead, I hope to catch some more fish with my girls. I couldn’t ask for a better day!

(Again, I apologize for no pictures, but the internet at various free places has been so slow that it takes far too long. I'll update pictures when I have time or faster internet!)