algonquin for four

This summer, we took our longest block of holidays in a row ever -- two and a half weeks. We've learned that it takes a good week just for our minds to quiet down, so the more time we block together, the more time we actually experience a 'vacation'.

And while I'm really thankful that we had such an extended time away, I found myself wondering more than a couple of times... Hmmm... why do we plan hard things as part of our time to relax?? An Ironman, for one! A backcountry camping trip that included a portage (even a short portage is still a portage, sillies). And I read so much non-fiction all year that I like to enjoy a novel while on holidays. This time I chose A Thousand Splendid Suns (by the author of the Kite Runner) -- a gut-wrenching tale that tells of the plight of women in Afghanistan. A good light read. Ha.

So, although there were moments I wondered if all the 'work' was worth the reward, I can still say that we have a lot of really unique and special memories from the last few weeks. And I think we're coming home rested....

I had a hard time narrowing down favourite photos of the week in Algonquin, so I'm posting a whack of them. Enjoy!


Maia made a good case for her suitcase to come along on the journey. "Everybody in this family does their part!", Tim and I found ourselves saying to her. (I wonder how many typically-parentish sayings we have adopted so far.)

Eliana does her part too. She 'carries' my sunglasses as often as I'll let her.



So if you have ever escaped so far out of civilization that you cannot hear any hums, buzzes or voices -- all except the voices of nature -- then you know why we do the 'work' we do to canoe to a remote spot where we live about as simply as we can. Many Algonquin campers move around to a new lake and a new site each day. Our style is to plunk ourselves down on a great site and stay there for days. This week we spent three nights on the Barron Canyon and three nights on Grand Lake (Achray), all in the east end of the Park. A beautiful part of the planet. Many backcountry campers get everything they need for the week in one very large portagable backpack. We used to do it that way. Now we have kids. So now we take luxuries -- booster seat, sip cups, sand toys, colouring book and crayons, loads of snacks, not to mention camp chairs, books and a huge, rather unportagable tupperware that's a lot easier to find things in than a backpack.

The lady who took our picture as we were heading out observed how full our canoe was and joked, "Don't have any more kids!"



We discovered a company that makes infant life jackets, so Eliana could sit in her booster seat in the canoe (not strapped in to the booster -- don't worry) and not be in a straight jacket like Maia was the first year we took her camping. It's now up there with my favourite inventions of all times.


So those of you who have camped backcountry in Algonquin will recognize the orange sign that indicates you're welcome to make your home at this site. With all that unpredictable weather (sun... cloud... rain... sun... rain... windy... calm... windy... hunh?), the first thing we did was set up our tarp in case it poured on us before we could set up the tent.


Goodmorning, new stove! (This thing folds down to the size of your hand -- love it.) Goodmorning, blueberry pancakes.


















I love that some sites are marked with washroom signs to lead you to the sweet spot. Co-ed. Go figure.



Since Eliana isn't quite walking yet on her own, she was set up with plastic pants that she wore most all week so she could just be free to explore. We decided to relax when it came to eating dirt. But we took a hard line on the funky looking mushrooms. And the berries. And the things that crawl by. Speaking of which, according to Eliana, everything moving (beaver, frog, caterpillar, spider) is called a "puppy". Hilarious! Her other most-used phrase of the week -- besides "mommy" -- was "WOW". She said it slowly as though marvelling at something simple, like a cloud or a tree or a light. You know, Eliana, you're right. We just forget that these are 'wow' things of creation. Thanks for the reminder.

At mealtimes, we were ever-thankful for the booster seat with straps to confine the little crawler. Not to mention the handy catch-all bib that we basically used as a tray substitute. Worked well!



Every year, we try to buy a new piece or two of equipment and borrow a little less. This year, we also procured a great water filter to pump great drinking water out of the lake. So fantastic. Tim was our resident water pumper.



At night, it's pretty important to hang your food and garbage in a tree -- pretty high up and not too close to the trunk -- so that you don't share your week's supply with racoons or bears. (Yes, Mom G, we took the bear spray just in case. Thanks for looking out for us!)


A few years ago we hiked a trail above the Barron Canyon, looked down at a canoe paddling between the hundred-metre cliffs cut out of the rock face by an old riverbed, and said, "We've got to canoe that one day!" So this was the year. We camped just downriver and went on a daytrip up through the canyon. Stunning. I never cease to wonder at the trees that are able to take root literally in the rocks where it looks impossible for anything to grow. I think it's a good parallel with life, really. Many of the ones that are forced to grow up at tough angles and in prevailing winds tend to put down the strongest roots.







Our littlest canoeist needed a nap. It didn't come easy. But eventually, it did come.



So, the portage. We thought a 420 metre portage was so short it was almost like not having one at all. Of course, if you strap a baby to your back and try to move an oversized tupperware full of heavy gear while coaching a frustrated pre-schooler in the importance of lifting a suitcase over the roots and rocks (as opposed to wheeling it) while mosquitoes are deciding you make an excellent lunch... well, you might have a hard time convincing yourself you're doing this for fun. Character building, indeed!

Tim makes the canoe-carry part look easy.



This is me and Maia giving our pretend smiles at the other end of the portage. Don't you love how Eliana is sneaking into the picture?


A few times, Eliana was napping by the time we reached our destination. One afternoon she spent more than an hour sleeping in the canoe while the water lapped on the shore. So sweet.



If you ask Maia about the trip, she'll likely tell you the highlight was collecting 'callapiters' in her new bug cage. (Thanks, Auntie Yo!)


Love this face of pure satisfaction at her first capture.












She found some pretty interesting callapitars... er... I mean, caterpillars. The most unique was her 'birthday caterpillar'. On the day Maia turned four, she found a little dude with four white tufts on his back. God is so creative.


Speaking of the birthday girl, I must take a moment to say how much we enjoy this little life. Maia is creative, observant, and a little corny. She fits right in!










On her actual birthday, she was a little confused why there was no cake or presents. (We had already celebrated with cake when some of our family was together in Lake Placid.) We reminded her of our birthday party past, and the various presents she had with her, including a canoe paddle and a children's bible, which she is really loving. Still... no cake? She had a bit of a hard time with this one. Then Tim had a brainwave and reminded her that I had made pancakes that morning for breakfast. And that was good enough for her.

This is one of my favourite shots from the whole trip, from when Maia and I went out, just she and I, for a sunset paddle.



We had a lot of fun playing catch. Can't you just hear her laugh? Still the best sound of my life.





Maia really wanted to learn to take pictures on this trip. So this pic of me was actually taken by her. (Can you tell I'm leaning down to make it into the shot? Shhh. Don't tell. She thinks she's a spectacular photographer.)


What would camping be without marshmallows and jiffy pop? This year, I invented the 'chocolate sandwich'. Widdle a hole in a square piece of chocolate and roast it between two marshmallows. YUM.

The morning after this, we woke to find a huge chunk of Maia's hair secured to her cheek. I guess we had missed the fact that she still had marshmallow on her face at bedtime.


And the car ride home? Maia is a great car traveller. And Ellie is coming along. I think she did better than I expected. You know, snacks, tickling, finger puppets and music go a long way. And who knew you could get a good ten minute's entertainment out of an empty Starbucks cup?