Day 18: Beautiful and exciting drive!

Friday. August 24, 2012.

 The morning was spent in a lot of hurry to get

One of the Algonquin lakes right off highway 60

the car, last minute shopping and packing etc. There were six of us and we had a lot of stuff. Biggest issue was comforters. Since Algonquin park is in the north, we though it would get real cold at night and sleeping bags would not have helped. We were worried that all that stuff would not fit in the minivan but after couple of tries, everything fit just fine.

 We started our journey. Beginning we hit a lot of traffic on highway 400 (everyone off to their weekend getaways). However once we were through highway 11 and onto highway 60, the drive was smooth and beautiful.  Forests on both sides with a usual peek from the lakes. Northern Canada is absolutely stunning.

Highway 60

Moose and deer crossing sign on Highway 60

 We almost ran over a turtle who was trying to cross the road but we didnt! I hope that no one else did either and that it crossed safely.


Moose and deer crossing signs were throughout Highway 60. We were driving along highway 60 and at a point, we saw a lot of cars parked on the side of the road and people were gathered on one side of the road, looking at something in the forest. It was a moose and its baby. We stopped as well and walked over to look at them. They left by the time we walked over but nonetheless we were very very very lucky to spot them from the car, even though it was few seconds.

Entering the Canisbay Lake Campground

Campground office

Finally, after almost a 5 hour long drive, we reached our destination: Canisbay Lake Campground.

The office had bear warning poster. Fortunately, unfortunately, we did not get to see a bear on this trip. :P

Bear warning poster

Although I have seen polar bears in the zoo, I wish to watch them (any bears) in their own habitat.



So we got to our campsite, unpacked and set up our shelters. Rest of the evening, we just just stayed at our campsite, enjoyed the feeling of being in the wilderness and near a campfire.

At around midnight, we all took a walk to the washrooms. (Washrooms were a bit of a walk, but they were pretty clean, stinky*, but clean. I, honestly, had not expected that). There were almost no lights except one little bulb in the washrooms. There was a large clear ground behind the washrooms, very dark and had vast view of the sky. We were so mesmerized by the millions of stars above our heads that we stood there for about half an hour, staring at the beautiful sky. We decided, the next night, we would find a larger viewing area, take our bamboo floor rug, lie on our backs and then stare at the sky. No more worrying about neck pains! ;)