It was a GREAT time! The area is gorgeous, the campground pretty and well kept and my two loved everything from setting up the tents, to eating out in Shauna's lovely dining tent, to tubing down the gorge! They enjoyed it so much that I guess we will be investing in more equipment to continue the Thompson camping tradition in Ontario (since my sister and brother-in-law have the west coast well taken care of).
There are a lot of pictures...I tried to thin them out a little and have sorted them chronologically into our 3 day adventure. Click on the small ones to see the details!
Arrived Friday at 1:30 and set up on our nice, grassy site. At the far-end of the campground, in the radio free area, it was very peaceful.
We burst out laughing at the comparison of our little tent to the roomy home of our friends - they even have real beds!
Hot, after setting up our homes, we set out for the nearby Elora Quarry. The water was co-o-o-old but a lovely spot. Very deep - enlarge the photo on the right to see how quickly the depth changes. We watched in awe as some teens leapt from the tops of the cliffs into the water (and were immediately ejected from the site by the nearby rangers).
Sunning at the qaurry.
That evening, we set out to see the tubing launch area to decide if we were up to the challenge...
The kids running down the lane to the gorge...
The kids running down the lane to the gorge...
Checking out the launch area...hmmm, we would wait for the next day to decide, though all three kids were excited!
End of day one.
The next morning, we set out to take the short hike at the other end of the park for a view of the gorge, and to climb through "the hole in the rock".
Back to our site for lunch, and a little tree climbing ensued...a first for my two!
Tubing at the gorge is very popular - so much so that all the equipment (tubes, helmets, lifejackets) usually sells out before the official open time of 9:00 am. That happened on the day we were to try out this fun adventure so we headed back to the registration house just after lunch and lucked out...we had equipment after waiting only about 20 minutes.
Tubing at the gorge is very popular - so much so that all the equipment (tubes, helmets, lifejackets) usually sells out before the official open time of 9:00 am. That happened on the day we were to try out this fun adventure so we headed back to the registration house just after lunch and lucked out...we had equipment after waiting only about 20 minutes.
This is the launch site from across the gorge. The photo on the right is what NOT to do (fall out of your tube).
No pics, of course, of us on the river...no way to take a camera with you! We were pretty worried about Cassidy- there are some significant dips in sections where there are rapids and each person has to go on their own. With some trepidation and many warnings to hold on tight, I sent her off after Shauna and MacLean. She made it through the first rapids without a hitch and then she and MacLean linked up for the rest of the ride.
Bryanna LOVED LOVED LOVED every minute. The ride down the gorge lasts about 40 minutes (we think) and she was ready to do it all again.
What a great time!
Relaxing later back at "home".
Cassidy showing her displeasure that no one would climb trees again.
Jiffy pop on our last night!
Resting after packing up on day three (the only part of camping I really don't enjoy).
After leaving the Elora Conservation Area, we headed into the village of Elora to spend some time shopping and browsing (we helped out the local economy a little - great shops!) and then lucked into the Shepherd's Pub for lunch. Shauna and I were in heaven over a mushroom on baguette meal.
It was just a great end to our Summer - and how fortunate we were to have wonderful weather too.
Happy Campers.
4 comments:
Looks great! And I've always loved Elora (town *and* gorge). Where's the pic of the inside of your tent?
Glad the first weekend out camping was a success. Maybe we can all go one of these days....
Lianne thanks for a great post enjoyed every minute of remembering the fun we had. So glad it worked out and we can't wait to do it again.
We enjoyed it and hope to see you soon.
I remember camping there when we were little...and we loved it as well!
Paul and I loooove camping...we should do a big group camp one time...it would be so much fun!
Had to laugh at the difference in tent sizes....too funny! :)
glad it went so well on the adventure -- the girls look delighted and you don't look tired at all after a few nights of roughing it.
LOL about the tent issue -- keeping up with the camping queens.
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