Where are we today ?
We have a nice day trip planned for today about a 90 minute drive to the
Pinery Provincial Park in Grand Bend Ontario. Wiki calls this a small provincial park only 6,330 acres (1,275 campsites) on the the eastern shores of Lake Huron. (Ontario's West Coast) with 21 miles of roads inside the park too. I have camped here for many years from the early 1970's and love the park, but with the daily camping rates over $40.00 a night with no hookups we don't camp there much any more. No long term rates either. Wonderful private campsites, hiking trails, biking trails, picnic areas, canoe rentals on the river and about 12 parking areas close to the beach, beautiful sand dunes, it is a very popular place. The campground is very hard to get into in the summer months too, mostly completely booked months in advance.
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| entrance into the pinery |
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| nice roads to the camping areas. |
We left here shortly after 9 am arriving about 10:40am The day use pass is now $16.00 per vehicle but we got the senior discount only $13.00, still pretty pricey just to visit.
But we knew this and are visiting with daughter number one, her husband and three of our grands tent camping here for 4 days.
The weather forecast for today was thunderstorms but we never believe those weather guessers anyway. Turns out we had a few minor sprinkles then the sun came out and we had an awesome day.
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| they had tarps set up just in case |
After a quick bite to eat we headed to the beach, over the dunes and play in the sand.
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| perfect day not too sunny |
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| gotta get all covered in sand |
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| playing in the waves |
We had our chairs but did not go in the water, need to be above 90f for us to go in, but I found a piece of driftwood that quickly became a drunken sailor holding a mug of spirits. Its been a while since I sat on the beach and whittled away on a piece of drift wood, maybe I should get my wood carving out again, it was fun. At least thats what I see in the piece of wood.
Couple of hours here then the sun came out so we headed back over the dunes to their campsite, some nice shade.
We chatted for a while the the grands grilled some hot dogs over an open fire.
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| yummy |
Us adults enjoyed a light snack and beverage then we headed back home about 4:30 where does the time go? They still had things to do, fishing, swimming, bbq supper etc. Besides we wanted to stop at
Hayter's Turkey retail store and check out all the turkey products there. Well we picked up a whole mess of turkey products, keilbossa, turkey burgers, kabobs, and boneless turkey thighs, we will be good for a while and all very reasonable prices too and gluten free as well.
Now the back roads home. Arrived here at 6 pm.
I fired up the Weber q and made a salad to go with two turkey kabobs while Suzie let the dogs out for a run.
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| a few minutes on the Q and so tasty and tender |
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| interesting clouds last night too |
There ya go an amazing day full of thunderstorms (that never happened) with barely a sprinkle and lotsa sunshine. A fun day with the family in the campground and on the beach, sure is a wonderful life that we are so lucky to be able to enjoy.
Glad you could drop by again and join us at the beach.
Posted by George, a.k.a. "The Weber "Q" Man of Blogland" according to Rick Doyle.
Check out the map below to see where we have been this Summer.
View Summer 2014 in a larger map
We had our chairs but did not go in the water, need to be above 90f for us to go in, but I found a piece of driftwood that quickly became a drunken sailor holding a mug of spirits. Its been a while since I sat on the beach and whittled away on a piece of drift wood, maybe I should get my wood carving out again, it was fun. At least thats what I see in the piece of wood.
Couple of hours here then the sun came out so we headed back over the dunes to their campsite, some nice shade.
We chatted for a while the the grands grilled some hot dogs over an open fire.
Now the back roads home. Arrived here at 6 pm.
I fired up the Weber q and made a salad to go with two turkey kabobs while Suzie let the dogs out for a run.
At $40 a night I wouldn't be spending much time there either. But well worth the entry fee to have such a great day with the family. They looked like they were having so much fun in the sand. Did they get s'mores too?
ReplyDeleteWe all had fun in the sand, not sure about the s'mores, maybe later that night.
Delete$40/night seems to be pricing the campsites out of the reach of working families with kids. What are they thinking?
ReplyDeleteNice whittling job, looks just like me! :cD
These are the people that camp here with young families and always busy here.
DeleteReally looks like you?? Never knew.
The price of our provincial parks amazes me, and not in a good way either. The other amazing thing is the fact that they're booked solid a year in advance. All them City Slickers sure are suckers I guess. I won't be going.
ReplyDeleteThey are still selling out, but not from us anymore, we did spend many years in the Provincial parks when they were affordable, still very nice settings.
DeleteBill carves and hadn't done anything in years. We attended the Escapees Woodcarvers at North Ranch, AZ and he got inspired again. When you have such a talent, it's a shame not to do a piece. Hope that bit of carving will get you chipping away again.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoyed it, but usually did my carving sitting on the beach, which we don't do much anymore. Still have a few unfinished projects I can get to work on again.
DeleteSeem to do a lot more reading now than I did before.
Ouch! Does that over $40.00 a night include the vehicle fee? Camping used to be some thing a family with not a lot of funds used to be able to do but not anymore. Not sure what the disadvantaged families can do for vacations now?!
ReplyDeleteGlad that you had a day fun with the family.
www.travelwithkevinandruth.com
That fee does include one vehicle per site.
DeleteNot so cheap camping anymore here in Ontario.
We did have an awesome day with the kids though.
Now this is a setting I don't think I have ever seen you in. Looks like a gorgeous day in the beach. Glad the weather cooperated and you had a great time.
ReplyDeleteWe spent 4 days at a beautiful sandy beach on Lake Erie last August, and three months in Mexico 2009-10 winter.
Delete$40 bucks with no services seems over the top! Our BC Provincial Parks are a tad better priced but most do not offer any on site services (water, power, sewer). Fun day with your grand kids though....and the location was pretty nice too.
ReplyDeleteIt is rather pricey and not in our budget anymore, but they do manage to fill the campgrounds. If you want electrical only 30 amp in $47.00 a night. No generators allowed either. Bit there is a water fill and one dump station.
DeleteExcellent location and a real fun day.