076- Kawartha High-Life

After two kids, 10,000 diapers, a few trips to Mexico, and a brief (six-year long) hiatus, we've finally had a unique enough adventure (and a smidgen of free time) to warrant a return to the Team Bearss Travel Blog.  Rest assured this is a one-off effort and not a rehash of days past. It was only our rare internet-free 48 hours that prevented us from keeping the grandparents up-to-date on a minute-to-minute basis (as is the Insta-expectation these days) that prompted this endeavour....so I hope you enjoy.

Preempted by a 2017 campout in the back yard, 

And a 2018 car-camping trip to Sibbald Point with the Marinos, 

A month gathering gear, and 18 years trying (unsuccessfully) to convince Britt that we weren't going to be eaten by bears, our back country excursion to the Kawartha Highlands, has been a long time coming.

A quick trial run of the packs,

 Some nifty hairdos, 

And we were all set for our early morning departure.

("Don't forget the bear spray!")

Of course all that hard work getting started necessitated an en route pitstop at Mr. Sub to fill our empty bellies,

 And the back of our new car with half of Tasman's tuna sub...

 "EVERYBODY OUT!"

Apparently, the night before departure Britt and the kids had a discussion/bet who would be the first to cry on the trip. While there were short odds on Britt, Taz was the runaway favourite. And, he didn't disappoint, by pulling on his pack, promptly tripping over the canoe, doing a less-than-graceful pirouette and scuffing his knee (with ensuing waterworks) before we even made it out of the parking lot... To his credit, he pulled it together quickly for the photo op...

A short 218m (and 218,000kg of gear) later and we were ready to push off.

Despite the kids continual urge to lunge from side to side in our canoe full to the gunwales, we surprisingly made the 2k canoe and 81m portage without incident.

Before arriving at our home away from home...Sucker #120!

 

Tazzie immediately got busy flitting about while the rest of us got the site set up.

It was a great spot on a point with a nice rock landing and water on both sides. It was backed by a large rock wall, which was a great vantage point,

 And allowed the kids to put their week of rock climbing camp to good use.

After a sweaty hour of chopping/sawing/gathering firewood, the kids were ready for a refreshing dip. 

Obvi Daddy didn't want to be left out...

 After that it was time to snuggle up, 

 For HAPPY HOUR!

 ("Who loves my new sweatshirt???")

Meal #1 went off without a hitch.

 Bon appetit!

After dinner there was a little time for the fairies to put the finishing touches on their house...

Followed by a little fire time and our one s'more/person/night ration,

Before snuggling down for bed.

Despite looking so cozy, due to her paralyzing arkoudaphobia, Britt only managed to get about an hour of sleep. A mere five minutes of which wasn't plagued by dreams of bears mauling us in our tent or chasing us through the woods...the rest of us slept like logs.

Rise and shine!

Day 2 started out strong, with a hearty breakfast,

And a little sunshine.

Taz interviewed a few potential tenants for Fairy Land.

(A Northern Flicker....obviously a female due to the lack of black moustache which is characteristic of the males...)

Further enticing them with some substantial renos/upgrades.

After a canoe around the lake to check out all the other sites that clearly weren't anywhere as nice as ours, we explored the woods a little behind our site...

...Before getting spooked by storm clouds (Read: "Britt's fear of bears"), and returning to the site for safer exploits.

Like getting double french braids to match Ciel-y...

Such a thug.

Which, at 37 seconds ("Actually, I don't like these braids anymore..."), lasted only slightly longer than our walk in the woods.

Our pre-steamed Manitoulin Porketta (yep, that's how they spell it on "the Island") Sausages were the perfect campsite fare after a long day of activities.

Our east-facing site didn't allow for sunsets, but this late evening rainbow was a suitable substitute.

Long day. Good night.

 And even BETTER morning!

Some hot cereal and delicious Niagara peaches fuelled our leisurely takedown of our campsite, and it wasn't long before we were ready to head home.

(Leave nothing but footprints...and maybe a fairy swing.)

But not before a little Canadiana send-off:

By the return trip, the kids had become adept at the portage.

 Ciel at actually assisting with it, and Tazzie at picking up random branches and debris to drag along for the hike.

One final stop in the car park to polish off the last remnants of sustenance, 

 And it was time to hit the road.

All-in-all a successful trip. 

No tipped canoes,

No debilitating injuries,

No bear maulings (shocking, I know),

No one left behind!

Now that's a win!

Thanks for paddling along!