Most of my trips involve my family being my neighbours. Sometimes on car camping trips my son will go into his own tent with friends but on backcountry trips that we go on together, it is the three of us. Couldn't ask for better neighbours...
This is taken from the Lookout trail in Algonquin Provincial Park. I have been to this spot a couple times in the Winter on snowy days and a couple times in the Summer on rainy ones. I have never seen the treeline on a clear...
We attended the Reel Paddling Film Festival at the Canadian Canoe Museum which just so happened to be an event that Kevin Callan was MC'ing, which just so happens to be a paddle hider, which just so happens to be the Paddle hider of the...
Just getting outdoors on my property to do some slacklining. Enjoying the SlackLife :) #RewardsAreOutThere...
Hiker and I snuck in a late evening paddle on Pigeon River. Lots of wildlife and a great river scenery. #RewardsAreOutThere...
Hiker and I floating in Pigeon river being silly decided to attempt a funny face selfie (FFS). I would say mine looks like a failed attempt at Popeye the Sailor man and Hiker, well...
I have found myself stuck inside this evening. I could "lose it", which I sometimes do :) or I can be productive. I decided to use my time wisely by brushing up on my paddle strokes with some tips from "The Happy Camper" and going...
Super excited to have found this paddle for our 5 year old son Hiker. This is the 2016 "Happy Camper" Badger paddle hidden by Kevin Callan. Found behind a giant birch tree in Bon Echo Provincial Park. It now sits on our fireplace mantle waiting...
My son Hiker and I took the opportunity to have a natural shower and embrace the much needed rain. #RewardsAreOutThere ...
My son Hiker and I had the afternoon available to spend on the water , so we kept it local. Drove to Parkhill Road in Peterborough, ON. This was where we put in and paddled the Trent Severn Waterway up past Trent University to Lock...
This is a no brainer :) As much as I love paddling with my Wife, my son Hiker is my favorite paddling pal. I get to watch him grow and evolve as a paddler right in front of my eyes. He is always learning and...
This is Hiker's first paddle stroke with his new Badger Paddle. A little big for him but he will grow into it. He was asking to get out on the water with it so he could try the paddle out. It was the most he...
Getting my primus single burner canister stove lit to boil some cowboy coffee. Coffee...
This would be me, in my tent, taking a selfie.. But what you will notice way beyond the beauty of myself ;) Is the spectacular view from my "House" on Sheldon lake. #RewardsAreOutThere...
After checking the local burn ban notice for the QE II Wildlands Provincial Park on the Ontario Parks website, we were surprised and happy to learn that there was a NO burn ban notice, meaning we could have a fire. This is our nightly entertainment...
My buddy Bill and I carrying tandem on the 1400m portage out of Sheldon lake into Devils lake QE II Wildlands. We were able to rest the canoe seats on our packs in order for me to take a selfie and hold the PITP flag....
End of day #1 on Sheldon Lake in the Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands. I pulled out my journal to log the days events before settling for the night, . Nature always leaves me feeling inspired. #RewardsAreOutThere...
Here is my friend Bill looking out over Sheldon Lake from my hammock he snafu`d from me while I was busy. I don`t blame him with the views we had. #RewardsAreOutThere...
We are very fortunate to have the Canadian Canoe Museum in our Hometown. Our son loves to go there, and I take pride in telling him the story of my great Uncle Boyd Chatten, who worked under Walter Walker and helped build the cedar strip...
Even when I am not planning a trip I like to study maps, whether on the computer or printed form, I can spend hours gazing at them. This time I was in the beginning stages of planning a trip for this weekend into the Queen...
Stopped into WildRock Outfitters this evening to pick up a last minute supplies before heading out on a canoe camp tomorrow after work. I did love their original look on the outside of the store with the Name in rock lettering however this new clean...
Cooking hot dogs and maple syrup beans for dinner on an open fire, with a beautiful view over Cox Lake. Nothing tastes better than camp food. #RewardsAreOutThere...
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All our gear laid out for a backcountry camp and ready to be loaded into the van. Seeing how there was no one around to help, that ended up being my job ;) #RewardsAreOutThere...
Most of the contents in this bag is our recyclables and garbage however once our gear is packed up and ready to load in the canoe, we do one final sweep of the site to pick up any form of litter that is not natural...
I like to think when my son gets fired up and excited on a camping trip that he is playing the sweet songs of an acoustic guitar when rocking the canoe paddle. His body language sends a different message however. Looks a little electric to...
Quite honestly, I don't mind being the pack mule on the portages if it means that everyone is enjoying there outdoor experience. Coming back out on this portage, my son graciously added his pack to my list of things to carry which made for an...
Initially my Wife was a little upset with me for planning a trip that involved her and a 1310 meter portage. This is her strapping on her bag and pitching in on the lengthy portage. She found it surprisingly shorter then expected and not so...
Portaging our Red, Old Town Peneobscot 16' 4" can be a challenge at times due to it's 75lb weight. I would say I have stepped up my workout lugging this tank over the portage. One day, after putting in my time with a heavy canoe,...
You won't always find my son digging his paddle in on the canoe trail, but he was helping out here as we were paddling Cold lake in the Kawartha Highlands. He tends to sing songs as we paddle. Now only if we can get him...
Our furry companion "Chaya" looking out over Cox Lake early a.m. from our tent. A beautiful view and great location for a tent pad on our site. Although it was overcast in this photo, the clouds cleared out and made for a warm sunny day....
We utilized this large rock at our site for preparing food. It was nicely placed beside our fire pit. The top of the rock was also conveniently at waist height and allowed us to keep the picnic table clear for eating at and playing games....
Eggs from our backyard chickens and maple bacon. I am surprised we weren't joined by the other campers on the lake from the smell of this breaky wafting through the woods :) #RewardsAreOutThere...
Whether its climbing trees, rocks, running through the portages, putting worms on a hook, his digits are dirty. This photo depicts some of the grim that clings to my son during our outings, AFTER a swim in the lake. He plays hard, gets dirty and...
Reaching our site on Cox lake in Kawartha Highlands P.P. Home is where you make it and we love nomadic experience of a new location to call our home each time we are out. So many beautiful sites to call home during our stay within...
My son was eager to try out our MSR Hyperflow water filter when we needed more water pumped on our backcountry camp. Throughout our trip he never got became tired of pumping and jumped at every opportunity to filter water. #RewardsAreOutThere...
Picked up some new duds at the Portage Store in Algonquin P.P. last weekend and thought I would sport them while paddling in Kawartha Highlands P.P. #WildernessBling #RewardsAreOutThere...
The thunderbox at our site appeared to be new this year. New wood and chains had this privy gleaming with "newness" amongst the weathered woods of the surrounding area. #RewardsAreOutThere...
One of the longer portages in the park however fairly flat and well maintained. We were all smiling at the other side of this 1310 meter portage so it couldn`t have been that bad ;) #RewardsAreOutThere...
My Wife, son and dog patiently waiting to shove off at the Cold Lake access put-in. A beauty day for a paddle into Kawartha highlands P.P. #RewardsAreOutThere...
My intentions in the beginning were to slowly make my way into the water, but just before taking this picture I slide down a slippery rock from knee deep to neck deep and swimming :) The Lake was refreshing after a day of fishing....
Ran into one of the Algonquin Park staff just after the Wakami Wailers concert we attended, at the Algonquin Outdoor Theatre. His name is Peter and he was doing a fine job interacting with all the people attending the concert and asking questions. I explained...
Stopped into one of our favorite nearby Provincial Parks on the way to Algonquin P.P. Had to show some love for this great camp destination....
We are ashamed to admit, this was our first time stopping at Algonquin Outfitters, but it won't be our last :) We also drove past the store located in Haliburton as well during our drive home from Algonquin P.P. #RewardsAreOutThere...
We attended the Wakami Wailers concert at the Algonquin Outdoor Theatre and immediately after, set up camp at site 94 Mew Lake. We met a couple and their children from the site beside us that were from New York State and shared a campfire and...
...because my feet are just too ugly ;)...
We had the enjoyment of stopping at one of our favorite eatery's, The Portage Store Restaurant. I ordered the Tom Thomson burger and poutine and ate it while watching paddlers put-in and take-out on Canoe Lake. #RewardsAreOutThere...
This is a photo of our friends from Ohio, who we were hosting for a week long visit to Canada. In the picture they are at the Long Schooner Lake put-in for a three day back country canoe camp that we guided them on in...
This is our Australian Cattle dog (Blue heeler) "Chaya" She is wound up and a pain in the butt when she is at home but once she is in a canoe or at a camp site; she is super chill. She enjoys jumping out of...
Two canoes and a kayak, loaded and ready to go. My sons small kayak was tucked into my Old Town canoe and secured in, which is why you can't see it in the picture. Everyone was happy and raring to go. My wife and son,...
This picture is of our new Woods Cascade Expedition tent. We sold our other canoe camping, Kelty Getaway 4 tent, to a friend who needed a tent in a pinch. We thought we would try the new Woods line of tents and this was the...
