A dip into cold waters

This year on May 11-12, Ayden and I embarked on our first canoe trip of the year. We've had this mindset that canoe trips had to be a weekend long or a two night event but this year we decided to try going for just one night and see if the hassle of getting everything together would be worth it.

Since it was going to be only a one night stay, we decided on doing the Seagrim Lake route in Nopiming Provincial Park. It's an easy, scenic route with short portages and decked out camping spots. Decked out when it comes to back country campsites you need a canoe to get to, of course. We had my brother, Thomas, join us for the trip and he partnered up with a friend of his, Damien, who'd never been on a canoe trip before so a route like the Seagrim lake chain was a perfect first toe dip into the world of canoeing.

For being so early in May we definitely thought it was going to be a pretty chilly weekend but we were pleasantly surprised with warm weather and toasty sunshine. It was so warm in fact that Ayden and Damien decided to take a dip into the cold lake waters.

After two short portages, we made it onto Elton lake where all the campsites for this lake chain were on. We paddled our way to campsite #7 and were pleasantly surprised by what was all in it. There was a rock firepit with a grate, a picnic table, and a whole bear box to keep our food and gear safe in the night. We got there, set up camp, gathered wood, and then continued to enjoy the beautiful May weather we were having.

It definitely started to get chilly as the evening turned into night, with the wind picking up and a couple of short sprinkles of rain but it gave us a beautiful rainbow to end the evening with.

The next morning mother nature decided to remind us that it was still early May and even though the sun was out and shining, it was pretty cold. It was also quite windy which didn't help the situation. But we made the most of it and still enjoyed the morning with some breakfast sausages, scrambled eggs, and baked beans.

And then it was time to clean up, pack up, and head home.

So was it worth it? 100%. A taste of the great outdoors made us grateful that winter was over once more and summer is on its way. It made us look forward to our future summer plans and be happy to live in an area with so much beauty just a short car ride away.

And made us grateful to have all the comforts we have waiting for us at home.