Back to Where it Started

We now have returned to our favorite spot at  Charleston Lake Provincial Park near Gananoque, Ontario. This is our favorite site at this park, right on the water, our little slice of Heaven. This is the same spot we started camping on May 9th. We got here a week ago.

I chose this spot because it seems when you are camped near water, you are camped near life, most animals need water to survive, they build their homes and nests here. In spring this spot is filled with the newly arrived migrants, orioles, cardinals, yellow warblers, all singing their little hearts out. The night air is filled with sounds of bullfrogs and whippoorwills, owls and loons. At this time, now that mating is done, the bullfrogs are quiet, the sounds of the loons and birds much less intense, but still the odd hoot of an owl can be heard and the blue jays and woodpeckers are much more active. In the spring, we had many raccoons here, I have yet to see one this time and we have been here for a week. The hummingbirds, which are so busy in the spring, have mostly departed, now only the odd one trying to drink it's fill comes to the feeder.

I also chose this spot because we can launch our canoe and kayaks right from the site, very handy for a quick paddle. We have been out on the water once this week, and have been lucky enough to swim for 4 out the 7 days, the water is still beautiful, cool and clear. I like to try and see how late in the season I can still be swimming outdoors, the latest is the 25th of September, some years back, and have already broken my record of September 2nd for last year as I swam yesterday on the 8th. So far we have been entertained by the birds, the ducks and geese are constantly playing and fighting right at the little bay where our site is, tons of woodpeckers, the big Pilated ones, we have had grouse and jays, chickadees and nuthatches and hummers. I am truly enjoying my quiet mornings and evenings, living the life I envisioned retirement would be. Although there are not a lot of campers up, there are more than I expected, with the nicer weather this year.

We hope to stay up here for another 10 days, then go home for a bit and see what the weather is like and if feasible, head out for one last trip. It is sure nice to have that choice.

For now, I am enjoying being back to where it started, my personal slice of Heaven!