Pinery – the hardest choice is deciding whether to walk or ride your bike to the visitor’s centre

Pinery – the hardest choice is deciding whether to walk 
or ride your bike to the visitor’s centre
By Wendy Boucher

Did you know that the Old Ausable River is one of the cleanest rivers in Canada because it is not fed by groundwater runoff, it is fed by natural springs. I did not know this either and I have been coming to Pinery Provincial Park for family camping trips for almost half a century!

Let me tell you a little bit about our latest family trip we took at the end of August as well as some interesting facts and things to do during your camping trip to Pinery.

Whirligig Beetles, Damselflies, Great Blue Herons, and Flying Squirrels are all the amazing creatures you can learn about when you go on a nature walk with one of the very friendly and knowledgeable naturalists that work at Pinery. Every day you can attend a fun seminar at the outdoor theatre, go for a nighttime guided hike by red flashlight, or just wander around the visitor centre taking in all of the incredible facts and sights of Pinery Provincial Park.

We went on the night hike and experienced the nocturnal flying squirrels! My seven-year-old was astounded when she saw one flying through the air and then crawling up the tree. The super cool guides make it interesting for grown-ups and fun for children as well. We really enjoyed our guide’s various owl calls to try and get the owls to come out so we can see them. We also took a bat detector to our campsite so we could monitor the bats in the area. You can rent them for free from the visitor centre. Don't forget to report your findings to the visitor centre staff; you will then be an official citizen scientist!

Bring your bicycle! There are as many bicycles as there are tents at the campgrounds. Biking is one of the best ways to get around since everything is a quick bike away. And no one ever locks their bikes up… The only crime at Pinery is not bringing your bike!

Our day at the beach was glorious! We took our daughter and our furry-daughter to the dog beach which is either beach area number one or number two. Don't forget your poo bags! The waves are amazing body surfing fun, and collecting rocks can pass many hours away. Remember to pack a lunch because you're going to want to stay here all day.

We went to the beach on our last day at Pinery (after we packed up our entire campsite to head home!). Thankfully as dinnertime rolled around we remembered that there are barbecue and picnic table areas close to the parking lot exactly for this reason. We pulled our cooking gear out of the car and had a nice final barbecue before heading back to London.

A word about the bathrooms - the showering areas, the common washrooms, and even the outhouse type washrooms are the cleanest I've ever seen! If you have children you know that this makes it a whole lot nicer when you are little one takes 20 minutes to get their business done.

I've been going to the Pinery provincial Park since I was a baby and I'm happy to pass along this family tradition onto my child. It is a gift that will last her a lifetime as it has mine!

A Lighthouse Keeper’s Adventure in Ontario’s Beautiful Bruce Peninsula

 A Lighthouse Keeper’s Adventure
in Ontario’s Beautiful Bruce Peninsula

Among the item included on my own bucket list is one that increasingly is becoming harder to find, and that is to work as a Lighthouse Keeper. This goal may not be on the same adrenaline and heart pumping scale as skydiving in Nova Scotia, rappelling in New Brunswick, photographing grizzlies in the Yukon or swimming with Beluga Whales in Churchill Manitoba, but for some reason it is something I always wanted to do. As advances in technology occur more and more lighthouses are becoming automated, no longer requiring an actual person to be onsite. But I wanted to find out what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper, so that’s what I set out to do!

I discovered an opportunity to experience a taste of a Lighthouse Keeper’s life at Cabot Head Lighthouse in Ontario’s beautiful Bruce Peninsula. They have a program called the Cabot Head Lighthouse Assistant Program geared to offering approved guests a little of what it would be like to serve in this capacity. In essence, the program offers visitors a 1 week stay on the edge of Georgian Bay as an Assistant Lighthouse Keeper. They live in the Lighthouse, in accommodations that includes one bedroom (2 single beds) with a separate sitting room, a four piece bathroom and a fully equipped summer kitchen.

Now when I contemplated the role of an Assistant Lighthouse Keeper I had envisioned being donned with the huge responsibility of manning the lighthouse and ensuring the bulbs and other equipment were operational as I guided mammoth ocean liners safely into port. This, however seemed unlikely and I would more likely be responsible for adding to the already huge number of sunken wrecks for which the Bruce Peninsula is known.

Before I could get started as a lighthouse keeper Assistant I first needed to learn a little history about the place. The learned that Cabot Head Lighthouse is operated by The Friends of Cabot Head, a not-for-profit organization formed by a group of concerned area citizens who organized to take over the restoration, maintenance and management of Historic Cabot Head Light station. Agreements were made with the Canadian Coast Guard and then Lindsay Township and now the municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula, and in the period from 1994-1996, major renovation work was done on the Lighthouse using limited grant money and volunteer labour and expertise. The Friends of Cabot Head now obtains all its funds for restoration, maintenance and management from visitor donations, membership dues, the Assistant Lighthouse Keepers Program and sales through the gift shop.

I found it interesting to learned that, according to the Department of Marine & Fisheries in its Rules And Instructions for the Guidance of Lighthouse-Keepers (1905), the role of the light-house Keeper and his assistants are one in which they are required “to be sober, industrious, attend to their duties and maintain orderly families.” The duties were rigidly prescribed and strictly carried out. The lamps were lit and kept at full brilliancy between sunset and sunrise, as well as in foggy or dark weather or “as may be necessary for the security of navigation.” The revolving beacon at Cabot Head obliged the keeper or his assistant to be on watch throughout the night.

A significant addition to the duties of the keeper, especially in the autumn, occurred during World War One. In 1914 range lights leading into Wingfield Basin were built and in 1915 a storm-warning system was established. The latter required the display of appropriate signals from atop a sixty-foot tower and required quick action when the meteorological forecast was received over the telephone line from Toronto.

Fortunately, my role as an assistant lighthouse keeper was significantly less than those at the helm in years past. To tell the truth, it was actually a very relaxing experience and there was a lot of free time. There were some duties that an Assistant Lighthouse Keeper is asked to carry out, such as greeting the visitors, helping out in the gift shop and in their new Artist’s Studio and to carry out some housekeeping duties in the lighthouse. There is a fee to be an Assistant Lighthouse Keeper at Cabot Head Lighthouse. The fee is only $350 Canadian for a couple/or single person for the week. Guests are also asked to supply their own personal supplies for the stay such as food, blankets and toiletries, etc. and become a member of the organization the Friends of Cabot Head.

There were several things I found very significant and unique about my experience as an assistant lighthouse keeper. I was surprised that the amenities were pretty modern and comfortable. I was amazed at the breathtaking view from all directions from the top of the lighthouse and spent as much time on the top as possible. I have never had breakfast in a more beautiful place as when I sat at the top of the lighthouse overlooking the staggering panorama of beauty. I was invigorated, relaxed and inspired. However, the thing I found most remarkable was something I never knew existed. Around the time of my last bite of my fabulous breakfast I had brought up with me a flock of about 30+ blue jays flew past the top of the lighthouse and perched onto the nearby trees surrounding the south side of the lighthouse. I thought blue jays only flew singly, but was surprised at this rare event.


These, and many other unique experiences, are
available for anyone who has the interest to apply. To learn more about this experience visit www.cabothead.ca.

OAKLEY... Their PRIZM technology and sunglasses revolutionized our adventures!

We have heard so much about the new Oakley Prizm lens technology over the past months. In each of editorial realms we feature with Canadian Destinations we believe that having the right gear is essential to maximize the experience. We believe it is the same for eyewear. Oakley's Prizm line seems to have lens for every sport. So we contacted Oakley and said we wanted to test the Prizms out and we are grateful that we had the opportunity to do so. Whether camping, mountain biking, golfing,
sailing, motorcycle riding, etc., Oakley’s Prizm eyewear not only met our expectations but surpassed them. Canadian Destinations love and endorse the product line. Oakley made the summer great!

SLIVER PRIZM GOLF
A timeless sleek design made even more lightweight with sculptural reliefs on the earstems, Sliver takes advantage of our durable yet gravity-defying O Matter frame material while letting innovative technologies like XYZ Optics throw their weight around.



PRIZM DAILY POLARIZED
The innovation behind a comfortably secure fit, Unobtainium is integrated into the classic styling of this O Matter frame inspired by Oakley Crosslink, blending sculpture with versatility that keeps up with active lifestyles.


EVZERO PATH PRIZM ROAD
Built for speed and engineered to be the ultimate multi-sport sunglass for training, running and beyond, EVZero Path is Oakley’s lightest performance frame and features a toric shield of Plutonite® in a rimless design for an unobstructed view.

SLIVER PRIZM SHALLOW WATER POLARIZED
A timeless sleek design made even more lightweight with sculptural reliefs on the earstems, Sliver takes advantage of our durable yet gravity-defying O Matter frame material while letting innovative technologies like XYZ Optics throw their weight around.

FLAK JACKET XLJ PRIZM DEEP WATER POLARIZED
World-class athletes have driven us to create innovation after innovation, and Flak Jacket takes that to the next level with the latest in performance technology. The frame offers O Matter and Unobtanium® components for a comfortably secure fit and pure Plutonite lenses to filter out 100% of all UV rays.


================ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY=============================


PRIZM is a revolution in lens optics built on decades of color science research. Prizm lenses provide unprecedented control of light transmission resulting in colors precisely tuned to maximize contrast and enhance visibility.



HIGH DEFINITION OPTICS is a collection of patented technologies that allow Oakley eyewear to meet or exceed the testing standards of the American National Standards Institute for optical clarity, visual fidelity, and impact resistance.



more on these products and the technology visit OAKLEY.CA

Let's Talk Mountain Biking Gear! Our FAV's!

Often when we are out mountain biking we connect with other bikers and we usually end up talking gear. As you know we, at Canadian Destinations are gear-heads and we do our best to demonstrate that the choosing the right gear and equipment maximizes the experience. The wrong gear can lead to frustration and injuries. So, I thought I would let you know the mountain biking gear we love the most.

As far as mountain bikes, we have riden a variety of them over the years. However the one we love most is the TREK STACHE! No question. The Stache is an all-new species of 29+ mountain bike performance. The wide 3" tires grip relentlessly, amplifying all the benefits of 29ers, while remarkably short chainstays deliver a fun, lively ride. The Stache offers the capability of a full suspension trail bike in a simple hardtail package, plus the extra benefits of 29+ tires are many. You'll be amazed at how the capable, unshakable 29+ tires allow you to corner harder and faster without breaking loose.  The new lightweight carbon svelte carbon frame with complementary lightweight components make it easy to get in and out of tights spots



. The wider 148mm rear and 110mm front hub spacing on 29ers creates stronger, less flexy wheels and allows for wider tires, shorter chainstays and more chairing options. These and other options makes the TREK Stache a no brainer for us! For more on this visit www.trekbikes.com.

I like the OASIZ MIPS MTB helmet. The winner of the 2011 Eurobike Award is packed full of features and technology. It has the Rollsys Retention System with Adjustable Head Basket for an easy to adjust and perfect fit. On the inside it has the Rigidity Brace System for lightweight performance while still offering superior resistance again multiple impact crashes. The clever Multimount system allows for the direct installation of a GoPro camera or headlight mounting adapter onto the helmet. Learn more at www.lazersport.com.

The shoes we ride with are the FIVETEN Impact VXi.  They were designed for flat pedal riders who want the benefits of riding platform pedals without giving up the gripping performance of clips. The new synthetic upper dries overnight so you will always be ready to ride. With compression molded insoles and a reinforced toe cap, it is one of the most protective and supportive shoes in the line.

We ride the trails using Oakley PRIZM sunglasses. The Prizm is a revolutionary lens technology that fine-tunes vision for specific sports and environments. The lenses enhance performance of traditional lenses, touch your cheeks and help extend the upper field of view. The Plutonite® Lenses offer top UV Protection filtering 100% of all UVA, UVB, UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm Switchlock™ interchangeable lens technology makes lens changing lenses fast and secure O-Matter™ stress-resistant frame material is both lightweight and durable for all-day comfort and protection. Learn more at www.oakley.com.

Why we love Port Stanley

Our mini vacation spot less than an hour from London

The almost shy little harbour village of Port Stanley is a refreshingly slow paced beach town with fresh fish daily, lazy little coffee shops, thriving ice cream parlours, and even a bit of a night life.

Spend a weekend here and you will want to come back every weekend. It's your quick and easy vacation spot only 45 minutes from London and 2.5 hours from Toronto.

Everything in Port Stanley is on either Main Street, Colbourne Street, or Bridge Street, and yes there is a bridge on Bridge Street. The bells ring every thirty minutes at the King George VI bridge to warn pedestrians to halt, and to alert the sailboats below that they may proceed.

Every thirty minutes Bridge Street splits as
the boats pass underneath

Fishing boats line the river that takes them to Lake Erie for their day's catch. You will find them there periodically throughout the day as the seagulls loudly declare their favourite spots on each boats' deck.










Make sure you grab a specialty coffee from the family owned and operated Village Square Coffee House, and spend a leisurely two hours watching the to-ing and fro-ing along the water. Park benches are dotted along the waterway for this very reason.

Don't forget to get a treat at Broderick’s Ice Cream. We love to stroll around the main streets with our sweet delights! 









You may catch views seagulls chasing the fishing boats. If you are fortunate you will see the epic sunset, then moonbeams dancing on the wavy waters.

Follow the signs to rent a SeaDoo and speed around the gorgeous blues of the lake for a while! There are many cool spots along the shores to discover that are only accessible by water craft. Another option is to make friends with someone who sails. That's what OUR friends have done! 

It's easy to find the rental for SeaDoos. Just follow the signs!

If you want something a little more lively try GTs on the beach - they have bands, drinks, and truly great food. You can park your motorcycle or car, enjoy walk on the beach, play some beach volleyball, even catch some rays on the awesome patio! 

Lots of motorbikes cruise through the main streets of 

Port in a consistent stream, nothing says summer

 like the vroom vroom of the two wheeled wonders.

The ride from London is lovely and the traffic is often very light

Festival Theatre in Port Stanley

There are lots of conveniences and luxuries as well in the Port, such as a hardware store, fresh fish shops, art stores, B&Bs, motels, restaurants, patios, a live theatre, and clothing shops to name a few.

Captain Chris on his Morgan 28

Visiting Port Stanley is absolutely worth the 

short drive from London on a week night. 

It truly feels like a mini-vacation.

We dare you to get up at 5:30am while you are there and enjoy the sunrise off of the new pier. This is one of our all time favourite memories of the Port. 

Finally the gorgeous new pier is built, ready to enjoy at sunrise if you dare...

Wendy's Corner on Backcountry Gear

When you think of backcountry camping trips, 
            what technical gear do you think of? 





Oh, probably - a good four season tent, down mummy bag, self inflating sleeping mattress, ultra-light kevlar canoe, and a waterproof lighter. Yeah, that was me too - before. 

Now I think - completely collapsible dishes; folding frying pan that perfectly distributes heat; 3L widemouth canteen; and a skirt you can throw on for many of your backwoods survival needs... that’s right I said skirt. 








I will introduce you to some of my favourite gear that is often overlooked by most, or completely ignored altogether, but on my last sopping wet, bone chilling trip to Algonquin Park backwater, this stuff made all the difference. Each in their own way, these items made this portaging trip actually very pleasurable.

Click to read more about great gear! on Wendy's Corner.

by Wendy Boucher, Canadian Destinations Mag

Killarney Provincial Park - Visit the Wilderness

3:15 am

“What was that? A bear is getting into our food bag!” 

We had strung it hours ago from a tree, about 2 metres out from the trunk, 4 metres off the ground, and 40 metres downwind from our tent, which is close to the recommendations set out by Ontario Parks.

Did the park staff plant a seed in my head that grew into a towering Jack Pine during my first night's slumber in our tiny tent? Or was a bear really in our food tree? 

I was awake, and my heart was racing after the overwhelming sound of a massive branch breaking metres from where we lay sleeping. Thankfully, I had some equipment with me specifically designed for this very instance. 

“Cover your ears.” I whisper to my partner Chris as he mumbles, “Wha…?”

I hit the air horn. Then, silence. 

We made it to Killarney backcountry.

click to ....(Read More) about our adventure in

Killarney Provincial Park!