Tag: Summer

Fishing for a Great Tale: Part 1 Charlton Lake Camp

Featured by stephsimply, posted in Travels

 “The pull of nature, the peace of the forest and water couldn’t be ignored any longer . . .”–Dan McGuire, owner, Charlton Lake Camp 

There’s Something about CanadA🇨🇦

Smiles for miles.

It had been a long time since John, my husband, and I had been to Canada.  Unlike me, John began traveling to Canada for annual fishing trips in 1985.  At that time, he was the young one, newly initiated to the fishing group.  Thirty-five years later, many of those long ago fishing buddies have since departed to heavenly waters.  Others have lost interest in participating in a trip that requires such a long drive, and some no longer have the vacation time needed for a week of fishing plus an extra day or two for driving.  John gets it, but his heart was breaking with the thought of not returning to his beloved fishing playground.  

Therefore, after a bit of “mediation”, John and I sketched out a travel plan that included a trip to Canada, specifically to Charlton Lake Camp, but it also included a couple of other stops along the way. (One of those was Mackinaw City, MI for which I previously wrote about last week.)  Little did either of us know how very much we would enjoy Charlton Lake Camp and its lovely surrounding areas!

Charlton Lake Camp🏕️

Park your, ring up Dan and Lisa, and get ready to cross over the other side, releasing your day-to-day stress and immersing yourself in the laid-back, relaxing environment of Charlton Lake Camp.

Nestled in the La Cloche Mountains just beyond the hamlet of Willisville, Ontario.

Charlton Lake Camp, currently owned by Dan and Lisa McGuire, is a picturesque waterfront setting. With access to Frood Lake, Lake Charlton, Cranberry Bay, as well as canoe only portages leading to Grace Lake (made famous by the Canadian Group of Seven Artists) and Nellie Lake, Charlton Lake Camp offers a wide-array of adventures for family, individuals, or friends. Think of all your favorite summer activities–fishing, paddling (canoe, kayak, paddle board, and even peddle boat), hiking, boating, swimming, sunning, campfires, smores, lounging/reading/napping in hammock, and plenty of space to hike, write, paint, draw, or simply dream–and you’ll discover that Lake Charlton is the perfect place for all of these and more!

Bring your own or rent/use one of the camp’s many canoes, kayaks, peddle boat, pontoon boats, Lund aluminum boats

For those interested in fishing, Lake Charlton has access to over 1,700 connected acres of fishable lakes.  Their waters are filled with northern pike, small and largemouth bass, walleye, and a wide variety of panfish. Of course, they can’t turn the fish on for visitors, but during the week John and I were there, we landed scores of large and smallmouth bass while a group of guys staying in a nearby cabin caught their legal limit of walleye and several sizable northern pike. 

What about Boats?🛶

Visitors to the camp can bring their own boat; however, the camp offers a full fleet boats for rent, including 14’ Lund Aluminum fishing boats, three pontoon boats, as well as 16’ and 18.5’ tripping canoes.  All boats come with 9.9 Yamaha motors, and every cabin has its own private docking slip.  John and I merely stepped off the porch of the cabin in which we were staying and walked down a slight embankment directly to our dock.  The docking was sturdy and easy; plus the camp had an excellent launching ramp to get to and from the camp. 

Step out of your cabin and walk the pine-needle carpeted path to your own dock.

For those who like to keep and eat their fish, Charlton Lake Camp has a centrally located fish cleaning hut. It is well lit, screened-in, and it even has outlets for those who prefer to use electric fillet knives. I noticed several campers using this hut throughout the week.

Accomodations🏡

We stayed in cottage 7. John sits at our picnic table assembling fishing gear upon our arrival.

Charlton Lake Camp is made up of twelve symmetrically arranged cottages with one, two, or three bedrooms, and all have one bathroom. Every cabin faces the lake, a point John and I loved, and each one has its own tightly screened porch. The kitchens are well-equipped with all of your cooking and eating needs. There is also a propane BBQ and picnic table for each cabin. Most of all, Dan and Lisa work hard to ensure their cottages are scrubbed clean for your arrival, hence a 9:00 am check out time, and they even have their cabins treated monthly for pests.  As an added bonus, the camp’s water goes through a multi-step filtration process, and it is completely potable–no funny smell or weird taste, just pure, clean water.

Just splashing about🏊‍♀️

Swim platform and roped off swimming area in front of sandy beach to left of picture. Meanwhile, fish cleaning hut is center with one of the pontoon boats and more of the camp to the right.

For those who love to splash about, the camp has a roped off area for swimming with its own private sandy beach.  There is a swim platform for those cannonball splashes, and there are plenty of Adirondack style chairs for drying off or simply lounging about the water’s edge.  The swim area is centrally located in the camp making it easily accessible for those quick trips back to the cottage for snacks, beverages, or that bottle of sunscreen you may have forgotten.

Want to Hike?🥾

Map of hiking trails on Charlton Lake property, along with a few of my written notes regarding other nearby trails.

Did I mention that the camp also offers hiking? Both Dan and Lisa have plenty of outdoor expertise and experience.  Unfortunately, the management and day-to-day upkeep of running the camp leaves them very little room for that these days.  However, they have hiked all of the trails on their 50 acre property.  They will gladly give visitors maps and offer tips for finding the best views of the lakes or the La Cloche mountains.  John and I can attest to the fact that the trails are well-marked, but hikers will definitely want to bring along the bug spray when heading off into the woods!

a “Reel” gem of a Place!💎

John claims the fish look bigger when I catch them due to the fact I am under 5′ tall! 😂

Personally speaking, John and I fell in love with this gem-of-a-camp. Dan and Lisa are attentive and available hosts if/when guests need them to be, but they do not hover.  The camp fosters a laid back vibe that warmly welcomes family and friend groups as easily as it does couples and individuals.  The interests of guests while we were there varied–some were drawn to fishing, boating, and/or swimming while others were more drawn to quiet walks, card games, and reading.  Additionally, several of the cabins are pet friendly, and we certainly made friends with a few camp canine guests!

Pristine Waters🌊

The evening sun kisses the pristine waters of Charlton Lake goodnight

The lakes encompassing Lake Charlton Camp are pristine and do not appear overused.  Its surroundings are serene and filled with bird song, encouraging guests to unwind amidst the exquisite nature-centrentric setting–alabaster mountains; rising rock on wind-swept islands; pine-scented, needle-strewn forested paths; and plenty of rippling lake water.  Paradoxically, guests are a super-short boat-ride away from nearby Espanola, Whitefish Falls, and Manitoulin Island, but I’ll write more about that in my next piece.

We’ll Be Back

Now that’s one happy fisherman!

In conclusion, whether you are looking for a solo/couple nature retreat or you’re looking for a one-of-kind summer/fall adventure for family and/or friends, check out Charlton Lake Camp.  It provides the ideal setting for getting back to nature and all the simple goodness the great outdoors provides if only we are willing to venture there.  The cottages are clean and comfortable, the view of the lake is spectacular, especially with the setting of the sun, and the location is ideal–far enough away from all the sights/sounds of the city, but close enough if you need to get back to town for that one item you forgot to pack.  In fact, John and I have already tentatively booked our stay for next year.  Meanwhile, I am already dreaming of waking to the sound of the loon, listening to gentle sounds of lake waters lapping the shore, and the glint of evening sunlight as it kisses the lake goodnight. 

Here’s to safe and happy travels!

Important Note from Author

John and I only practice catch and release fishing. According to the U.S. National Park Service, this practice improves native fish populations by allowing more fish to remain and reproduce in the ecosystem. We make every attempt to handle the fish properly, photograph it quickly, and then gently release it into the waters to continue swimming another day. This also allows other anglers the opportunity to experience the joys of fishing and the great outdoors for years to come.

More images from Lake Charlton📷

We struggled to take a selfie of this event and this handle the fish carefully. However, on this trip, John and I landed three triples–we both caught a fish at the exact same time.
Our cabin for the week at Charlton Lake Camp.
Sun begins to set, as viewed through our screened in porch, marking the start of its waltz across the lake waters. I can only imagine how dazzling and golden this view must during the fall.

Until Next Year . . .🌅

A Good Morning Goodbye to Summer

by stephsimply, posted in Herald-Dispatch Articles, Simple Observations and Musings

“ . . . Goodnight mush

And goodnight to the old lady whispering “hush” 

Goodnight stars

Goodnight air

Good night noises everywhere”–Margaret Wise Brown from the book, Goodnight Moon, illustrated by Clement Hurd

When my daughter, Madelyn, aka “Maddie,” was a toddler, she had several favorite books with which she played, banged, tugged, and, eventually, pretended to read. One of those favorite titles was Margaret Wise Brown’s, Goodnight Moon.  Of course, as with most children, we went through several phases of “favorite books” that were the bedtime default for, “one more story,” before lights were out.  However, Goodnight Moon was an on again, off again favorite for a couple of years.  There is a reason this 1947 classic children’s story has sold millions of copies and has been translated into numerous languages.

I was reflecting upon those sweet, long ago reading-bedtime-stories-memories and comparing those times within the current context as I made my way through Ritter Park on what was my final week day workout of the summer . . .

Maddie in her extra soft jammies, smelling mildly of soap, her hair slightly damp, her skin soft, pink, and warm, as she wriggled a little closer, imploring me to read, “one more story.”  Reaching for Goodnight Moon for what felt like the thousandth time, I would often change the words of the story to reflect our house, her bedroom, and her surroundings, creating a more personal narrative.  Quite often, Maddie would join in with her own improvisation as well.  

Reading to my daughter is one of those memories that brings tears to my eyes because time seems to have transpired so swiftly.  It feels as if only last week that I was reading those stories, and numerous others, with her.  I didn’t realize then, that as quickly as those page-turning moments were occurring, they were likewise being replaced in the same way Maddie’s bedtime books were changing and evolving. The time of childhood kept moving forward like the plot of her stories. For unlike her storybooks that could be paused or stopped by simply closing the book, time did not then, nor does not now, allow me to stop the story of life from progressing.  Goodnight, Maddie, as a toddler.  

Miss Maddie grew, and with every page turn of life came a new image, a new stage, a new way of saying goodnight.  Giggle-filled toddlerhood seamlessly turned into the carefree days of preschool age, and soon enough the plot evolved into the pleasant days of kindergarten.  As life progressed, cheery days of elementary years were followed by those angsty years of middle school. Next came the plot-twists that belong to the high school years.  Presently, a new page has been turned, with more COVID-related turn-of-events occurring that continue to promote both her personal and academic growth as she makes her way through the challenging college years, especially within today’s state-of-affairs.  

Time just keeps cascading, drumming along, pattering out rhythmic beats of memories.  These snapshot moments of life with our daughter are like the bubbles she created in those early bygone years. Maddie would blow the bubbles into life and then chase those bubbles, trying to “catch” them, but bubbles tend to pop when you try to grasp them.  Instead bubbles are best enjoyed while savoring the creation of each one and then enjoying their flight as they glide through air as shiny kaleidoscopes of joyful color.  However, like my toddler daughter of all those years ago, we often give chase to life, trying to hold onto bubble-like moments of the past or bubbles that might be created in the future, often unaware that current bubbles of life-moments are floating within our view with little personal awareness.  

In some ways, though the pandemic has forced many of us to be more aware of the preciousness of life.  When life as we knew it, came to a screeching halt, or at the very least, drastically slowed down, time spent driving hither and thither was reduced to a bare minimum.  Spending most, to nearly all, of your time at home became the new normal.  The hands of life’s clock tick-tocked to the same rhythm, and yet, felt s-l-o-w-e-r.  Working from home in comfy clothes was the new cool.  John, Maddie, and me, like many that were lucky enough to remain employed or in school, worked from our home battling for wifi and dealing with the imperfection technology; and, truth-be-told, imperfect people since neither John nor I are tech savvy.   Somehow, though, we managed to keep turning those pages of work, school, and life, but it was different, and it seemed to revive the age-old theme for the desire of work-life balance and the importance of spending time with family and loved ones.

‘

Now, as we return to new variations and designs of our work worlds, I have to wonder/worry if we are returning to the proverbial rat race.  While there were, and continue to be, many negatives of living with COVID-19, there were (and are) advantages to quarantining at home.  One of my big takeaways from the experience is that growing desire to strike a greater balance between work life, family, and time spent in meaningful, personal pursuits and/or expressions. COVID has revealed there is more to life than career, and there is likewise much value in time spent with people. While being able to financially support oneself is important, COVID has repeatedly reminded me, and many others, that our time on earth is like those bubbles of Maddie’s youth, elusive, colorful, but short-lived.  I want time to create and savor more meaningful bubbles of life moments.

As I continued down memory lane on that Ritter Park run of last week, I was reminded of the certain situations for which I am/was happy to say goodbye and others for which I am/was glad to say hello with regards to COVID, quarantine, and working from home as well as the positives and negatives of returning to work (school), albeit, with a new way of working and thinking about education and work-life in general.  In my head, Maddie’s Goodnight Moon’s simple verse informed thought bubbles of random rhymes and personal prose . . .

On a great big earth

There was a virus

And a numerous people of worth

And a picture of–

Distractions of media birth

And there were numerous world leaders sitting on chairs

And there were markets

And there were targets

And people were moving

And the bug was stewing

And there was more spread that grew in a rush

And there were even some men who were proclaiming, “hush”

Goodnight school

Goodnight need for much fuel

Goodnight countless people of worth

Hello time at home

Hello best-not-to-roam

Hello extra family time

Hello singing wind chime

Hello work from the table

Hello time for evening cable

Hello bedtime at dark

Hello paths of local parks

Hello time spent in nature

Hello medical danger

Hello life with COVID-19

Hello people on a virtual scene

Goodbye summer months that went by fast

Hello school bells ringing at last

Hello to the students I will see

Hello to the in-person teacher I will be

Goodbye warm lunch peacefully eaten alone.

Goodbye work from home

Hello continued work-friend, Google Chrome

Goodbye quarantine that abounds

Hello, the virus is still around

Hello to spaced out chairs

Hello to continued and fervent prayers

Goodbye work day morning run

Goodbye savoring dawn’s sun

And there’s still no goodbye to men proclaiming, “hush”

Goodbye sweatpants

Goodbye, my growing green plants

Goodbye quarantine life . . .

May this school year and fall 

be safe for all 

Goodbye, fellow morning exerciser, Deborah Garrett who walks an hour and forty minutes most mornings at Ritter Park. She says she “just loves it in Ritter Park.” I hope that I see you from time to time on the weekends. In the meantime, keep on stepping into life!