Autumn 2011 Return to
Wanakita
Well the school holidays are over and life has returned to
normal in the Nightingale household. We are now trying to pack in as many
experiences as we now can before the end of the year. With that in mind we
headed back up north of Toronto to Camp Wanakita.
Friday 17th:
Michelle had a pupil free day on the Friday, so to avoid
Friday afternoon Toronto traffic I picked the kids up early and grabbed Chelle
from school. We also had Laureen, Calum and Tiahn with us so the car was
packed. Unfortunately like all good plans this one didn’t pan out, there’s just
no way to beat the traffic in Toronto, it makes Sydney’s traffic look like a
Sunday afternoon drive.
We finally made it to Wanakita around 7:00 Pm, so it was
still light and we got to see evidence of the trees starting to change their
colours. After settling into our cabins it was time to catch up with the rest
of the CLEE crowd and reminisce about our adventures over the summer. Of course
this was done over a few ales around a roaring campfire, for even though it is
still supposed to be summer the temperatures are starting to fall.
Saturday 18th:
Up early and for the hardy ones amongst us it was down to
the Lake for a “Polar Bear Dip”. This is one of those activities that must be
done while in Canada, it’s basically taking an early morning dip in a lake, “nothing
unusual about that?” When the water temperature is -1 it changes things a bit.
Ryan and Calum were keen and a few of the others were up to the challenge,
while the rest of us cheered them on (I did briefly entertain the idea the
night before while under the influence of alcohol, but sobered up when I got
out of bed). The early morning sun on the lake combined with the mist giving me
the opportunity to put to the test the lessons I had learned at a photography
course I attended a week earlier.
After those that had had a dip regained some feeling in
their extremities we all trudged up to breakfast and a briefing of the day’s
events from our facilitators, tow of whom turned out to Australian and who were
making their way across the country working at camps.
First activity for most was the Low Ropes course, the kids
having a ball balancing on and falling off the ropes and the tyres. After the
low ropes we split up and Michelle and Ryan went off to do the High Ropes while
Natasha and I went off to archery. I’m proud to say that although most other
parts off me are breaking down my eyesight is still good and my aim is good, I
managed good close groupings each time I shot. Natasha also did well with a
little coaching managing to get two bullseyes. Ryan mean time managed to
conquer the vertical playground twice. No mean feat as it takes a lot out of
your arms and legs.
Lunch, and for Michelle and Ryan it was Voyageur canoeing (canoeing
in a large group) on the lake. Tash and I headed off to the climbing wall.
Natasha found this wall a lot more daunting than others she had done as the
hand and foot holds were further apart and some of them tended to spin when you
gripped them, but all the same she made it ¾ of the way up which made it the
furthest distance she has climbed up till now. I was very proud of her effort
as I was of Ryan’s. Tash and I both then
headed down to the lake where Ryan and Calum jumped in kayaks, so just to be on
the safe side I followed them and Chelle and Tash set off together in a canoe,
they ended up becoming a rescue boat as one of the young girls tipped her kayak
and need to be fished out of the water. Late Saturday afternoon and we were
free to do as we wished so the kids went off to play and I wondered around
taking photos of the Fall colours.
Saturday evening was a sing song around a camp fire by the
lake, then for those that wished a nature hike. The rest of us gathered back at
our cabins where we stoked up our own campfire and relaxed with a few drinks.
After a large percentage of the group had fallen into bed those of us that were
left got visited by a very inquisitive raccoon, so I managed to get my first up
close photos of one in the wild, they are very cute and highly intelligent, but
apparently can also get very nasty.
Sunday 19th:
The chance to sleep in a bit longer this morning before
breakfast, (once again the food at Wanakita has been great). The choices for
activities for the morning session being left up to the group, the kids decided
on the Low Ropes to start and the Chelle and Ryan were back at the Lake
Kayaking, while Natasha wanted to try her hand at the High Ropes. Tash again
did well; she picked her target she wanted to reach and with a bit of effort achieved
it. One thing she doesn’t lack is confidence when it comes to heights. Out on
the lake Ryan learned how to roll a kayak not sure if this was on purpose or by
accident lol. The mornings activities and lunch over with it was once again
goodbyes and making plans to catch up at least one more time before everyone
heads their different ways at the end of the year, then back in the car for the
three hour journey back to Burlington.
One thing I must make mention of is how quickly the colours
start to change in Canada, even over the space of three days it was very
noticeable. We have a long weekend coming up in a couple of weeks so we hope to
get back up into the same area, which should be a carpet of Autumn colours at
that time, it will also be our last chance to see an elusive Moose.
