Visit to Algonquin Park this weekend put on exclamation point on need for precipitation

We need rain, immediately. To use appropriate vernacular: we need rain like yesterday or last week.

Waking up to another red sun and smoke-induced haze is more than proof enough that some good, steady precipitation is past due.

Over the weekend, there was an exclamation point on the vast importance of regular rain falling and keeping the right amount of moisture in our grass, trees and other green spaces.

Let’s ignore the dust and dirt and yellow patches that can be easily seen, and focus on the forest fires that are becoming ever so close.

So close that the haze taking over Huntsville can be directly attributed to a not-so-far away forest fire.

It’s pretty easy to ignore forest fires in BC or Alberta, but not so much Quebec and definitely not in our own backyard.

Monday morning there was an air quality alert for Parry Sound-Muskoka from Environment regarding the smoke-filled air quality, warning people that spending too much time breathing it in could cause health issues. See the report here.

Nearby Forest Fires

This weekend, while visiting friends in Algonquin Park at their Mew Lake campsite we received an alarming message from another friend.

That friend let us know that there fire on less than a hectare of land breaking out near Opeongo, which is about 25 km away from where we were and about 100 km away from where we live.

There were actually three fires in Algonquin Park that were found Friday and extinguished by Saturday afternoon. Still, it’s a little unsettling to know how close these are, considering how dry it’s been.

We need all of us to use our collective minds to make it rain.

Or just do a special rain ritual or superstition to help make it rain (except for killing spiders, don’t hurt those awesome little dudes).

Mew Lake Fun – despite the fire situation

Hanging out with good people, having some laughs, enjoying being in nature, kids playing in and near the water. All the boxes checked for a quick jaunt into the park.

Bonus for the family was three fox sightings (unfortunately none on camera); the kids catching and releasing some small mouth bass; a family of geese hanging out on the beach with us; and plenty of birds and chipmunks to go around.

Definitely would go back for a longer visit (we just did a day trip) and would love to try staying in one of their yurts or even a cabin (yeah, I know it’s glamping not camping but I don’t care). They look interesting.

Surprisingly, the public washroom and shower areas were well-maintained, as was the laundry facilities. And the trails were well groomed, making it very enticing to explore the whole property (I’ll do that next time).

And, despite people at most campsites, it was relatively quiet and lowkey, making it perfect for a Algonquin Park family experience.

Advice I would give is try waiting until blackfly season is done. As a seasoned Muskokan, I tend to handle the bites from all manner of creatures pretty well and without complaints.

But, when you’ve got horseflies, mosquitos and blackflies to contend with, it can be a bit much.

The horseflies don’t care about your bug deterrents and eventually, the black flies don’t either.

So, maybe visit when the least number of aerial biters is out and about!

And just for fun, a quick video of the geese coming on to the beach . . .

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