Today was a day of reflection, as we explored the tent-only sections of Canisbay Provincial park. We started out our camping adventures together in a tent, but for the past six years have been camping in our tent trailer.

The main idea of the tent trailer was to keep all of our camping gear in the trailer, so all we would need to do was to pack clothes and food, hitch up the trailer and head out. We enjoyed the fact that everything was up off the ground, we always slept on a level foam matress, and that a fridge, stove, lights, and furnace were all readily available. However, the trailer did come with certain disadvantages. Paying for storage as well as insurance was one of them; Another is the time and money required for the on-going maintenance. In addition, it still takes time to set it up and take it back down similar to a tent. On their own, these advantages of owning a tent trailer canceled out these disadvantages; storage and insurance were easily affordable, the maintenance was well within my means and abilities, and the time it took to set up and take down was not a great hardship.

We spent our summer holidays this year in the Canisbay campground of Algonquin Provincial Park. On our drive up, we stopped at the Dairy Queen in Minden for lunch. The $8 cheeseburger meal deal was delicious; the food was fresh, the staff was courteous and prompt, and they saved our Sundaes for after we were done eating our cheeseburgers and fries.

Thanks to the professional and friendly staff at the Canisbay campground in Algonquin Park, check-in was quick and painless. Just like Arrowhead, they no longer provide paper permits; instead, sites are registered by the vehicle license plate number.

My friend Paul and I decided to ride our bicycles into work again, and on this ride, I thought about all the people I wanted to give thanks to.

I’m thankful to my wife and son for getting up early with me and sharing a breakfast meal with me before I went to work.

I’m thankful to the workers who made the clothes and shoes I put on today.

I’m thankful to all the people involved in the building of my home as well as the furniture and appliances within.