Algonquin Camping Trip Day 2 - Things That Go Bump in the Night

Our first sunrise in Algonquin was picture perfect. Far from the night we just endured with the critters that were aware of our arrival.



The noise that woke us up the first night was caused by a raccoon that was rustling in this bag of garbage that we had hanging outside in our campsite. We realized in the middle of the night that it needed to be hung up with our other food to prevent scavengers from ransacking our loot. Joe exited the tent with flashlight in hand after I convinced him that something was already sitting on top of our food pack while it was hung high on a rope. He went out to investigate and not only found that a wrapper which once carried a full loaf of bread was now empty sitting on top of the pack, but that this scavenger had a friend and he landed on the ground with a thud right by Joe and took off into the darkness. Burnt Island Lake is known for having rather persistent and skilled scavengers that will perform highwire circus acts in their efforts to empty your food pack!
















We were very happy with the accommodations of our campsite and had plenty of organizing to do.
















All the necessities.

















We decided to take a short paddle to another site in order to do some exploring of Algonquin.

















When we got there Joe showed the kids how to build a fire and how birch bark, even when wet, easily ignites.






















Danek found this great piece of driftwood and considered it "art". He wanted us to bring it home, but we only brought it back to our campsite so we could enjoy it for our remaining days in Algonquin.


















It was time to paddle back to camp. Evelyn and I paddled toward a pair of loons with their baby. As we approached, the wind shifted and swung the front of the canoe too close to the protective family. The parents dove and "attacked" Evelyn's paddle as we were feverishly paddling to avoid a confrontation! Once back at camp, we made a freeze dried dinner and settled in for what we hoped would be a quieter night. Joe hung the food much higher and cinched the food pack much tighter so that our clever thieves would have more difficulty in reaching our food.