We spent many hours in the car on our way to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. We would stop every 2 - 2 1/2 hrs or so in order to stretch our legs, let the dog out to pee, fill up on gas or have something to eat. One of these stops was in White River, Ontario where we saw the monument that was erected in celebration of where Winnie The Pooh (the real live bear) was first obtained.
  Winnie was actually a female bear and ended up living in the London zoo her whole life. It was there that A.A. Milne and his son Christopher would go to visit Winnie.  After a short stop here we were soon on our way to Sleeping Giant once more. Originally we were set to leave on our trip on the 5th of August instead of the 4th but we changed all of our plans just so that we could come and camp for a night at this camp ground in particular. It was well worth the change in plans. Sleeping Giant is a 35 km drive away from the high way, nestled in among the trees on the beautiful Marie Louise Lake.  This camp ground is a delight to be in! Since it is so far away from the nearest highway, it is so quiet and peaceful and there is a menagerie of wildlife to be seen. It was like walking into a giant petting zoo (although we knew better than to try to pet anything that came to visit). We arrived at the park around 6:30 or 7 pm and headed for the office to see about registering for a site.  On the way in I noticed what at first looked to be a parking meter. Upon closer inspection I realized it was a self-pay station for times when there are no staff working. It was pretty fancy looking (it was solar and everything) but I am not fond of self-pay when it comes to camping (as you may remember if you have read one of my previous blog entries from last year). So I was happy that when we arrived, there was staff on site and we were able to speak to a real live human being.   There was a huge Pepsi vending machine in the corner, outside the office. This park was so great in almost every other way that I suppose we can forgive them this one little faux pas that us Coke drinkers shudder to see.  We were given a map and told that we could choose from the sites that they had circled. Since my parents were sleeping in an RV we were looking for one that had electrical hook ups and the ones they had circled were the only electrical ones left. So my brother, mother and I hopped into the car and drove around to choose a site. Number 100 looked like it would be big enough to accommodate us, so we left my mother at the site holding my stuffed giraffe, Jerome, while we went back to the office to register.
|
Once we got ourselves set up we figured that we got the better of the two sites anyways. Ours seemed to be slightly larger and angled in a way that fit us all in comfortably.
Before we even got the tents set up we began to see the the wild life emerging from the trees. There were deer galore here.
The daisies were in abundance and decorated the sides of the roads in contrast to the pretty purple flowers that grew in with them.
When we went down to the boat launch area to see the Sleeping Giant I was amazed by how red the soil was along the lake side under the trees. I didn't know Ontario had dirt like that. I thought the red sand was only found out on the east coast in P.E.I.
As the sun began to sink in the sky and dusk was settling in, my daughter, my brother, his girlfriend and I all went down to the waterside to see what we had all come to see.... the Sleeping Giant.
One version of the Ojibway legend identifies the giant as Nanabijou, the Spirit of the Deep Sea Water.
Because of their loyalty to their gods, and their peaceful and industrious mode of living, Nanabijou, decided to reward the Ojibway tribe. One day he called their Chief to his great Thunder Temple on the mountain and warned him that if he told the secret to the white man, that he, Nanabijou would be turned to stone and the Ojibway tribe perish. The Chief gave his promise, and Nanabijou told him of the rich silver mine, now known as "Silver Islet".
The Great Spirit told him to go to the highest point on Thunder Cape, and here he would find the entrance to a tunnel that would lead him to the centre of the mine. Apparently the Chief and his people found the mine, for the Ojibway became famous for their beautiful silver ornaments.
So beautiful indeed were they, that the Sioux warriors on seeing them upon their wounded enemies, strove to wrest their secret from them. However, torture and even death failed to make the gallant Ojibway divulge their secret and the Sioux chieftains had to devise another scheme to find the source of the Ojibway silver. One day they summoned their most cunning scout to a pow-wow and a plan was formed.
The scout was to enter the Ojibway camp disguised as one of them. This he did and in a few days succeeded in learning the secret of the island of silver. Going to the mine at night he took several large pieces of the precious metal in order to prove to his chieftain that he had fulfilled his mission. The scout however never returned to his camp, for on his way back he stopped at a white traders post to purchase some food. Having no furs or money with which to pay for the goods, he used a piece of the silver. Seeing such a large piece of the gleaming metal, two white men sought to obtain the whereabouts of its source, in order to make themselves fabulously rich. After filling the Sioux scout with alcohol they persuaded him to show them the to the mine.
When almost in sight of "Silver Islet" a terrific storm broke over the Cape. The white men were drowned and the Native was found in a crazed condition floating aimlessly in his canoe, but the most extraordinary thing that had happened during the storm, was that where once was a wide opening to the bay, now lay what appeared to be a great sleeping figure of a man.
The Great Spirit's warning had been fulfilled and he had been turned to stone. On a little island at the foot of the Sleeping Giant, can still be seen the partly submerged shafts of what was once the richest silver mine in the northwest
This trip did not allow time for hiking the trails, but apparently there are multiple trails that can be taken to reach the top of the Sleeping Giant where you can look out over the top of the lake. One day I would like to come back and spend a few days here and walk some of those hiking trails. But for now we were content to look at it from a distance.
As we headed back towards the campsite a group of ducks came by to hang out at the dock where we just were moments before.
Because of their loyalty to their gods, and their peaceful and industrious mode of living, Nanabijou, decided to reward the Ojibway tribe. One day he called their Chief to his great Thunder Temple on the mountain and warned him that if he told the secret to the white man, that he, Nanabijou would be turned to stone and the Ojibway tribe perish. The Chief gave his promise, and Nanabijou told him of the rich silver mine, now known as "Silver Islet".
The Great Spirit told him to go to the highest point on Thunder Cape, and here he would find the entrance to a tunnel that would lead him to the centre of the mine. Apparently the Chief and his people found the mine, for the Ojibway became famous for their beautiful silver ornaments.
So beautiful indeed were they, that the Sioux warriors on seeing them upon their wounded enemies, strove to wrest their secret from them. However, torture and even death failed to make the gallant Ojibway divulge their secret and the Sioux chieftains had to devise another scheme to find the source of the Ojibway silver. One day they summoned their most cunning scout to a pow-wow and a plan was formed.
The scout was to enter the Ojibway camp disguised as one of them. This he did and in a few days succeeded in learning the secret of the island of silver. Going to the mine at night he took several large pieces of the precious metal in order to prove to his chieftain that he had fulfilled his mission. The scout however never returned to his camp, for on his way back he stopped at a white traders post to purchase some food. Having no furs or money with which to pay for the goods, he used a piece of the silver. Seeing such a large piece of the gleaming metal, two white men sought to obtain the whereabouts of its source, in order to make themselves fabulously rich. After filling the Sioux scout with alcohol they persuaded him to show them the to the mine.
When almost in sight of "Silver Islet" a terrific storm broke over the Cape. The white men were drowned and the Native was found in a crazed condition floating aimlessly in his canoe, but the most extraordinary thing that had happened during the storm, was that where once was a wide opening to the bay, now lay what appeared to be a great sleeping figure of a man.
The Great Spirit's warning had been fulfilled and he had been turned to stone. On a little island at the foot of the Sleeping Giant, can still be seen the partly submerged shafts of what was once the richest silver mine in the northwest
This trip did not allow time for hiking the trails, but apparently there are multiple trails that can be taken to reach the top of the Sleeping Giant where you can look out over the top of the lake. One day I would like to come back and spend a few days here and walk some of those hiking trails. But for now we were content to look at it from a distance.
As we headed back towards the campsite a group of ducks came by to hang out at the dock where we just were moments before.
The path to the visitor center and store were along the way back so we decided to take a bit of a detour to check that out. We were very disappointed to find that even though all the signs said that the store was open until 9 pm, it was only 8 pm at that moment and the whole place was dark and locked up tight for the day. We knew we would be pulling out in the morning long before it re-opened so we would not get the chance to go inside.
So instead we went around the whole building peeking in all the windows. There was so much to see even just from the outside. The was an aquarium with a live turtle in it and lots of displays and activity centers. Even the paths leading up to the center were interesting to look at and had little roofs over them.
After exploring for a bit we headed back to the campsite and had some supper. As it grew darker, more and more animals started to appear. On my way to the comfort station a rabbit came hopping along right towards me and passed by me within about 5 feet of me.
Another time as I sat waiting for my daughter to come out of the showers a fox rounded the corner of the building and walked straight on past a truck that was driving up. The driver stopped and did a double take. I was wishing I had brought my camera with me at that time but unfortunately I hadn't. Later when I got back to the camp my brother said that the fox had gone right through the middle of our camp site. Apparently they also saw a skunk which I am glad I had missed.
You can see the wildlife just about anywhere in the park, but a good place to see some critter or another seems to be near the comfort station. The comfort station is quite clean and well, comfortable, so that is not the reason you will see so much here. It is because there is a picnic table just outside the door where you can sit quietly and wait for things to go by.
You can see the wildlife just about anywhere in the park, but a good place to see some critter or another seems to be near the comfort station. The comfort station is quite clean and well, comfortable, so that is not the reason you will see so much here. It is because there is a picnic table just outside the door where you can sit quietly and wait for things to go by.
But also because in behind the comfort station is a small field where the deer like to hang out and the rabbits and foxes like to run through.
The roads have speed bumps throughout the park. I have never seen speed bumps all throughout a park like you see in this one. However, it is a very good idea due to the high probability of animal versus vehicle accidents that could occur otherwise.
This provincial park was also the first time I had ever seen a container for recycling propane canisters. (I have seen them in other parks since then, but this was a first for me). It was nice to see that the environment and safety were of a concern to the people running the park.
Another notable thing about this provincial park was the wonderful staff that they had. As we sat around our campfire that night, one of the staff members went to each and every campsite to ask how people were doing and to make sure that everyone was happy and having a good time.
I had a wonderful time at this park and would loved to have stayed a few more days. But I will have to come back another time because the next day we will leaving Ontario and will spend our first night in a whole other province. Manitoba here we come!
I had a wonderful time at this park and would loved to have stayed a few more days. But I will have to come back another time because the next day we will leaving Ontario and will spend our first night in a whole other province. Manitoba here we come!
RSS Feed