Camping With Grandpa, Page 4, 1997, The Terry Trailer Year

Camping With Grandpa, 1997

The Terry Trailer Year

This is similar to my grandfather's trailer

In 1997, my grandfather sold the truck camper on Auto Trader and bought a used Terry Travel Trailer on Mt Albert Side Road.  The trailer was fixed up by spring and ready to go.  I went to Grand Island KOA Kampground, Layzee Acre Campground, and Hilbilly Campground.

 

William Stewart and Daughters Family Camp (Sun Retreats, Blue Mountain), Thornbury, Ontario

 

This was the first trailer park that I picked to take the Terry Trailer on it's first voyage.  We were thinking about going to Jell-E-Bean Park in Wasage Beach or a campground in Thornbury, ON.  I decided to go to the campground in Thornbury because of what they offered.  The facilities included the playground and a small rec hall inside a school portable.  There was daily activities including Karaoke, and Bingo.  I remember winning a few games of bingo at this campground.

Layzee Acres Campground,

Layzee Acres Campground is located in Sebright, Ontario.  This campground was pretty large.  This campground featured a tr  I stayed there with my grandfather for a weekend.  Layzee Acres did not have a whole lot to do besides playing in the playground. 

Niagara Falls KOA Kampground, Grand Island. May and June 1997

KOA Train Depot, The Private Gate to Fantasy Island

I went Grand Island three times in 1997.  I thought the adjacent amusement park, Martin's Fantasy Island would be open that I could hop the train and spend a few hours.  When I was there in the spring, the amusement park was not open for the season yet.  I got to do the usual window shopping excursions to Military Road Wal Mart, K Mart, and Hills Department Store.  I liked going to Wal Mart and Hills because the staff wear Clip On Name Tags. 

Hillbilly Campground, Gravenhurst

The Daily Hillbilly Tour, Roots RV

For the month of July and August, my grandfather booked a seasonal site at Camp Hillbilly in Gravenhurst.  This campground featured a rec hall, pool, daily wagon ride, nature trails, and the camp store.  During the day, I listened to the truck radio, walked around the grounds, played on the swings, played Bingo every Monday evening.  On the Canada Day weekend, there was a dance in the rec hall.  I did not get to do as many camping trips in August, 1997 because my grandfather sold the home in Queensville and moved to Alcona Beach.  I did one more camping trip to Camp Hillbilly before taking the trailer to Grand Island, NY for a few days.

Return to Niagara Falls, KOA Kampground, Grand Island, NY Labour Day Weekend

 

Flying Bobs, I rode this ride several times, Fantasy Island Memories

 

This was the best visit to Grand Island KOA Kampground because Martin's Fantasy Island was OPEN! On first day, I hopped the train and spent the afternoon riding the rides at Fantasy Island (Niagara Amusement Park).  This is the only campground that has its own private entrance to a theme park.  I rode on the Flying Bobs, the gondola wheel, Crazy Bus, Scrambler, Tilt-A-Whirl, Sea Ray, the Antique Cars, the Carousel, and the train. 

Conclusion

1997 was a great year because the Terry Trailer was large and spacious.  When we did any excursions to town, the trailer can be left at the campsite.  The trailer was less time consuming when it came to hooking and unhooking from the truck.  During this season, I got to play bingo and win a few games and lose too.  I got to take a ride on the 407 for the first time and rumble stripping with the trailer hooked up.  1997 has been a busy summer because my grandfather sold the home and found a smaller home in Innisfil.  My grandfather sadly past away in January 1998.

 

Page Index

Camping With Grandpa, Getting the Camper

Camping With Grandpa, 1995

Camping With Grandpa, 1996

 

Return to Phil's Adventures and Holidays

Photo Refrences

Flying Bobs at Martin's Fantasy Island, Memories of Fantasy Island Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/FantasyIslandMemories/

Camp Hillbilly Wagon Ride, Roots RV Camp Hillbilly, https://www.rootsrv.ca/camphillbilly

Camping With Grandpa, Page 3, 1996

 Camping With Grandpa, 1996  

 

High Falls,  A perfect place for Camper Special! discovermuskoka.ca

This was the first full season of camping with my grandfather in the truck camper.   I travelled to various camp grounds in central Ontario and Leweston, NY.  During this summer adventure, I started to obsess about name tags after staying at a KOA Kampground.

Canada Day Weekend, Return to Gravenhurst KOA Kampground

On the first long weekend of summer, I got to return to the Gravenhurst KOA Kampground for a few days before my brother heads off to Cadet Camp at Blackdown.  During my stay, I liked playing on the swings since they are quite unique. The Swingsets were custom built out of 20 foot poles instead of poles.  The swings were attached to the cross beam at one point and you can spin 360 degrees in mid air.  In the evenings, there were activities including Bingo and movies in the barn.  I remember watching The Wizard of Oz on the Big TV.

Parry Sound KOA Kampground

Perry Sound KOA Office and Store

 

This weekend was just me and Grandpa,  My brother went to BACSTC Blackdown for 3 weeks to take Basic Band.  I had the top bunk to myself for this trip.  Parry Sound KOA did not have as much to do there.  I found something to do there.  I walked the nature trails, jumped on the trampoline, and played on the swings. During my stay at Perry Sound.  I took a road trip into Perry Sound and climbed the fire tower.

Islandview Trailer Park and Balsam Lake Provincial Park

Islandview Trailer Park, Coboconk Chamber of Commerce

It was the second weekend without my brother, this time we took the truck camper east.  The destination was Kwartha Lakes and stayed in two different camp grounds.  The first campground we picked was Islandview Trailer Park. Islandview  is a small trailer park south of Coboconk, Ontario.  This was the smallest campgrounds I stayed at.  There was not much to do besides play on the swings or talk to the staff.  The Facilities included a playground and a small rec hall with two video games and a broken pinball machine.   

I agreed with my grandfather and said that Islandview Trailer park had very little to do.  We decided to move the camper to Balsam Lake Provincial Park for a night.  This stay I remember going to a store on the park's edge.  This store had a few video games including a unique Breakout/Arkanoid game.

Labour Day Weekend at Gravenhurst KOA Kampground

As School was coming around the corner, it was time for one more trip to Gravenhurst KOA.  This KOA trip included the usual excursion to High Falls for Camper Special and a road trip to Dorset, Ontario.  I remember climbing the Dorset Lookout Tower and visiting the General Store.  One evening I attended a Karaoke for the first time on the Big TV in the Iconic Barn.

Niagara Falls North KOA Kampground

An End of Summer Trip to Niagara Falls North, Niagarafallsusa.com

 To wrap up the summer, we decided to take the truck camper to the USA.  This was exciting since It was the first time taking the camper over the border.  Before making our way to camp, we went window shopping at Wal-Mart, K Mart, Hills, and Tops Friendly Market. The campground was tree covered and plenty of shade.  The amenities included a playground, where I spent a lot of time during my stay.

Selling The Camper, Buying a Name Tag at the Flea Market

A Name Tag Engraver, with computer.  Similar to the one at the 400 Market

We realized that having a truck camper was too much work loading it on and off the truck after each trip.  In October, 1996 My grandfather attempted to sell the camper in an auction at the 400 Flea Market.  I got to spend an entire day walking the 400 Flea Market and stumbled upon an engraving vendor in a booth in the northwest corner of the market.  I talked to the guy in the booth and asked to have a name tag with my name engraved. He offered to make two tags for 5 Bucks!  One name tag was orange and white and the second was red and white.

With no success, the truck camper did not sell at the 400 Flea Market Fall Auction, my grandfather attempted to sell the camper at Pollard's Auction Barn.  To no avail, the camper did not sell.  My grandfather listed the camper on the Auto Trader and than it sold.

Conclusion

1996 was a great summer of camping at several campgrounds.  One campground was a dud, and the rest were great.  I loved Gravenhurst KOA the best because it had an amazing swing set, the barn had a variety of video games, and having Camper Special at High Falls.  One memory is going for an early morning ride in the camper's top bunk to High Falls.

Page Index

Camping With Grandpa, Getting the Camper

Camping With Grandpa, 1995

Camping With Grandpa, 1997, The Terry Trailer Year

Return to Phil's Adventures and Holidays

Photo References

Gravograph VXM, https://inkoovintagecomputing.wordpress.com/2018/01/31/gravograph-vxm/

High Falls, Discover Muskoka, https://www.discovermuskoka.ca/listings/high-falls-and-little-high-falls-216/

Islandview Trailer Park Sign, Coboconk Norland Chamber of Commerce, https://www.coboconknorland.ca/directory/islandview-trailer-park

Niagara Falls North KOA Kampground photo, https://www.niagarafallsusa.com/directory/niagara-falls-north-lewiston-koa/

Parry Sound KOA Office and Store, Trip Advisor, https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g181742-d5040370-Reviews-Parry_Sound_KOA-Parry_Sound_Northeastern_Ontario_Ontario.html

Camping With Grandpa Page 2, 1995

 Camping With Grandpa, Page 2

After the the truck camper was fixed and ready to go,  It was time to mount the camper onto the back of the pick up truck and hit the road.  

Gravenhurst KOA Kampground, Labour Day Weekend

Gravenhurst KOA Kampground office and barn, South Muskoka Doppler

For this first camping trip, we were unsure what to expect for campgrounds.  I picked out a campground from the Camping Magazine.  The Gravenhurst KOA Kampground was a good park to give camping a try.  This campground featured its iconic barn, Kamping Kabins, Free Mini Golf, two pools, and a walking trail through the woods. 

The arcade inside the iconic barn, campingontario.ca

The Iconic Barn was home to an arcade, laundry facilities, and a meeting space in the loft.  During the summer, events including movies, bingo, or functions may be held in the loft.  

After the trip to KOA Kampground, me and my grandfather took a road trip to Gamebridge for a round of mini golf, watch the boats pass through the locks and have ice cream.

Balsam Lake Provincial Park

In Mid September, 1995, me, Ed, and Grandpa decided to go to Balsam Lake Provincial Park for a night.  Balsam Lake is a provincial park on Balsam Lake close to Kirkfield, Ontario.  During my stay at Balsam Lake, I went to the playground and walked the nature trails. 

Bonnie Lake Campground (Bonnie Lake Resort)

Bonnie Lake,

After school on a friday evening, we decided to go to Bonnie Lake Campground in Bracebridge, Ontario.  This trip was memorable because we arrived at the campground after dark and the office was closed.  We drove into the grounds and found a vacant site to park for the night.  After settling in for the evening, me and Ed played a travel size edition of Monolopy Jr in the top bunk of the camper before calling the night.  The next day, I decided to ride my bike along Bonnie Lake Road and discovered Stephenson Road 1 Bridge.

Stephenson Road 1 Bridge, historic bridges.org

I climbed down to the river bank and found some empty beer bottles under the bridge deck and than I biked to camp.  I remember that Bonnie Lake Campground had the largest bench swing in the playground.  This swing could seat at least 3 people.  

Conclusion 

The 1995 Camping season was quite short since we did not get the until mid to late August, 1995.  The memories of the 1995 season included Grandpa's famous Camper special.  The Camper Special included fried eggs and toast.  The breakfast was cooked either on a campfire or propane stove.  In 1996 I had a full adventure of Truck Camping ahead along with two weeks at Cadet Camp.

Page Index

Camping With Grandpa, Getting the Camper

Camping With Grandpa, 1996

Camping With Grandpa, 1997, the Terry Trailer Year

Return to Phil's Adventures and Holidays

 

Photo References

Gravenhurst KOA Marks 50 Years, https://southmuskoka.doppleronline.ca/in-challenging-times-koa-gravenhurst-marks-50-years/

Camping in Muskoka, https://www.campinginontario.ca/CampinginMuskoka#prettyPhoto

Stephenson Road 1 Bridge Photo,  https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=ontario/stephensonroad1bridge/

Camping with Grandpa, Page 1, Getting the Camper

Camping With Grandpa

Looking for a Truck Camper

As the cost of staying in hotels stated to increase, my grandfather decided to get a truck camper in 1995.  Me and my grandfather looked at several truck campers around central Ontario.  I looked at one camper in Sharon, but it looked too old and worn out.  After looking at that first camper, My grandfather picked up a copy of Auto Trader Magazine to look for a truck camper.  The first camper we went to was in a trailer park in Orr Lake.  Upon arrival in Orr Lake, The camper was sold to another group of people.  

The second truck camper was located in Minden, Ontario.  The drive was quite a lengthily drive since Minden is off the beaten path and I never been to Minden until My grandfather decided to look at the a camper there.  The journey to Minden was quite unique since there were lots of rocks on Highway 35.  There was one high rock cut north of Norland that caught my eye.

This is the Highest rock cut on Highway 35

The Camper in Minden was a typical 15 foot truck camper with a double bed on the top of the cab.  The camper had a vintage love meter plaque on the cab bunk.  We decided not to take this camper because it looked old.

Me and my grandfather finally locked on a truck camper on Highway 48 in Ballantre, Ontario.  This camper featured a fold out bunk.  We had to work hard to detach the frame from the camper in order to get it onto the pick up truck.  Once we got the camper home, it was parked in the garage for further fixing before it was taken out on it's first voyage to Gravenhurst KOA Kampground on Labour Day weekend.

This is a similar camper that my grandfather bought

Page Index

Camping With Grandpa, 1995

Camping With Grandpa, 1996

Camping With Grandpa, 1997, The Terry Trailer Year

Return to Phil's Adventures and Holidays 

 

Photo References

Rock Cut Photo, Miners Bay Rock Cut, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:35_Rock_cut_at_Miners_Bay.png

Truck Camper photo was borrowed from The Bicentennial Camper Truck, https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/the-bicentennial-camper-truck-1976-chevy-c20-camper-special-sycamore-camper/127565/page1/