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/

Tunnels I been through

Tunnels made my stomach Cringe when my grandfather mentioned the word back in 1990.  I was looking forward to that first trip to Myrtle Beach, SC.  I wanted to go to Myrtle Beach, SC because my school teacher went there every year.

Yorkdale Service Tunnel

In 1989, my Grandfather took me to Yorkdale on business.  During some spare time, he took me for a drive around the shopping centre and through the service tunnel.  While in the tunnel, I said "We will come to the other side" over and over until emerging into the west parking lot.  A few years later, my grandfather took me through the tunnel again.

East River Mountain Tunnel, I 77

Approach of East River Mountain Tunnel

In March, 1990, My Grandfather took me through the East River Mountain Tunnel en-route to Myrtle Beach SC.  This is the first tunnel through a mountain ever.  It was before dawn when I passed through the tunnel and I could not see anything. My Grandfather took a picture of the interior of the tunnel.  The lights inside the tunnel in 1990 were white fluorescent.  Freak Factor was minimal because of the brightness of the lights. 

Big Walker Mountain Tunnel, I77 Virginia

This is the second tunnel my Grandfather took me through en-route to Myrtle Beach.  When I passed through this tunnel, I could not see the faceade because it was before dawn.  When I see a picture of the facade of the Big Walker Mountain Tunnel, I think of  piano keys.  I nick name this tunnel the Piano Tunnel.

Allegheny Mountain Tunnel

This is the third tunnel my Grandfather took me through en-route home from Myrtle Beach SC.  My grandfather took a picture of the east portal of the tunnel in 1990.  In 1991 and 1993, my grandfather took me through this tunnel every trip to Myrtle Beach.  I passed through this tunnel five times.  This tunnel is located on I 70 / 76 east of Pittsburgh PA.

Underpass Tunnels, Detroit, MI

Underpass Tunnel on Michigan Route 10, Alps Roads

In 1990, My grandfather took me through two tunnels en-route to the Detroit / Windsor Tunnel.  These tunnels are located on Michigan Highway 10 (M-10).  The first tunnel was a curved tunnel under a city block and the second tunnel was beneath the Cobo Centre.  The Cobo Centre Tunnel had a freak factor because of the multiple amber lights on the wall as you approach the south portal.  These tunnels warm you up for the Detroit/ Windsor Tunnel.


Detroit / Windsor Tunnel, Windsor, ON

In 1990, My grandfather took me through the Detroit / Windsor Tunnel en-route home after a vacation in Kalamazoo MI.  The tunnel had amber lights and the freak factor was minimal because the shorter tunnels wamred you up before the long tunnel.  This tunnel spans underneath the St. Clair River.  On one occasion, I cringed when the traffic within the tunnel slowed down before emerging on the American side while en-route to Florida in 1992.


Underpass Tunnels on I 75, Atlanta, GA

In 1992, my Grandfather took me to Orlando, Florida to see Universal Studios.  En-route, I passed through a several short tunnels in Atlanta Georgia.  these tunnels featured amber lights and created a mild freak factor because I have never been there before.  You can find some pictures of the Atlanta Tunnels on here

Thorald Tunnel, St Cathrines, ON

In, 1995, My Grandfather took me on a special trip through the Thorald Tunnel while during a Niagara Falls trip.  When my Grandfather took me through this tunnel, the tunnel featured Amber Lights and white flourescent lights. 

In August 2005, At a Special Olympics Track Meet, I travelled through this tunnel four times between Brock University and the Track / Field Venue.  On that day, the highway was only reduced to one lane each direction and the traffic was only using one tube.   During that trip through the tunnel, the lighting was changed to all Amber Lights.



Bachman Tubes / East Ridge Tunnel, Chattanooga, TN

In 1995, My Grandfather took me through these tunnels twice while taking a drive around one day in Chattanooga, TN.  After passing through these tunnels, there was an awsome castle playground a few miles east of the tunnel.  The Freak-Out Factor is minimal because you can see the light at the other end of the tunnel as you approcah.

Click and Read about the Tunnels I been through on the Yeongdong Expressway (Expressway 50) Enroute to Pyeongchang, South Korea for the Special Olympics World Winter Games