Fall Fun in Fitzroy
One of the wonderful things about
being a wander woman is that though we do enjoy travelling with those who share
a similar love for adventure as us, we also don't feel like we’re being
restrained to HAVE to travel with someone. Sometimes, some of the best
adventures are the ones you complete on your own. This is exactly what I
attempted to do one weekend in late September.
I had bought some new camping
equipment in the hopes of bringing it on a multiple hiking day excursion, but I
wanted to test out the equipment first. It’s much safer testing equipment in a
relatively controlled environment rather than taking your chances on the trail.
The reason for this is that things can go wrong, and for me, certain things
did. Being smart isn’t just attractive, it’s also really practical.
I gathered my equipment (new 2 person
tent, collapsible water jug, propane burner and cooking pot), and made the
drive roughly an hour or so out of Ottawa to Fitzroy Provincial Park. I had
made my reservations ahead of time and I got there in the early afternoon. I
picked a non-electrical site alongside the river with lots of space and trees.
It was at once both hidden and open which made it the perfect site for my first
camping trip completely on my own. Though I was in a provincial park, there is
still wildlife, and there is still the natural elements you have to prepare for.
I was able to set up my tent by myself
in a surprisingly easy and quick fashion. I positioned the picnic table close
to my fire pit and organized the rest of my equipment throughout my car for
easy access. It was such a beautiful day that I decided to explore the park. I
made my way down to the beach and spent some time reading, and even dipped my
toes in the freezing fall water. For such a gorgeous weekend, the whole park
was so quiet. In the two sections of the campground (Pine Groves & Two
Rivers), I had only spotted three other couples in my section of the camp. I
also went to the general store to pick up some firewood for the night and
noticed that it was remarkably organized, and their selection was decent for
the fall. It made me wonder how lively this gorgeous park would be in the
summer.
Fitzroy in late September is the ideal
location to get the full picture of fall colours. You can catch a glimpse of it
walking throughout the park, or by following the Carp Trail that takes you
alongside a boardwalk next to the river and ends at the beach. Another way is
to head to the Terraces Trail that is a simple 2km hike that is extremely well
marked and provides an informative explanation about a glacier that had passed
through the valley, as you follow its path. Though it was a sunny morning with
moderate weather for a short hike, I was still prepared for any kind of
surprise. I had made sure to text a friend of mine that I was leaving for a
hike by myself before storing my phone in my bag with an extra battery charge.
I had also a large bottle of water and some trail mix. I had packed an extra
pair of socks, and an extra shirt, some sunscreen and a whistle. It might seem
like a lot for something that took me only half an hour to do, but the first
rule when embarking on ANY solo adventure is to rather be safe (and over
prepared) than sorry.
Once I finished my hike, I headed into
Carp; a small town roughly 15-20 minutes away from Fitzroy. There’s this
amazing little place called Alice’s Village Café where I treated myself to a
soup and sandwich while I sat outside on the porch and watched the rain trickle
down next to me. I headed back to my campsite once the rain had stopped and sat
in my car to finish an audiobook at started at the beginning of the trip (The
Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios, by Yann Martel). I had found myself in
and out of my car and tent all weekend as it rained on and off every single
day. Camping in the rain can be an amazing experience as well. The sound of the
rain as it pitter patters on the tarps, the smell of the damp earth and just
the overall aura of comfort you get stepping outside into a slightly cooler
climate and take a sip of some sort of warm beverage. I used to love it as a
child, and camping in the rain in a trailer is even better. Camping in the rain
in a tent is not always easy. Make sure that if you find yourself in a similar
situation that you check regularly to see if there’s any water pooling around
your tent, and that any important equipment is stored in a dry location (ie.
your car).
The last thing you should know is that
though it’s a fun way to test and try your luck at camping alone in a
provincial park, it’s even better to check that your important devices, such as
your propane burner, are actually functional. I had been so excited to try it
out, I didn’t think to double check that the propane tank I bought for the
burner was the right size or not. Sometimes, you’d hope that the retail person
would notice your purchase and advise you accordingly, but it isn’t always the
case. In my case, I had to go rustic to eat. I was extremely grateful that my
parents had taken me camping often so I knew had to efficiently start a fire,
and be creative on how I could cook the food I had brought. It necessitated
that I’d have to account for more time for each of my meals (since I had to
start a fire to cook each meal rather than just flick a switch and wait a few
minutes), and then I also had to pay more attention to how it was being cooked.
I had to lay food directly on the grill of the firepit, (which meant that I had
to clean it even more thoroughly to discourage any woodland creatures to come
and poke around my site). Cooking and eating took more time, but it was also
more satisfying. It was an experience I hadn’t planned on having to live, but
because I was also well prepared, I was ready for it. This would have been a
completely different scenario had I been stuck in the woods rather than on a
campsite an hour away from civilization. And when in doubt, I could head over
to Alice's Village Café for a bit if I was ever really stuck!
Though I hadn’t planned for everything
that happened (creative cooking methods and rainy days) I had also a plan F.
Well at least at that point I assumed it was plan F because I had already
figured out so many other things at that point, but my last possible option
before heading home (should nothing have had worked out like it did) was to
make friends with my neighbours. One of the 3 couples in my area were parked
just a few sites up from mine in their fancy and imposing RV. I figured that if
I ran out of food, or if my tent got soaked, or if a bear decided to rummage
through my site like the few deer I had spotted had tried doing a couple of
times, I’d have a place to go while I composed myself. It didn’t come to that,
but at least I knew my options. And what’s important about solo travel, and
that though you may be experiencing the adventure by yourself, it’s good to
know that you’re not alone either.
So pick a park, pack your stuff and
test your skills one weekend. You might surprise yourself with how creative you
can be, and how much you might actually like to disconnect from it all. Going
solo is a soulful experience; try it out and wander away!
Kyla
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