Yesterday was an adventure day for the fam around here, up early I was cracking eggs, making sammy's and searching the cupboards for anything that would pass as a snack for our trip. A planned adventure with our friend... aka the friendly giant to discover a new park, to hit the canoe and to spend the day in the sun. Now of course as it would turn out, the best plans always require some tweaking right, like when the sun decides it does not want to shine, when the clouds win the battle filling the sky with grey. But none the less a little grey doesn't stop us, kids packed, life jackets packed, spare clothes packed we hit the road.
An hour down the road later we pulled into the park, Restoule Ontario Provincial park, following the signs to the Stormy Lake Launch we parked and looked to the skies, now not only was it grey but quickly turning wet. No worries right? no problems... like we always say it will just blow over right?
I grabbed my bag full of coins and headed off to the parking meter... two hours we figured should give us enough time to make the call, to judge our weather and explore a little after the drive. And being the cheapskate I am, and harboring a little grudge we were PAYING for parking ....I was prepared for a $5 fee... NOT the "meter is outta order sign, please go to the front gate" So off we go to fetch our parking tickets, one for us and one for the friendly giant, the rain only a gentle mist and the skies... sorta clearing, I dug out more change and agreed ... I would splurge for the $7 ~ 4hr ticket. Little did I know of course that when the meter is down all the girl at the gate is able to sell is the $13. day pass.... which if you ask me is a bit of a rip off.
"what do you mean only a day pass" I asked... "its raining... can't you improvise on this a little?" a half day pass, a special tag? a something??? "Does the day pass include free rainponcho's maybe?" Of course I got a "no" and a "NO" response from the teen behind the desk. My Love entering the kiosk eyeing up the rain poncho's on the shelf for sale... 'we might need these eh?" of course we were going to need them... but really .. did we NEED to spend the $8.95 per poncho... was staying dry really that important?? "I WILL BUY THEM" said My Love, I will get them and keep you dry" (insert kissass hubby here) so adding another $20 to the cost of our afternoon trip I turned to the teen behind the desk and started in on her again...
"so by my count now, we have been ripped for the parking tickets, (two cars) and the poncho's are a little pricey ...so what do you have to make it up to us? I would love a couple green garbage bags...cause you do not have children's poncho's" SURE the girl said ..no problem. "BUT" I asked..."have you got anything else for free? maybe a coloring book? anything?"
"well" she said "there is a summer promotion on right now, by buying the day pass I can give you a free pedometer"
"GREAT I will take FIVE!!!" it never hurts to ask...cause you never know what you might get!! And the smiles on the brats faces when hiking and they hit 5000steps...priceless (FOR FREE)
So back to the canoes and back to the rain we went, deciding that hiking thru the trails to the fire tower might be a good option to avoid the downpour. Hiking thru the tree's over the rocks and fallen tree's I managed to drag my ass to the top. And oh what a fucking view... a view I will return to ... definitely in the fall, when the tree's are changing colors and when the sun is shining bright. Ryki flying thru the trails stopping for every nut, stick or rock that caught his attention. Aspen quickly forgetting that she was wearing a garbage bag and collecting treasures (FOR MY POCKET) along the way. When we made it up and down and back to the canoes low and behold the skies had cleared and there was hints of blue popping thru. Canoes in the water and off we went... according to our friendly giant a 6km paddle stopping for lunch on the shoreline and a quick swim.
The only problem of my day... damn those possessed rechargeable batteries, damn my camera for going dead when we hit the water... damn it all those shots I missed, the scenes the moments... damn those batteries to hell!!!
And my favorite funny along the way...
heading up the trails sporting my splashy yellow rain poncho, Aspen comparing mine to hers she proclaimed ....
"Mama... I look like a dumbass don't I?"
"no honey..its like the famous saying goes... you look beautiful no matter what...even in a garbage bag!"
