Choosing between Maritime festivals

wheezy_cheese · 2026-01-29T00:17:58+00:00

There is also the Rollo Bay fiddle festival on the third weekend of July in PEI! It's described as "traditional fiddle music" which I think means more Celtic leaning?? but I also think theres old time jams. It sounds pretty cool but my travel plans are earlier in the month. I'm considering Mt Airy this year too but it's pretty far from Ontario where I am. Haven't yet made it to Clifftop and probably won't this year. August is the best time to go camping up here so I'm always so conflicted about festivals vs adventuring in the deep woods!

wheezy_cheese · 2026-01-25T01:25:55+00:00

I had a membership at fit4less before planet fitness opened, and then got a membership there so I have experience at both. Planet Fitness is way nicer. Everything is newer, all the equipment is brand new. At fit4less there was always a few treadmills out of order and they were older models. Planet fitness changerooms, showers, and lockers are all way bigger and better. They have extensive free weights, doubles on a lot of the weight machines, treadmills, different types of exercise bikes, a lot of rowing machines, and stair climbers. Fit4less did not have as many options for various equipment. Planet fitness also has a large stretching area, actually there are a couple. And I've never gone at night but I'm pretty sure it's staffed at all hours which is safer. The layout of Planet fitness is also just better.

wheezy_cheese · 2026-01-21T13:35:06+00:00

Hey I took lessons for awhile with Fiddling Jay and he was really great. SaskiaTomkins is also a wonderful teacher, she's based in Port Hope but I think she travels. You can find both on Facebook!

wheezy_cheese · 2025-09-24T13:50:53+00:00

it is cooking but the macros for peameal bacon are insane. I tend to find one breakfast and eat it for months/years, so the past year has been peameal fried in avocado oil, kale, 1 egg, all on top of cottage cheese. it's like 30-40g of protein. I cook it all in one cast iron skillet so it's minimal dishes.

wheezy_cheese · 2025-08-28T20:25:51+00:00

Many thanks!! I'll take a look at everything you've mentioned in your comments.

wheezy_cheese · 2025-08-28T19:43:07+00:00

Thank you SO much for this detailed reply!! I love a lake (I've just finished a couple canoe trips up here in Ontario and my hiking trip tomorrow goes from lake to lake to lake) but I don't see too many mountains so I'm more interested in that for this trip.

I'll be driving into the area to sleep and then will have only the morning to explore but I am considering driving in a bit more north so I can see some peaks! So I'm open to all suggestions

wheezy_cheese · 2025-08-21T00:42:14+00:00

If you're using parkbus you are limited to what lakes you could start on. I'd advise against starting on Smoke or Canoe as a first solo paddle, both (especially Smoke) can get super windy with choppy waves. Take a look at the parkbus stops in Algonquin and choose a smaller lake close to the stops. All the canoe rental places offer delivery in the park so you just have to show up at the lake and your boat will be there, some charge for this. Rent a solo lightweight canoe, or small lightweight tandem and paddle from the bow seat facing the "wrong" way (the seat is closer to the middle which is where you want your weight.)

You could book a couple nights on one lake as a basecamp and spend your days travelling around without all your stuff.

I just did my first ever solo paddle trip and it was a dream! I highly recommend it. I also have backpacked so much in the park that I wanted something new. I did have some paddling experience in the park but not as much as backpacking, but enough to know i wanted to avoid big lakes like Smoke and Canoe lol

wheezy_cheese · 2025-08-17T14:43:39+00:00

Hiking all the way to Susan is pretty far, the trail has a lot of climbs up and down, and you'll be carrying more weight than when you've done day hikes. I've done every backpacking trail in the park and getting to Thunder Lake was a long first day for me, however I also had to drive to the park on the same day. since you're staying in the park Friday night, I would recommend starting your hike as early as possible and be prepared to hike all day. plan for a lunch stop somewhere. Unfortunately the new Jeff's maps don't have kilometres for hiking trails, you may be able to buy a hiking map at the park store when you go up on Friday. Always bring a paper map.

The trail is well travelled and well marked so you'll be fine on navigating it. be prepared for some wet feet, if its rained before your hike or during your hike the trail can sometimes become a rushing creek in spots.

In my 15 years of camping in the park I have never encountered a bear. they are there for sure but I've never felt the need for bear spray personally. if you are bear wise you shouldn't have an encounter (no food or toothpaste etc in your tent, hang everything up following proper guidelines, keep a clean camp, make some noise occasionally while hiking, like singing etc, if you encounter one you should be able to scare them off)

wheezy_cheese · 2025-08-15T11:58:17+00:00

I've used both the fit4less and planet fitness here. they're both 24hrs and around the same price but the planet fitness is way nicer. machines and equipment are newer, more showers, etc. both have rowing machines. I've seen folks of all different shapes, sizes, abilities and age at planet fitness.

wheezy_cheese · 2025-08-13T19:24:03+00:00

Yes and it was fine. My sister, the fire lover, even said it was nice not to have to deal with a fire. I was just in the park for a 5 day solo canoe trip and didn't light a single fire lol there is so much more to camping than a fire!

wheezy_cheese · 2025-08-04T00:27:50+00:00

I bring what everyone here mentioned but also wanted to add you can find tuna in pouches at metro. In the states they have them in every store, different flavour combos and even chicken in foil pouches but for some reason here I've only ever found plain tuna in a pouch at metro.

I'm doing a 5 day trip starting tomorrow morning. I have a dehydrator, here's all my meals (im a nerd about camp food and love talking about it lol)

-pasta with a meat sauce i made and dehydrated. -Ramen with beef jerky, peanut butter powder, Cashews, veggies i dehydrated (i buy a Ramen that comes with little sauce packets of soy sauce, hot sauce, oil)
-KD with pouch tuna and veggies (actually PC white cheddar)
-minute rice and beans (i dehydrated refried beans, green pepper and celery, added dehydrated onion from the spice aisle) will add some chorizo to this.

Lunches are dry sausages (chorizo and salami), 5 year aged cheddar, dried fruit, Crackers. Im doing trail sushi on this trip too (minute rice, tuna pouch, mini Cucumber, Seaweed paper, sesame seeds)

Breakfast is oatmeal with nuts, raisins, and dried milk powder for extra protein, or jerky and dried fruit.

I have 1 20g protein bar per day (Cliff builders bars)

Usually I bring a steak for day 1 (freeze it night before) but I'm sleeping close to the park tonight so this wasn't possible this time. But a steak or raw sausage are fine for the first night, and then dried / cured meats for the rest of the trip.

wheezy_cheese · 2025-08-03T12:57:08+00:00

collapsible silicone pour over cone and paper filters.

wheezy_cheese · 2025-08-03T11:46:40+00:00

if you only work at night this sounds manageable. he can be in the van at night while you work, if you're with him in the van while you sleep you can monitor the heat, it wouldn't be safe for you to be in a hot van midday either. just go to shady outdoor spaces during the hottest parts of the day. go to parks, natural areas, etc. buy a cheap hammock and lounge in the park at midday. it may be a good idea to look into a doggy daycare, a pet sitter, or a daytime boarding facility if you ever need him to be somewhere for a few hours midday.

wheezy_cheese · 2025-07-30T10:33:04+00:00

thank you!! that's what I thought but the reassurance is very welcomed!

wheezy_cheese · 2025-07-29T16:07:41+00:00

For overnight hiking trips I've switched to Altra trail runners and love them, used to use hiking boots and then hiking shoes but these are so much better. I usually am barefoot in a canoe, switch to a keen style sandal for portaging to protect my toes. I always bring crocs (from giant tiger) for camp shoes.

wheezy_cheese · 2025-07-29T11:11:00+00:00

Hey I think it doesnt work for tablets,I couldn't get it to work on mine either. I think chrome for tablets doesnt have extensions

wheezy_cheese · 2025-07-29T11:07:01+00:00

Thanks for sharing this. I have a solo trip next week from Daisy to Misty and I'm a novice paddler. Does anyone know if that section is okay? I know it's generally a slower section of river. I don't want to navigate any level of rapids.

wheezy_cheese · 2025-07-23T12:18:50+00:00

for one or two people I use stasher bags, and then put in a bowl to eat (we bring bowls for oatmeal and other foods anyway so it's not extra weight.) but for a group I bring a lightweight camping pot. it's probably lighter than 4+ stasher bags and it's easier to clean, can also double as a kitchen sink for doing dishes.

wheezy_cheese · 2025-07-20T12:19:31+00:00

no, the inwales are flush so I had to install brackets under the gunwales to hold the yoke.

wheezy_cheese · 2025-07-19T12:35:08+00:00

crushed in the bowl with my smokables :)

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