Dec 2011
I made a little excursion to the factory for 2 days of upgrades. In the fall we received a letter from Safari Condo, offering all owners the opportunity to bring their Alto in to the factory to be upgraded to the very lastest build specifications....
2011 Trip 11: Closing the cottage...
White Lake - Oct 2011
Saturday:
This Thanksgiving weekend we are heading to Cedar Cove Resort on White Lake. Sadly, our last camping trip of the year. We opened the Alto here in the spring, so we figured why not go back and close it her...
2011 Trip 10: Love the foldies...
Bonnechere P.P. - Sept 2011
Friday:
When we booked the site a few weeks back, there were only a few spots already reserved, so we figured it would be a quiet weekend. On the road by 5pm, but the traffic was heavy. Took us at least 40 minutes to get out of the city, which kinda sucks, now that the days are much shorter. Seriously overcast and it looks...
2011 Trip 9: Watch the rock...
Bon Echo - Sept 2011
Friday:
September long weekend, one of the first signs that the summer is coming to a close. This weekend we are heading to Bon Echo, one of our favorite provincial campgrounds and we are bringing up our kayaks since it is a great paddling lake....
2011 Vacation Day 16 - Saturday: Let there be heat...
So we head home this morning, the very last day of our Alto Vacation. On the road by 9:00, shaping up to be a good driving day. Stopped for gas in Deep River, as it is always a good idea to head out on a full tank. As we were finishing up with the gas, a man walked over and tapped on my window. He saw the Alto and was very curiou...
2011 Vacation Day 15 - Friday: Our last official vacation day...
Today we head in the direction of home, with an overnight stop about half way at Driftwood Provincial Park. Got packed up and were on the road by 9:00. We decided to stop briefly at Killarney Outfitters, where we rented the kayaks yesterday, and quickly grab some wi-f...
2011 Vacation Day 14 - Thursday: Out for a paddle...
Overcast this morning, but at least it is not raining. The kayaks we rented should be on the beach by 8:30, so we are having breakfast, gathering up our paddling gear, then heading for the beach. Sure enough, the kayaks were there waiting. We got squared away then headed ou...
2011 Vacation Day 13 - Wednesday: Killarney Provincial Park...granite everywhere
Rained most of last night, at times heavy. Up and out relatively early, stopped for gas and were on the road by 8:30. Light rain all the way, low heavy clouds make for a seriously dull day. Good for driving though. About an hour to Sudbury, then took the bypass to connect to Hwy 69, then Hwy 637. From the turn onto 637, it is still 60klm to Killarney,...
2011 Vacation Day 12 - Tuesday: Great swimming hole, but a tad cool...
Leaving Pancake Bay this morning, heading towards Killarney. We are stopping at The Chutes provincial park in Massey, probably 2/3 of the way to Killarney. Don't know what to expect of this park, but it is on a river and has some nice looking falls. The winds were high on the lake last night, and the breakers were crashing loudly against the shore....
2011 Vacation Day 11 - Monday: Total R & R
Got a little cool last night, but we were snug under our duvet and the heat pump did its job nicely. Serious relaxation planned today. Between driving and exploring, a day of doing nothing is in order. Coffee, easy breakfast, and lounging are the morning activitie...
2011 Vacation Day 10 - Sunday: Pancake Bay on Lake Superior, a spectacular bay...
On the road by 8:30. Rain is just starting to fall, and the clouds in the direction we are heading look pretty black. Nice road, going through a number of little towns, just how we like to travel. Just this side of Petrosky, the skies opened up real heavy, really heavy. Traffic was light and we were able to slow down. It got so bad, that when I spotted...
2011 Vacation Day 9 - Saturday: Traversing Traverse City...
Today is an explore Traverse City day. So glad we tacked on another day here, as the dunes tour ate up most of yesterday. We do love exploring new places, all the different stuff to see.. people, shops, restaurants. Snagged a primo parking spot right downtown by the old cinema. A couple of guys were out putting up the new marquee letters, so we chatted...
2011 Vacation Day 8 - Friday: Dunes & sand, more dunes and sand...
Another great day ahead. Weather calls for it to be a nice day, so we are heading to Sleepy Bear Dunes. Better to explore on a good day, rather than a rainy day. Took us about 1/2 hour to get there. Stopped at the National Park visitor centre, to pick up a pass and a map of the are...
2011 Vacation Day 7 - Thursday: Up the U.P.
Packed up and headed up the Upper Peninsula for Traverse City. We are booked there for 3 nights in the State Park. We had been booked for 2 nights, but we called and extended an extra night, as we figure between exploring Sleepy Bear Dunes and the city itself, we will need the extra night. Took Hwy 31 the whole way, about 165 miles north from Holland....
2011 Vacation Day 6 - Wednesday: Herman Miller day...
Up early, got the coffee going and a bite to eat for breakfast. Headed over to the comfort station to have a shower. As you are now well aware if you have been reading this blog, one of my ways to rate a campground is based on how they handle the comfort station. This one is just fine. What I refer to as indestructable. Very similar to how Ontario...
2011 Vacation Day 5 - Tuesday: Such a pretty town... Holland
This morning we headed out for Holland State Park in Holland MI. Our main destination is Saugatuk, but there are no campgrounds around there to stay at. Holland is only a short distance above, so it will work out fine as a starting point. Holland is a Dutch town, found by immigrants from the Netherlands and their architecture and ambiance is...
2011 Trip 8 - Vacation: Michigan Royal Oak / Upper Penninsula / Lake Superior - Aug 2011
Day 1,2,3,4
Headed out on vacation Friday morning. We are driving to Toronto, actually Brampton, to attend the wedding of Dale's cousin's daughter. Took Hwy 7, then cut above the 401 to catch the 407. Smooth trip, not much traffic. Arrived at the hotel, got changed, then went to the wedding. It was held at a golf course in Brampton, and the ceremony...
2011 Trip 7: An amazing stretch of river...
Deep River - July 2011
Friday...
Another long weekend, gotta love em. Heading to Deep River this trip, as we will be seeing our friends Mark & Donna. They rent a cottage there every year, on a great stretch of the Ottawa River, boasting numerous huge tracks of white sandy beaches. Traffic really heavy, though not unexpected. We can see some...
2011 Trip 6: Back to our favourite County...
Sandbanks PP - July 2011
Thursday...
The yearly trip to Sandbanks is one of our camping season highlights, not only for the beach but because it is our yearly trip with our long time friends, Helen & Paul, and also our yearly reunion with long time friends Geoff and Joey who live in the area. The plan is for the six of us to meet on Saturday night...
2011 Trip 5: Boondocking ... well, sort of.
Rollins Pond SP, New York - July 2011
Thursday, heading out.
Going to Rollins Pond State Park, in the Adirondacks area of New York. We have heard lots about this park, and the one right beside it called Fish Creek Pond. We booked Rollins as we have been told it is quieter and less busy, with no larger motorboats allowed on the lake, perfect...
2011 Trip 4: Paddle makes it good...
Lake Opinicon - June 2011
First trip this year with the kayaks. Pulled them out from under the deck Wed night and loaded them up. A little dirty from being under the deck all winter, but we will take care of that this weekend. We find the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is indeed magic. Always thought there was something super toxic in those things to allow...
2011 Trip 3: It's a jungle out here...
Murphy's Point PP - June 2011
We were here, in a tent, probably 30 years ago. All I can remember about this Park is that we arrived on a Friday night in the pouring rain, and set up the tent, a big canvas one, by the lights of our little Honda Civic. I recall the entire weekend it rained, and that is all I remember. No recollection of the Park at...
What's inside those wheel hubs?
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The brakes were doing a lot of squealing this spring, so I figured it was time to take them apart and give them a good cleaning. Also a good reason to satisfy my curiosity about just how these things actually work.
Bought a little bottle jack to raise the Alto, as my attempts...
2011 Trip 2: Hail !!!
Silver Lake PP - May 2011
Long weekend...gotta love em! Heading back to Silver Lake PP, same time as last year, but on a different site. Nice day today, the rainy week seems over, at least for when we would like it to be. Traffic was suprisingly light, kinda unusual, perhaps a side effect of the risng gas price...
How cold is it outside?
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We needed to find a good spot to mount the remote temperature sensor for our digital clock/thermometer. Ordered this gizmo from REI, it displays the time as well as in/out temperatures. Pretty handy. I needed to figure out where to mount the sensor, under the Alto, so...
2011 Trip 1 - Opening the cottage...
Cedar Cove, White Lake - May 2011
Certainly much easier than the old days...although opening the cottage was an exciting event that started the summer season, it did involve a large degree of work to get it all going. From raking leaves to starting the water system to putting in the dock, a lot of wor...
Powering the Tivoli
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We added a 12v power jack next where the Tivoli sits. The Tivoli is our awesome radio, which fills the Alto with amazing sound given its size. Check it out here... http://www.tivoliaudio.com/products/portables/the-pal-black.html Ours is a funky green colour, not readily available...
