10 Tips for a Road Trip With Your Friends – Ontario Style

Last summer my friends and I set off to explore more of our own backyard. Each of us grew up in Ontario and had been friends for over five years. Krista had just landed a full-time job in a hospital after studying her butt off for what felt like forever, Maryann was on summer vacation from her job running a busy public school program and I just returned from Iceland with a large thirst for outdoor adventure to quench.

The Road to Adventure!

There’s approximately 329 provincial parks and 292 conservation reserves in Ontario. 250,000 lakes, and over 100,000 kilometres (62,000 mi) of rivers. 66% of Ontario is forested (71 million ha) – that’s approximately 17% of Canada’s forests – and 9% of the province is wetland, marsh and open bog (9.5 million ha). Source. 

Imagine all that natural beauty right at your doorstep…

Lake Superior near the Bruce Peninsula National Park

How do you choose where to go?

We created a massive collection of places by gathering brochures from outdoor trade show visits, magazines, internet listicles, Pinterest boards and hiking trail apps.

This was information overload. We dreamed of all the adventures we could go on but had no idea where to start. The limited time and money we had – restricted us to weekend escapes and budget friendly options.

Only one direction to go in and that’s up!

A random idea was born.

Krista googled street signs that contained each of our first and last names – Ashley Rd, Krista Street, Maryann Drive. The signs were located across Ontario and each route took us to parts of our province we had never explored before.

We searched for interesting campsites and parks nearby these street signs. Our choices were narrowed down based on campsite availability and the fun outdoor activities each site offered such as canoeing, swimming and hikes.

 

Geological highlights were factored in – we drove an additional 250 km, off-route to explore the most southern tip in Ontario – Point Peele National Park and camped at Bon Echo to canoe the second deepest lake in Ontario, Mazinaw Lake. Spanning the cliffs of Mazinaw are 65 rock faces of abstract Aboriginal paintings (pictographs).

Pictographs found on the cliff face

The random location of each street sign, provided us an excuse to stop in the middle of nowhere on some dirt country road and strike pose next to our own personal landmarks.

Jump up high on some dirt country road

As locals drove by, many people were curious as to what the heck we were doing. Yeah, we received some strange looks. Sure, our street signs took us to some odd places…

Bowes Rd is pretty sketchy

 

But, the stories and adventures that unfolded will be remembered for years. A tale our grandchildren will eventually be told. In the case of polishing off an entire bottle of wine in one night – untold.

How to have a random adventure with your besties:

1) Start Early

I am not a morning person. When Krista and Maryann suggested we get up at 3am to start the road trip, I secretly wanted to punch things. But hitting the road before the break of dawn and beating weekend morning traffic had it’s advantages. We googled nearby 24/7 Tim Horton locations. Maryann and I are hardcore coffee addicts. Timmie’s provided the much needed caffeine boost and filling breakfast bagels before we hit the road.

View this post on Instagram

First stop Timmie's! #roadtrip #4am #explore #ontario #tothenorth #myownprovince #reflection

A post shared by Ashley Bowes (@wander_the_blue) on Aug 16, 2014 at 1:52am PDT

 

2) Find Cool Photo Opps

Stopping at each of our street sign names provided us with some fun photo opps. The advantage of starting our trip before dawn was tracking the changes in light. Our first stop before sunrise was lit by buildings and street lights. We brought a tripod to play around with long exposure shots. The empty streets allowed us fool around with our poses without too much judgement from people passing by. Only a few weary truckers rolled by.

Hanging Around Ashley Road

As we reached the suburbs, the sun began to rise and we caught that first morning light.

The Sun rising in Suburbia

By the time we reached remote country roads, our views were fully lit and the skies were clear, blue. We spent the most time taking creative photos in these locations. This road trip was about enjoying the sweet city escape.

The middle of nowhere

As amateur photographers, we could have planned ahead to time our stops with the changing light. Tracking the direction of the sun, to capture that perfect golden morning glow. Good lighting can win you National Geographic contests. But the focus of these photo stops was to create awesome memories. The poses we struck before each street sign were completely spontaneous and that was definitely part of the fun.

Group Shot!

3) Pack Light and Shift Your Mind into Low Maintenance

Packing light is subjective. We all came prepared.

The advantage of having a bestie who grew up camping – is a trunk fully stocked with an axe, lighters, a grill for the camp fire, flashlights, air mattresses, tarps, a table cloth, sleeping bags, tent, dishes and knives.

Our personal items consisted of the necessities – a tooth brush, face cloth, swim suit, 1 pair of shorts, pants, t-shirt, sweater, waterproofs, sunscreen and bug spray.

Our basic needs were met. The bottle of wine was a luxury. Make-up was left at home.
To enjoy your getaway only pack what you need. Leave any high standards at home. You are camping not glamping with friends.

We’re cooking in the rain

4) The T in Road Trip is for Teamwork 

Sure, your driver is behind the wheel and controls your direction and speed. A fun road trip is a collaboration of everyone involved. Together we decided which ONRoutes to stop at and how much time to spend at each street sign. The driver steers the way. The co-pilot navigates to ensure the GPS isn’t being misleading. They also play DJ and control the tunes. The backseat passenger passes the snacks and drinks to the front and occasionally take naps for the team.

Party in the backseat

5) The C in Camping is for Cooperation

We consulted one another to determine when to set-up camp at each site, cook dinner, go for a hike, crack open the wine.

Each of us participated equally in every activity – setting up and tearing down the tent, starting the camp fire, preparing dinner, sharing stories, finishing the bottle of wine.

We have an axe and we know how to use it

6) Keep Food Simple but Exciting

Our menu was simple, healthy and budget friendly –

Lunch: Buns, cold cuts and cheese for sandwiches
Breakfast: Muffins
Snacks: Pre-washed veggies, fruit, pepperettes and granola bars
Dinner: Salmon, roasted veggies and potatoes

The salmon, roasted veggies & potatoes could’ve fallen flat but the beauty of these simple and nutritious foods is they cook well over a campfire – wrapped in tin foil. We brought a seasonal spice to give our salmon and potatoes a punch and a little butter on those potatoes never killed anyone. Our feast was so delicious you better believe it left us full – more calories to burn off hiking and without leftovers – nothing to hide from those chipmunks.

7) Try a Fun Activity to Discover Your Surroundings

The beauty of camping by the lake is you can swim, dive, canoe, kayak, SUP to your heart’s content! Rent a mountain bike and explore the rugged terrain. Register for a fishing license and row out to the middle of the lake to catch your dinner. Hike uphill have your breath taken away looking over the viewpoints. Rock climb the cliffs over Ontario’s second largest lake in Bon Echo. Paddle boat to spot frogs, dragonflies and birds in a marsh or wetland. Outdoor adventure can be done in rain or shine. Just don’t forget your waterproofs and sunscreen.

Canadians can canoe

8) Bring Your Own Entertainment

On any road trip with friends there’s bound to be some less adventurous moments. It’s normal to have lulls in conversation or find yourself in need of some downtime. If it rains you’ll be happy you brought along a deck of cards and board games to play together. Before bed, you might want to unwind with a good book or listen to your I-pod. Leave your laptop and tablet at home. Turn off the data on your smartphone. You’re on this trip to enjoy nature with friends, not to stay connected with your twitter followers.

Beach and Boots

9) Take the Scenic Route

Ontario has so many back country roads that pass through rolling hills of farmland, forest, and my favourite – the lakes and wetlands heading East towards Ottawa. Avoid getting stuck in Sunday afternoon traffic on the 401 and instead take your time to enjoy the view. Plan a stop at roadside diner, or a smalltown cafe. Going home can be tiring but not if you embrace the freedom of slow travel. Crank up the tunes, get lost on some dirt road, there’s no need to rush the end to a great adventure.

Back Country Road

10) Start Planning the Next Adventure

Once you return from an awesome trip – you’ll be thinking about the fun memories for months, swapping photos and texting your friends about how you should go on another adventure soon. But life is what happens when you’re busy making plans. So start planning the next adventure ASAP. Set a future date, pick a destination, research fun activities and get ready, set, go!

Beach time at Long Point

Defeat the Fungus, Climb the Highest Volcano

Warning: Do not read this post if you have arrived seeking glory. Or if you get grossed out easily and want to keep your lunch where it belongs.

Evi and I celebrated our decision to hike Volcan Tajumulco, the highest peak in Central America, with a vanilla milkshake at Café Bavaria in Xela. It was a delicious, frothy drink that went down smooth and then gave us stomach fungus.

The symptoms that destroyed us for days, hit Evi first. She suffered from an unbearable high fever and diarrhea. I fell victim to nausea, stinky burps and managed to spew up every content of  the BBQ dinner my host family cooked the night before.  Fungus –  plus 10 points,  Ashley –  minus everything.

We went to the clinic to get tested and were forced to go number two in a cup on an empty stomach (yup, overshare). Turns out we had a stomach and intestinal infection caused by the Fungus Candida.  The owner of our Spanish school had connections with a local doctor. He recommended we take “a little red pill” immediately and antibiotics. I decided to take the little red pill (Nystatin oral) and hold off on the antibiotics.

I consumed nothing but crackers, soup, coca-cola, water and tea until I felt better. Many thanks to my Guatemalan host mother, Julia, for sweetly ensuring I didn’t die.

Julia, my Guatemalan host family mother, taking care of her dogs

A minor relief kicked in, but Evi and I suffered from the symptoms on and off for a couple of days. The hike was approaching and we worried that we might not recover on-time. Evi’s symptoms got worse and she decided to take the antibiotics. It was two days before the hike, and Volcan Tajumulco did not seem promising.

The night before the hike, I lay in bed unable to sleep, fighting a queasy stomach. Hiking to 13,845 ft., (4,200 m) above sea level seemed like the worst possible idea. I was determined to still take part in the two-day hike.

I awoke at 4:15 am, grabbed my heavy backpack and headed out the door to Quetzaltrekkers alone, feeling 100% better.

Are those raccoon eyes from no sleep or bad lighting…

Quetzaltrekkers held a meeting the evening before, to introduce the 4 guides to the 11 backpackers going on the trek. They delegated each person  items to pack. Somehow I stuffed a 45L backpack with the following gear:

• 1 sleeping bag in a stuff sack
• 1 puffy down jacket
• 1 thick fleece sweater
• 1 rain jacket
• 1 back-up pair of pants
• 1 extra set of hiking socks
• 3x – 1 litre bottles of water
• 1 plastic plate, cup and spoon
• 1 small first aid kit (Quetzaltrekkers provides a larger kit – this was packed just in case)
• 1 bag of nachos and bread (food for the group)
• 1 headlamp
• 1 pair of warm mitts with holes in the fingers (the gear is free and well worn)
• 1 toque
• 1 tarp for the kitchen
• 1 mat to sleep on, strapped to the outside of my backpack

The morning of, our group made the final preparations at the tour office. I fought the urge to crawl back into bed. Before I could give in, we were standing on the back of a pick-up truck as it zipped through Xela. The wind that hit our faces was just a taste of the freezing temperatures on Tajumulco. Our bags were thrown on top of the chicken bus, and all 15 of us filled the empty seats. We departed the quiet market and picked up locals at each stop, heading to work on a weekend. In a blink the aisles were cramped full of people.

Yes, that’s a turkey riding the chicken bus

Breakfast was served at a dim comedor in San Marcos. We sat at picnic tables and devoured our choice of pancakes or eggs, served with beans and a warm cup of “hot brown” – essentially just sugar and water.  This was a decent start to the challenge ahead, but as a major coffee addict I was dying for a solid cup.

Back on the chicken bus, we whirled around a narrow up hill road. During one sharp turn, the bus let out a high pitch honk – directly in front of us was another chicken bus heading downwards. A severe misfortune if one of the drivers hadn’t been quick to hit the breaks.

From our bus stop located  9843 ft., (3000 m) above seal level, we walked to the trail head of Tajumulco. The group stopped to adjust layers and remind each other of names – names I would repeatedly forget.

The height of the stratovolcano was hidden behind a grey fog that loomed towards us – killing any hint of sun.  Within the first 2 km, a few of us already found ourselves out of breath.  While lugging a heavy backpack up a mountain side with no end in sight,  I wondered if I had received the short-end of the stick. Evi’s plan B to relax in a natural hot spring was an easier recovery option.

It was the consistent enthusiasm of our guides that fueled my motivation. The hike lead us through alpine-forests, remote farmland and trails of volcanic rock. We greeted locals as they passed. The sun finally graced the sky, revealing a view of Volcan Santa Maria. Each break was well-timed and we refueled on trail mix, homemade hummus, peanut butter, and salsa – a heavenly treat compared to my last few days surviving off crackers and water. Fungus – minus 10, Ashley – plus ultimate win!

We set up camp at Hartweg Pines, 13,123 ft., (4000 m) above sea level and watched the sunset from Cerro Concepción, the smaller summit of Tajumulco’s twin peaks.

That night, we divided our group of 11 into two large tents, and our guides into their own. Each of us slept in close quarters, bundled in our puffy winter jackets and sleeping bags. My ear plugs failed to block out snoring tent mates and the faint sound of latin music playing in the distance. At 2 in the morning firecrackers echoed throughout the mountain from another campsite. This was a terrible reminder of our wake up call in a hour. Firecrackers were set off every night before Christmas and New Years in Guatemala. Even at the top of a volcano, locals considered this a necessity in December.

Firecrackers in Xela on Christmas Eve

Before bed our guides warned us to watch out for symptoms of altitude sickness – headaches or dizziness. If we showed any of the signs, our guides could offer us a pill to prevent it from getting worse. The fungus had provided me with enough fun bodily malfunctions – I couldn’t imagine hiking all that way to get destroyed by the altitude. One backpacker did get sick and missed out on the last leg to the summit.

We awoke before dawn to make the final ascend 722 ft., (220 m), along the side of the crater. Our steep hike over rough, volcanic rocks, was lit by our headlamps and the stars in the night sky.

I was hungry and uncaffeinated, as I reached the summit. The wind was below freezing. The sun rose over the highlands and revealed a clear view as far west as Mexico and the Pacific slope.

Any inconvenience my mind and body complained about, I told to shut it. I wanted coffee and my bed. Would I really trade gazing over Guatemala from the highest peak for these temporary comforts? No way, José! If fungus can be defeated – anything is possible.

Steve Holt!

After a shaky descend, we returned to base camp and I was rewarded with a fine cup of java. Energy and optimism kicked in. With a lighter load on our backs, we hiked a different route down Tajumulco. We stopped for longer breaks to see who could jump the farthest distance and hold the longest headstand. Ascending 13,845 ft., above sea level is how champions are born.

Have you ever been sick while travelling? Or challenged yourself during an adventure? I’d love to hear your about your own experiences. Leave a comment!