Amazing Algonquin - Blogabond

On our way to Algonquin Provincial Park we stopped for lunch in a place called Barrie, outside a slightly dodgy-looking reptile centre. Near to the picnic benches was an enclosure. Inside that enclosure was a washing-up bowl. Inside that washing-up bowl was some water. And in that water was a tortoise, floating, face down and still. We were slighty concerned.

In an unexpected turn of events we were invited into the centre and introduced to some of the reptiles: we got to hold various snakes, lizards and tortoises, while a knowledgeable volunteer guide told us everything she knew about the creatures. We mentioned the tortoise floating in the bowl outside. She looked concerned and said she'd check it out.

We eventually made it to Algonquin and within minutes of arriving we spotted a crowd by the side of the road, pulled over and experienced our first Canadian animal encounter - a moose! We joined the other tourists crowding around the unconcerned animal, and were impressed by the size of it, expecially it's long, long legs! After this, we thought it would be funny, considering the size of our group, to form a crowd by the side of the road for no reason and see how many people stopped to see what all the fuss was about.

Moose!

After setting up camp in a great forested campsite we took a short but absolutely beautiful hike to Beaver Lake, which only exists thanks to a dam created by a couple of beavers once upon a time.

Beaver Lake

Beavers at Beaver Lake

We had to bear-proof our camp before bed, which meant locking away any traces of food or toiletries in the trailer of our van. Most of our group were too afraid of bears to go to the bathroom during the night. I, on the other hand, forgot about the threat of bears and strolled casually to the outhouses without a care in the world.

written by

lucy3119 on August 1, 2012 from Algonquin Park, Canada

from the travel blog: Canada and a little USA 2012

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