NOTE: To re-enter the US, you will need at least a driver's license and proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate. Starting in June 2009, a passport, passport card or other WHTI compliant document will be required.
The trip is approximately 7 or 8 hours each way depending on traffic. Typically we stop only three times each way: Gas, Duty Free, and Currency.
Be sure to bring a book or other car activities that will not take up large amounts of room. Tapes and CDs with headphones are cool.
I would like to leave as early as possible. Ideally we would actually be hitting the road close to 8 am (or before) as possible. This puts us at the Peace Bridge and Duty Free at noon and Bala, Ontario at some time around 3:00 or 3:30 p.m.
We will spend the night at Dudley's Inn (705-762-5575) in Bala (very cool little resort town). Either way we are about 25 minutes from the Moon River Marina near MacTier where we catch our boat shuttle to Pennsylvania Island. The boat ride to the cottages is about 30 minutes.
There are two cottages - one large, one small and a boat house. The large cottage has 2 bathrooms, a large living room, 3 bedrooms (2 beds, 4 beds and 4 beds) and an attic that also has 4 beds. The little cottage has 1 bathroom, 1 small living room, 3 bedrooms (2 beds, 3 beds and 5 beds) and the cook's quarters. Please note that the cook's quarters are off limits.
Because of the number of people and families at camp this weekend, bedrooms will probably be pre-assigned. Just remember two things about the bedrooms: 1) you're sharing it equally with the others in that room and 2) what you mess up, you clean up on the following Friday or before you leave. We leave the houses spotless when we depart.
There are loads of pillows (one for everyone) and every bed has a good twin mattress. If you are partial to a pillow or need more than one, bring it (them) with you. Also, bring both top and bottom sheets, pillowcases and either one or two blankets or a sleeping bag. Remember, we are 3 hours north of Toronto and the temperature may be 10 to 20 degrees cooler at night than in Pittsburgh (but then again, maybe not).
Dorothy is wonderful and you will eat VERY well. You'll quickly learn the way things work with food, but basically, if you're up early enough (7:00 - 9:00 am), Dorothy will make you breakfast (coffee is usually ready at 6:30 am). She will also prepare lunch and dinner. Lunch is served at 11:30 am and dinner is served at 5:30 pm. Lunch and dinner are set times and if you snooze, you lose (well, not really, but you do lose Dorothy - the hours for lunch and dinner are subject to change based on the camp group's desires).
An important note about Dorothy - she is wonderful, a grandmother etc., etc. She'll bend over backwards to help you. One thing, though, she does take offense to unnecessary, overly crude profanity. Please keep this in mind when you're around her.
The food and beverages (lemonade and iced tea) we buy for meals does not include personal snacks items or personal beverages (we will have some "group snacks" as part of the grocery purchases). For evening munchies and cocktails (or soft drinks), snacks or drinks in the boats, etc., please bring your own (and remember, others will probably help you eat the snacks, so either plan on sharing or hide them in your room). Beverages are usually left alone. Be sure to bring a cooler for your boat (cool packs are a good idea too, although we typically have several free ones around).
Evenings are usually spent relaxing, reading, playing cards, doing puzzles, playing darts etc. There are no TVs, tape players, computers, modems, or other such forms of entertainment (although some people do bring them). There are lots of places you can go to hang out, but the mosquitoes during the early evening hours are monstrous so you'll want to be indoors for the most part (bring a good bug spray if you like). The most used is the large cottage living room. There is also a small living room in the small cottage, the boathouse or your bedroom. There are several decks of cards, a dart board and some books already there. I'd suggest you bring a couple books, your CD or tape player (with headphones), game boy, if you must, and some other activities. We will be bringing up some games and things to build as well.
The typical morning consists of getting up when you want; eating breakfast, going fishing, reading or lounging, exploring or futzing around the cottages etc. Lunch is usually served around 11:30 am, (depending on the group's desires), in the main dining room. You can make your own lunch if you are going to stay out and fish (bring sun block!).
Typical afternoons are spent swimming, jumping off the rock cliffs, sunbathing on the platform or dock, diving at the diving board, snoozing, snorkeling (you have to bring your own gear), reading, more futzing around the cottages, fishing off the docks, riding the jet skis if we rent them, water skiing, exploring, etc. Some people fish, but generally it gets too hot for good afternoon fishing (John is talking about August here). Other things to do are: go to San Souci for ice cream or just to check things out, make a run to the garbage dump to deposit the garbage and look for bears, etc.
Cocktail hour is usually around 5 p.m. Dinner is served around 5:30 p.m., which is a set time. Everyone in camp typically eats dinner together in the main dining room.
After dinner, many people will go fishing. Many will just hang out and appreciate the full feeling in their tummies.
The typical fishing is for bass (1 to 3 pounds, but I've caught several 4 and 5 pounders). Many people do like to fish for musky and some for pike (Jim Haas told us about a 10 pound Walleye last year). We supply worms - you supply everything else.
Bedding: top and bottom sheet, pillow case(s), pillow(s) if you need more than one, blanket(s) or sleeping bag.
Bathroom: Towel and wash cloth, personal hygiene items (including a personal bar of soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.), hair dryer (if you must), etc. - SUNSCREEN.
Swimming: Suit(s), second towel, if desired, flip flops.
Clothing: Loose comfortable clothing for the ride up and back, shorts and shirt (any kind - t, polo, whatever) for the daytime, long pants and perhaps a long sleeve shirt for the evening, sweatshirt and or light jacket, rain gear, socks (if desired), hat (for fishing and hanging out on the dock) and sunglasses.
Fishing: Rods and tackle (10 - 12 pound line works), SUNSCREEN, snacks and personal beverages, cooler with ice packs (there should be plenty of ice packs there and we can probably create others if needed), pocket knife, flashlight.
Car Ride: Book, CD or tape player, cards etc.
Evening: Snacks, personal beverages, game(s) you think everyone might enjoy, activities you think everyone might enjoy.
Boats: The following are Canadian safety equipment requirements that you will need to have onboard - applicable for boats under 6 meters (approx. 20 ft.):