We bought a teardrop trailer... and took it on our first long road trip to Clearwater Lake Provincial Park, near The Pas Manitoba.
We parked it at the Cabin for a few days on our way, and before heading on the road trip. We enjoyed a bike ride, kayak, playing games and spending time with family! We also got to watch the fireworks the neighbours set off next door for Canada day.
Sunday was an easy driving day (for Lola, in the passenger). We left at about 9am to head up hwy 6. Unsure if we were going to have to take a slight detour to get gas in Grand Rapids or not we headed on the open road. We took a gravel road to Eriksdale to be greeted by a very small very spotted little deer.
We made it to the camp ground to be greeted by a million horse flys. We got to our camp site (number 20), and set up the camper. We have gotten it pretty down pat from our 3 other other short trips previously. It was essential to set up our dinning tent, as there were bugs.... but they camp in cycles. There were horse flys in the mid afternoon, mosquito's at various times of the day, and little black flys/bugs at about 8pm.
The campsite was pretty nice, but there wasn't much but a beach and the water a short walk. The water is like the name, clear. The sunset was beautiful and the water was calm.
Day 2 we got up and headed on a road trip to discover 2 more provincial parks in the north (recommended in the "road trip guide" we got from the provincial government). Lola drove since AA has drove the whole way the day before. We gassed up the car in The Pas and headed to Grassriver PP. We had a hamburgers for lunch at the day use shelter, and then headed on out hike. We headed on the Self Guided Karst Spring Hike. The bugs were pretty bad, the hike was pretty over grown, but the Karst and views of the river were pretty neat. We learnt about Karsts in Jasper on the walking tour we went there, which was pretty neat that they have them in Manitoba too, we didn't even know.
After the hike we headed to Wekusko Falls PP, near Snow Lake, MB. On the drive we saw a baby moose (but didn't get a photo). It was so young it even had some spots. The falls had a small hike with 2 suspension bridges and great views of rapids and falls. It was definitely worth the 2 hour drive. We were the only car in the parking lot!
Once back a the campsite we had supper and then headed to Sunset Beach just a short drive from the camp site. AA tried to get fully in the water but it was a little chilly. The crazy part was it was so warm at 7 pm that it was nice to sit on the beach and watch the water.
Day 3 we explored Clearwater hike to check out the "caves". The hike was a short drive from the campground, with a little detour to check out the airport.
The hike was a "self Guided" tour, with no signs. The view of the lake were wonderful, and the caves/crevices were pretty neat, but difficult to get a photo. Once we saw the 3 view points and caves, we tried to make it back to the parking lot, but made a wrong turn. We headed on a trail, but eventually got to a point where we didn't know where to go anymore. We had really gone a stray from the 0.8km hike. Eventually we turned around and found ourselves back to the water/caves and the trail we were supposed to be on. Lola was worried about seeing a bear, but didn't say anything to AA to try and not panic...
We checked out the other beach at the Provincial park, and then headed back to our campsite for lunch. We were hoping to spend the afternoon at the beach, but it was too cold. Only sat there for a little time, then headed back to the campsite to play some scrabble and have our beach snacks.
We had supper and then a great bonfire to try and burn the rest of the wood we had purchased. It was a lot of wood but we were successful.
Day 4 started with a lot of rain, and then mosquitos. AA made breakfast and we packed up and headed home with a million bugs in the car and camper. It rained off and on all the way home. Some of the times was pretty hard that we had to slow down, but our trailer did a great job being pulled and so did AA driving. We had a picnic lunch at the gas station parking lot at the corner of Hwy 60 and 6.
Once we got home, we successfully unhitched the trailer before the rain came. We travelled 1770km!
We had a great experience, but actually enjoyed Thompson/Paint Lake if we are going to travel up north again. We got home to pack and get ready for our next adventure.
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