Site #P01
The start to our weekend was a little rough. We didn’t get on the road very early and it seemed like such a stressful rush. We’re still learning to work with our fiver being in storage and the challenges that brings. I was on a different shift on the Friday we left and didn’t think to book any time off to leave early. When I realized this, it was too late to book off early as someone else already had. So, we couldn’t go out early to turn on the fridge, I was rushed at packing the last minutes supplies and missed quite a bit. We did make a couple trips out earlier in the week with clothes and non perishables which helped. Eventually we got on the road and as is always the case, things weren’t as bad as we thought. Traffic moved well and my newfound shortcut to the Guelph area went without a hitch. We arrived at the park in about 2 hours and well before dark.
We booked the same site as last year – P01. It’s a nice, large, grassy and easy to back in site on the corner. The weather was splendid when we arrived with blue skies and sunshine. Our friends Albert & Diane had already arrived and were set up on a campsite beside us.
After finishing set up and dinner, we enjoyed a campfire and some catching up with our camping friends. Despite the park being full and busy, it was a very quiet evening. We rested well that night and awoke to blue skies and a sunny day! To me, although we camp every month but December, Victoria Day feels like the start of our summer camping season and so, it was time to put up our palm tree!
Saturday was a wonderful day! After breakfast, I put our turkey in the roaster and we spent time visiting and playing Holey Board with our friends! As usual, the girls kicked butt!!!
Diane and I went for a walk around the park and then down to Belwood Lake. I couldn’t believe how high the water was! We had considered bringing our boat, but it was such a windy day, we wouldn’t have got out on the water. Here are some photos of the waterfront. If you take a look at last years photos from Highland Pines (under the 2016 tab) you’ll see quite a difference!
Belwood Lake is very pretty and absolutely on our list for exploring either with kayaks or our boat, but we can’t seem to land at Highland Pines when the weather cooperates. Last year we brought our kayaks, but the wind kept us off the water.
Our daughter Nikki and her hubby David joined us later on Saturday for dinner and stayed overnight Saturday and Sunday. We had a wonderful turkey dinner together and a campfire until the rain moved in and we got rained out. David and I hung in there enjoying as much fire time as possible. Albert and Diane stayed with us too, until the weather drove them inside.
Highland Pines offered a weekend full of events for every age group. Saturday night they had a live band which played until 11pm. They weren’t too bad and the rec hall was a busy happening place! It’s kind of fun sometimes to be serenaded while sitting around the campfire! The band was still playing when we packed it in for the night and our palm tree glowed brightly!
It rained all Saturday night and all of Sunday too, despite continual forecasts that the rain would stop by early evening. I still got out for walks and we spent some time reading and playing Euchre with Albert and Diane. It was a fun, relaxing day despite the terrible weather. At some point overnight on Sunday it did clear out and we awoke to cloudy skies in the morning and patches of sunshine.
Highland Pines did not disappoint. It was another wonderful weekend of time spent with family and friends. The weather didn’t stop us from enjoying ourselves at all.
If you haven’t been to Highland Pines, I’d highly recommend it. Just a warning, you’ll have to look for the few more private overnight sites. All are full service with three way hookups and fairly easy to back into. There are some pull thrus in a different area but only a couple offer decent privacy. If you have young kids, they’ll have a blast here between the incredible playground, splash pad, pool and all the planned recreational activities geared towards kids. The patrols are regular and the park was very quiet and clean as is always the case here, even on long holiday weekends. You may bring your own wood but it has to be purchased within Wellington County. We found a reasonable place just down the road from the campground. Also, look for the little variety store in the town of Belwood for some of the best homemade buttertarts! A word of warning – if you’re a privacy freak, you won’t find many sites here that you’ll like and I doubt you’ll like the “social” atmosphere of the park. Belwood Lake offers some beautiful paddling and the boat launch at the park accommodates larger power boats and jet skis as well.
If you’re looking for a nice, clean, quiet family park in the Guelph area, give Highland Pines a try. I doubt you’ll be disappointed. If I remember correctly, they start taking reservations for the following year at the beginning of August.
I’ll leave you with one parting photo of the rec hall, comfort station, splash pad and playground in the distance.
Next stop for us – a two week, three park trip to Long Point Provincial Park, Long Beach Conservation Area and finally, County Shores on Bay of Quinte in June!!!
Sue and Daves RV Adventures 