This stop on our trip was focused on visiting Shelley’s younger brother, Uncle Jon in Newboro, Ontario. We rolled into Murphy’s Point Provincial Park in the rain and rolled out three days later in the rain. Many of the parks campsites were underwater. Fortunately enough, upon our arrival we were able to change sites to one on higher ground and near the beach and playground.
Uncle Jon had to work during our visit so we met him at his workplace, Stirling Lodge, a 100+ year fishing establishment. Our first dinner at the lodge with Jon was fantastic. The deep fried Walleye and Shirley Temples were great. It was a rustic environment with the 175 year old building visibly slanted and creaking as you walked thru the old hallways viewing the photos and paintings from Mr. Kilborn’s era (1836).
Murphy’s Point Provincial Park was very nice. Like all Ontario parks visited this trip, the quality of their staff and resources was impressive. Our kids attended two educational seminars at Murphy’s Point. One on wild birds from the area and one on the local Silver Queen Mica Mine. Both captivated the attention of the kids and had them talking about what they learned for hours
Inside the campground we discovered the perfect fishing dock and set out with big worms and the kids ‘tackle share box‘ that Ontario parks provides for free. We had nearly a bite on every fresh worm that was cast. The bobbers were twitching and the big juicy worms were squiggling. We hammered them, lots of bass and sunfish on the dock. A great change from the skunking from weeks past.
Being an inclusive family, we decided to try and bring Midas along for a canoe and adventure at Loon Lake. Shelley promised me he’d been canoeing before and it would be easy. Our journey did not go well. We pushed off from shore in knee deep water. I positioned Midas strategically in the middle of the canoe. As luck would have it, he decided against canoeing with us. He opted to jump out and walk to shore, tipping the canoe and soaking Riley, Wyatt and I in the process. Shelley and Evan had a great laugh from the safety of shore. One of the funnier moments on the trip for sure. Mental note….”No 100 pound dogs in canoes’.
Uncle John hooked us up with a sweet Pontoon boat from Stirling Lodge that navigated the Rideau Canal like a wide body lazy boy, floating low and slow. A few sunfish were landed, but no monster pikes or bass were caught. Midas was allowed to come aboard this boat and enjoyed his first fishing trip without jumping overboard.
It did rain steadily throughout our entire visit to Murphy’s Point and Newboro’s Stirling Lodge but the fish were biting and Uncle Jon was with us, so we all had a blast.
Thanks Uncle Jon.
