The first Camping experience

At la Plaisance (just to the east of Ottawa) I stayed at my first Campground....it was a national park and when I turned up at about 5.30 there weren't too many people around....it seemed to stretch in length for about 5km's from the entrance and was surrounded by rivers and lakes. The weather had been wet and although it wasnt raining there was heavy clouds and things didn't look like they were going to get drier.

I had had a broken French/Quebeccois conversation with a lady who was leaving for the day at the recption door and she seemed unconcerned about me paying or not. therefore I pedalled off into the site and searched out a camp place under some trees with what I have know realised is thre standard wooden bench next to each place for people to sit. managed to get my tent up in about 10 minutes and whilst it dumped rain on me for about 3 hours during the night this had discouraged bugs so I remained reklatively unbitten.

Woke at 6am and then about a zillion times more until 8.30 when a park guide appeared and we had a quick chat. He spoke English which helped, and I confessed that I hadn't paid yet....he seemed unconcerned about that and he enquired to my trip and talked about the weather.

Talking about the weather isn't as banal in outdoor life as it contains vital information on what you might expect later in the day. He mentioned cold northerlies and the blessing that this might kill off mosquito eggs which were due to release soon for their high season. he then left with a warm shake of the hand and I was left to methodically pack my stuff and search out somewhere for breakfast and then head for Ottawa.