I joined a guided National Park hike mid-morning at Cameron Lake. I had never taken this particular trail mostly because I didn’t even know it existed.
Well! I’m so glad I decided to join the hike. Why? Because it was all about my favourite thing – mushrooms!
A Line of Red
Orange Glow
There is so much variety on this trail. I loved every single moment I was there. The guides must have gotten annoyed at one point as I think I photographed almost every single mushroom that we found.
I started off the morning with a great hike around Cyprus Lake. I stopped about halfway around to take the photo below, which I believe if you look straight across the lake that is where my campsite is. (Not that you can see it or anything…I’m just guessing.)
Mid Hike Rest
As I approached the ¾ mark on the trail I found a perfect little bench to take a rest with no real views of the lake but a good place for communing with the trees.
Sit and Rest
After lunch and a long afternoon chill out session my plan was to head to Singing Sands for a sunset shoot followed by dinner and then back to Singing Sands for some night shots.
Fringed Gentian
Well, the golden hour was definitely golden. The sunset, however, was not so dramatic. Actually, photographically speaking, it was boring. So I didn’t bother with showing you those photos. Instead…
Venus Setting
After dinner was when the show really happened. As the sky became fully dark, the stars started popping out one-by-one. And then the Milkyway rose up to greet me. If I remember my stars correctly that bright star casting its reflection on the water is Venus.
Ah…what a night. I could have stayed there forever but sleep was needed as tomorrow was another day to spend with nature.
It was a drizzly day in the park today but that didn’t deter me from getting out to explore the park.
Wet mushroom
From my campground its a short hike over to the Grotto trail and on the way I took a short break to enjoy the view – overcast as it was, it was still a pretty nice view.
Quiet Rest
Once you reach the Grotto trail it’s only 1 kilometre before you reach an overlook onto Georgian Bay and the Grotto.
Grotto
Things started to get a little wetter as I hiked back to the campsite. That meant I could get in the tent and do some reading. It was a vacation after all.
I’m back at my favourite place in Ontario – Cyprus Lake campground located in the Bruce Peninsula National Park. I’m here for the next 5 days! There is some rain in the forecast but I’m hoping for mostly clear skies and lots of campfires.
Sun flares
And I’m just a short walk away from this.
I love messing around with sun flares in the trees. And yes I purposely left it slightly crooked because I loved how this looked. I can do that because I’m the artist…lol
Late Day Meditation
Late day mediations on the shores of the lake are always the best spots. I was on my way out to claim a spot for the sunset when I happened to pass this person communing with nature.
Cyprus Lake Sunset
At first, it didn’t look like it was going to be a spectacular sunset but then this happened. Out of nowhere. I love when the skies come out to greet you like this. It reminds us that we must be patient because sometimes there is great stuff waiting for us.
Night Sky at Cyprus Lake
And for the final hurrah of the day, I went out for some astrophotography near the same spot I was at for sunset. Although the clouds were coming in they didn’t block the entire Milky Way. This was a test run for when I venture out to Singing Sands when the skies clear.
I caught a nasty cold towards the end of this week which I thought would put a wrench in my camping weekend in Tobermory, Ontario. Luckily they were calling for a heat wave so I decided to go up and just relax by the lake. I did get out for a short hike on the second day I was there which might have been a little too much for the cold. In the end it was worth the walk and I ended up feeling better by the Sunday drive home.
Cyprus Lake Hiker
Beautiful views are always to be enjoyed here – and there are many of them to see. The above photograph is on the west end of the lake as I approached the main trail from my campsite. Escarpment Wall
From here I headed to the Bruce Trail portion of the trail system, hiking along the Horse Lake Trail straight to the waters of Georgian Bay. Along here the Bruce Trail hugs the coast until Loon Lake, 4km further north and south to High Dump campground 11km away. After my 4.5 km hike which took me in a circle past the Grotto and back to the campsite I was ready for a snooze. I may have pushed myself a little too much on that hike but how could I not check out the trails when I made the trip here? It’s one of my favourite campgrounds and I especially love visiting in September when most of the crowds are gone.
I had to rest up because the stars were going to light up the night and I was looking forward to seeing the milky way. I was not disappointed.
Milky Way on Cyprus Lake
Milky Way over Cypress lake
Unfortunately there was quite a lot of light pollution from those around me so I had to wait it out longer than usual. I think the warm temps were a huge factor in the crowds that decided to camp this year. At least that’s what I’m hoping, which will mean next year there won’t be as many out if the temps stay to the cooler, normal temps of late September.
