Red Deer Log Cabins

There is a marked change in the colours overnight.  Even this waterfront is showing much more than yesterday.  It looks like the rain may hold off, and no high winds are in the forecast at this time, so there is a great chance that my prediction will come true, and the colours peak will be this weekend coming.

Also just in time for Thanksgiving, I am finally seeing substantial numbers of edible mushrooms fruiting.

People asked this past weekend about wild berries; the only thing still on the bushes is wild grape.  There are lots, as they have been slow to ripen.

Cabin availability:  the log cabins are booked, but the little frame cabin is still available.  If anyone can get out of the city this week, I have up until Saturday available in 2 log cabins.  I also have Sunday night and on from that available in one log cabin,  The weather is looking fab for this week from what I can see.

Anyone with trailers or RVs, I have serviced sites available for the entire weekend.  Also, anyone who loves camping and isn't afraid of cooler temperatures, you have lots of choice in the campground.  :-)

AND there have been a number of sightings of a moose cow in the reeds to the south of the waterfront in the last while.  I can't guarantee she will show herself; nature does what nature does.
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It's supposed to rain soon too, so, with a little luck, we should be looking at a bumper crop.
There are lots of other foods to forage as well, some lovely salad greens in particular. Dandelion, sheep sorrel, Johnny Jump Ups, plantain, and purslane (which is better sauteed).

We are now having dew such that mushrooms are growing  Not a lot...but enough for a snack every day.  
Very quiet long weekend; the roads, the waterway, and the campground doesn't have a lot of campers.  Actually, everyone in the campground has been here before, so I have the usual happy people syndrome in full swing.  New people in the cabins, getting infected with the good feelings...

My blog must be so jealous.  Since I have started a Facebook page it is getting all of the attention because of all the alerts and whatnot.  Wear me out much?  On the other hand, thanks to everyone who is posting pictures and making comments and clicking on things.

Mushrooms are trying to grow, but we really need rain.  There has been enough dew lately to make a few.  Last 4 predicted rain events are not worth measuring, a few drops. It rained heavy close by though because the Falls is just roaring!  That means the top of the ridge must have gotten substantial amounts of rain, where Moore's Lake is, to create such an outflow so late in August.  Lots of times the Falls is just down to a trickle by now.
Anyone who can get into the deep forest will likely be able to pick happily and heartily.

Water level in the Madawaska River is a bit high.  The riverfront tentsite is not completely dry (no standing water though) in one spot.  I noticed a wet lawn mower tire a couple of very limited spots in the grounds when I cut grass yesterday.  Yes, some of the grass here survived the drought.  A lot of sites only had one cut this season because of the shortage of precipitation.

Cabins are maybe full for the long weekend; one is not confirmed (#4).  Still a bunch of tent sites and a couple of serviced sites to be had.

So call, ,or fill in the form, and you too can be camping this weekend.  Oh, a second 1/2 day canoe prize was claimed.  Find the contest on the website, and enter to see if you are a winner.

Last Sunday and this Sunday.
Right now I have happy people in cabins, and camping.  Algonquin Park is full, so I am getting some overflow from there + my own campers.  Last week I had people who were abusive to me ignoring check out time.  The bathrooms are incredibly clean today.  It's funny that the woman who wrote the TripAdvisor review last week said that the bathrooms were clean last weekend, because they were a pigsty from my point of view.  I spent a lot more time bathroom checking and cleaning last weekend; the mess stopped when the unhappy people finally left.

No one has been confused about canoe rental :-)
People have spoken about the weather, but no one is afraid.  There is rain in the forecast. There was dew this morning though, so it likely won't happen.  15 minutes of rain would double the size of the blueberries.  The crop is lush, but they area little on the small side. More raspberries ripening every day.
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I had chanterelles for breakfast...
Raspberries are just starting to ripen.  Saskatoon berries, also known as June Plums and Sugar Plums are on the bushes.  It looks like the strawberries, which were late, are finished.
I haven't had a chance to check for blueberries; they are likely in swing too.
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Friday Fun for Food Foragers! 
 
On the menu this week:
 
Gyromitra Esculenta
 Johnny Jumpups
 Dandelion Greens
 Bullrush roots
 

Bumper crop.  Actually, that is a serious understatement.

I don't think I have ever seen so many mushrooms.  Perennial pickers are very, very happy.

 The weather report is fabulous.  Only one site left with electricity, but a bunch of room yet for tent campers.  Cabins are full. 
Some blackberries and wild raisins are ripe.  The mushrooms are fruiting in a big way. 

I expect Algonquin will fill, so if you are making last minute plans, be sure to make a camping reservation.  It will likely be an Algonquin overflow type of weekend.

Fishing has been really good the last while.  Even newbies are catching some.  Perch have been abundant of late, along with the regular bass, bass, and bass.  Pike is a given too.

It is raining here. 
I know that is disappointing to you action types, but the crowd here was up early canoing, so they are chilling now that the major storm has rumbled in.  Very tropical...hopefully this is setting up a mushroom bloom for the holiday weekend.

There is still one cabin for Friday/Saturday next weekend, and a handfull of campsites.
First come first served as always.

They're both early!  Red head mushrooms and slippery jack.  Discovered while cutting grass in the back 40...

Well, the aurora was a no show.  Not just here, but I saw nothing on the internet the day after.  People are pretty quick to post viddy and pics, so it seems no one saw any.

On the other hand, this is a happening place.  Return dirt bikers, new mushroom pickers (multi-generational), return fisherpeople, and a couple from France who are focused on Algonquin Park.  Oh, and some who are just here to sleep and eat, because they work too hard in the Big Smoke and needed fresh air and to be by the water, surrounded by greenery.  Happy campers/cabiners, currently attending campfires and cooking the evening meal.

It's all good.

This is a great time of year for people with preschool age children to vacation.  No bugs, fine weather, swimming/playing in the water is still viable.  Blackberries for the picking too.  Generally there is no competition for the time off, unlike the summer months.

The woods are alive with the wind of mushrooms.

One of my regulars snagged a couple this past weekend, quite a surprise for him.  Years of August weekends and this is the first time he has caught them. 
Cisco is freshwater herring.
They are great smoked, but also fine in fish soup.  The yellow alder that grows here is an excellent wood for smoking fish.  I have some dry for just that, more than I need, if someone wants to smoke fish on site.

Both raspberries and blueberries are coming along.  There aren't a lot yet, but some ripen every day.
Mushrooms are happening but also not yet in big numbers.  With the rainy blasts we are having, and the warm nights, I can't help but expect big bloom soon.
That being said, it became cool this morning, which made for sweatshirt weather until about 2 pm.  Then it became hot and sunny.
Expect flaky weather.  That is this year's normal.  Bring 3 season clothing. 
Always a good idea when you are camping anyway, right?  Layers, extra socks, 2 of everything even if you think you only need one pair of pants what happens if you rip them, Big Boy? 
Anybody got a big skirt?

I've got stories.  Everyone is anonymous unless expressly in agreement to be the known subject of humourous reconnoiters.

Right beside a cabin, new fruiting this morning.  Time to go for a walk with a basket and a knife.!
Depending on where you come from, this same mushroom might be called cepe, or porcini.

I must go and check the chanterelle beds, they should be happening.  First birch mushroom showed this weekend.  Also, a russula I have seen for years and wondered as to its edibility was identified for me by a regular client.  The name of the mushroom in his mother tongue means 'eat it raw'.  Now I know.

The double flowered American wild roses are blooming, and fabulously perfuming the general area.  Time for some rose petal salad.

There is still lots of colour in the landscape, but the brilliant and deep reds are gone.  It's very much like the dying flames of a campfire.  Looks like this shiny weather is going to continue through the weekend, the nights are warming up again.
There are still lots of reds to be seen on a close up basis. 
Mushrooms are blooming too.

Unlike my usual "it's not raining here", I am happy to report that it rained big time the last 24 hours.  Why so happy?  Because the mushrooms will bloom again.  Excellent weather for such in the next few days.

Wild grapes.  Who knew?  I didn't!  They taste like dates.