True Canadian Winter Bus Campout...

This weekend marked the fifth annual True Canadian Winter Bus Campout, organized by Greg Potts. Here's his website for this event: http://www.pottsfamily.ca/The_Bug_Pack/TCWBC/

This was Vanessa and my first time attending, and are we ever happy we did! Camping in the winter is not much different than camping in the summer. With a big fire to keep you warm and a heater in the bus, it's really fun!

The weather on Saturday was beautiful. We left Oshawa with Stacey and Bryon at noonish. It had been pre-arranged that I would bring the trailer and stop at Greg's old employer's shop to pick up some waste skids for the fire. As we were passing 401 & Markham Road, Greg called and told me he was just merging on at Neilson and would meet us in Mississauga at his old shop. True to his word, a few minutes after we arrived the red Westfakia showed up. We loaded the trailer while Greg pumped up his tire. Then Vanessa noticed a few piles of garbage skids in the industrial park next door, so we ventured over to pick them up too.

The sites at Valens were plowed when we arrived and the sun was shining. The rest of the day and night consisted of catching up with friends, feeding the fire, eating dinner, etc. Our new Espar heater kept us warm, even with the Westy top up!

This morning was not pretty weather wise. We woke to a 1/8" coating of ice on everything. We decided to leave right away before it got worse. The roads were slippery but manageable and our trusty steed got us home in due course.

Check out the pics below from the weekend.. We left the camera in the bus for most of the evening, hence the lack of pictures around the fire... How's that for a load of firewood?

Our first parking spot, with a twin behind us. There was no hydro at this site and we paid for it, so we later moved.



This is the site we stayed at.
Ashley liked running on the x-c ski trails.

Bryon and Stacey and Rene and Kristas buses.
My homemade burgers - the first I've eaten in a month.
Me posing.
Vee posing.

A self portrait.
The three of us being goofy.


Ash wore her "Gangsta Hoodie" all day but changed into her Roots coat and night.