Hot stay in Moonbeam - Moonbeam, Canada
Moonbeam, Canada
Where I stayed
Calgary, Maple Creek, Dryden, Huntsville, Moonbeam
July 31
Well I guess I have to eat those words about the power at Wild Goose Lake. We have arrived at Twin Lakes in Moonbeam and still have no hot water or rear air. I have looked at the Oasis Heating Module and the AC Heat LED is not on. The LED on the remote is also dark. I checked the Energy Management System and see that the LEDs for the Water Htr 1, Water Htr 2, and Rear A/C show no power to these modules. So – we really don’t know what the issue is. It could be a problem with the heating elements in the Oasis or some problem with the energy management system that goes back to when to power flipped off at Wild Goose.
I have emailed the Newmar Dealer in Barrie, ON asking for an appointment when we get there and hope to get a quick response tomorrow.
Back to Twin Lakes Camping…
Twins Lakes Camping is a family owner operation on 130 acres with two spring-fed lakes. The website shows these features:
1. 130 acres of fenced recreation area
2. 2 spring fed lakes 1km by 40' deep for use of canoes, kayaks and paddleboats
3. Northern pike and perch
4. 2 beaches; picnic area, 3 playgrounds, 3 small slides for little kids
5. 1 big waterslide (220 feet);
6. Paved walkway all around first lake;
7. Tent sites;
8. Public washrooms and showers
9. Train car with housekeeping units;
10. Chip Stand; access to 34 kms of nature trails;
11. 200 camping sites (3 way hook up) and WIFI
190 of the lake front sites are seasonal rentals where the renters have improved the lots with permanent decks, landscaping and amenities. There is a paving stone path between their lot and their lake access. Many also have improved their piece of lakefront with large and small floating decks with patio furniture, BBQs, potted plants and swimming equipment. While this part of the park is very picturesque the overnight sites are less so. The pull-throughs are large gravel sites separated by small evergreens but are only pull-through if you get their first since they are back-to-back. We had to back in which was no problem. The issue we had was that the sewer outlet was uphill from the coach even when we used the elevating hose support - so emptying is a challenge. As with many of the places we have stayed so far, there are campfire rings so it has been a lot smokier than we are accustomed to.
We made the 20km drive into Kapuskasing today for some groceries and odds and ends. In the center of town there is a large traffic circle where six roads enter and businesses ring the outside of the circle. The center of the circle is nicely landscaped and the main road in has a large arch with the town’s name. The rest of the town has kind of an odd layout with perhaps a partial grid. The population in the area is 10,500 making it the largest town since Thunder Bay (110,000).
Aug 1
Moonbeam , ON -population 1100. At the visitors center is their famous promotional UFO so, of course, we had to have our pictures taken with it. The young woman in the center gave some good information about their trail system and the nearby Provincial Park. Rene Brunelle Provincial Park is on the shores of Remi Lake, and is just a few kilometers from our location at Twin Lakes Camping. We drove down Hwy 581 and stopped in at the boat launch to get our first views of Remi Lake. Just a bit further was the entrance to the provincial park where the parks employee directed us to the group camping and day use area at Phipps Point at the end of the road. We first took the short hike along Vigilance Trail through the woods to Crawfish Cove with a few great views of the lake. The day use area is well tended with a sandy beach, large playground, picnic facilities and washrooms. There were just a few people there at the beach with their kids and us.
Now it was time to get some lunch and we headed to Twin Lakes Chip Stand where the woman at the Visitors Center had recommended the Poutine. We got our orders and sat at a picnic table in the shade of the big roofed pavilion. We haven't had poutine for a long time and it was very good.
I haven’t noted it before now but ever since we passed Thunder Bay we are experiencing Northern Ontario as increasingly francophone. The majority of the folks we have encountered are native French speakers and all signs are in French and English including businesses and road signs. I have just checked a map and was surprised to see that our location is only about 250km as the crow flies from the Quebec border but still 850 km to Toronto.