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Post by Siopilos on Jun 13, 2016 17:31:40 GMT -5
I love the outdoors and don't mind sunshine if I have some sunglasses to wear. I only worry about bugs because... they freak me out XD And I also attract mosquitoes; it's really bad.
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Post by Rayvin_Kittiy on Jun 13, 2016 17:59:35 GMT -5
We should all do a big camping thing at Cypress Hills <3 For me it would be easier to get to Cypress Hills its only a 21 hour drive  pookas place is a 40 hour drive >.> but I could always try to save up for plane or train tickets if we were to do it that way.  I just really want to be able to go either way <3 and if im going you can be sure Moophles will most likely follow XD |
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Post by hotaru13 on Jun 13, 2016 19:14:35 GMT -5
We should all do a big camping thing at Cypress Hills <3 For me it would be easier to get to Cypress Hills its only a 21 hour drive pookas place is a 40 hour drive >.> but I could always try to save up for plane or train tickets if we were to do it that way. I just really want to be able to go either way <3 and if im going you can be sure Moophles will most likely follow XD 21 hr drive from you means like 20 or 22 from me |
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Post by Mr. Pooka on Jun 16, 2016 12:34:28 GMT -5
I'm still all over the place trying to narrow down some sort of plan that would be the best for as many people as possible! I could cover all the camping gear for at least 15 people and probably more... (our backroom looks kind of like a sporting goods store)... but I also never really thought about a vacation home sort of thing! I'm naturally just super frugal and usually balk at the costs but for some reason I never thought about splitting the costs.... and suddenly they don't seem that bad all things considered. Here's a couple local examples I found with a quick google. there's prob lots more. www.canadastays.com/four-season-lake-home-elliot-lake-on-p243580www.canadastays.com/cottage-rental-ontario-canada-elliot-lake-on-p217659These could also be mixed and matched with camping or people staying at our place etc... also depending on the number of people, misc health reasons, personal preference and various resources. With my current van I could pick up 6 people from various airports/trains etc. for figuring out numbers, and get them where they need to be. ...and if worse came to worse I could easily to multiple trips depending on how far away some people might need a ride from. I think the nearest working airport is Sudbury and that's only two hours away so I could easily do that multiple times.... now if someone could only get to Toronto for example, I still wouldn't mind picking them up (that would be about 9 hours one way, but I could get there to pick someone up and then drive them back here... the cost of the gas might be considerably less expensive then the extra flight distance?) which is mostly a lovely drive (and it would cost more, but with the possibility of a trip on the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry if we wanted, which is a lovely ride across Lake Huron/Georgian Bay to Manitoulin Island. (-8) This far north we don't see them very often at all. I've only ever seen 2 or 3 live ones on the side of the road and never actually while walking in the bush, even when actively looking for critters and we've lived up here for... 16 years now. You are far more likely to see bears! We've got lots of places to walk and see animals as well, and I've seen beavers, otters, mink, eagles and Hawks, deer, muskrats, lots of different birds and tons more. Seeing animals is never a guarantee of course but there are lots and lots of opportunities. Like I've only ever seen a very few moose in total here but it's cool when you do find them! On Monday I took Pooka to get coffee in Blind River (about a 40 min drive one way) and we saw deer in Iron Bridge (there is some big herds there that are often in the fields near dusk) a pretty hawk and a huge bear crossing the road. I think I've seen this one a bunch and I know lots of our players have the same feelings or have family feeling the same. I've got two convincing counters if they help anyone! First off having met a few of you already in person and having spent years talking with/chatting with our players I know most of use are just plain wonderful people and some of the easiest to get along with, nicest people on the planet, (-8 which is a good start to encouraging just going to this sort of thing in the first place. I've also been thinking about other tagalong people who would like to go along but obviously don't have an interest in Sphinxes or the community and I keep making lists of things others might like to do depending on where we end up having this get together. (for example, Pooka and I like to go everywhere together, so if she went to a Pony get together and it was all people she loved talking about PI ponies and I didn't know them, I'd still go where she went but would be happy to poke around a strange town or walk in a nature park or whatever and keep myself occupied!) I'll prob touch on this one a bit later when I talk a bit more about what sort of gathering would be the most fun for everyone. I raised baby raccoons once, (-8 I got really used to their cute noises and their little feet holding onto me when I bottle feed them for eventual re-release (-8 I hope that doesn't freak you out Toxi, but I think raccoons are so cute! unless someone tries to run up and feed one of these guys there are not usually dangerous at all... the only usual exception to this (and the reason for most danger warnings) is during their mating seasons in the fall when they get really aggressive and also when most hunting seasons are which can equal the occasional conflict. I'm just one lottery win away from planning an Australian version of a Sphinx gathering! (-8 Cypress Hills is very lovely! We've stayed there a few times on our travels now, (-8 There are lots more lovely campgrounds across Canada as well, but this one seems to have everything that anyone could want... ...and now for some more thoughts I've had on the topic! |
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Post by Sweetintoxikation on Jun 16, 2016 12:44:32 GMT -5
Hah. I'm not freaked out by baby raccoons. It really just comes down to having bad experiences with the ones around my mother's house. >.> And the fact I respect how wild and potentially dangerous they can be. From a distance, I"m fine. In my tent.. I'm not so fine XD
As for those rental cabins.. wow. With a large enough group that could be do-able as well. It definitely can cut down alot of cost but again would require pre-paying to reserve at the very list and having large enough group going. BUT could be fun if enough people wanna go.
I'm also equally good with camping so long as I have access to a way to wash my hair. >.> I do have to do that pretty much daily but otherwise I'm game! All these pictures look beautiful and looking up a couple of those places.. eee fun.
What about flying into the Ontario airport? Is that a long drive as well? Likely I would be one to rent a car to help with transport. Just in-case and especially so if I brought a tag-a-long person with me. ^^
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Post by Mr. Pooka on Jun 16, 2016 14:04:21 GMT -5
Second rambly post! (-8 So I've got at least two more sections of things I've been thinking about... Time and complexity, and they both sort of play together. If we had a weekend then it would probably be best if things were small and intimate in general so everyone could get a chance to actually meet, talk, art etc. but if we had more time, like a week then we might want to plan for more things to do.. or not! I mean, I'd love just to hang out at home, talk and get to know people and eat yummy food together, (-8 So we'd have super simple. Gather at or near the Pooka's place in Elliot Lake. Easy peasy and it can be extremely inexpensive to stay for anyone who that might be an issue. We have any combination of camping, sleeping on a Pooka couch, renting a cabin or hotel room etc. (Ironically I've never stayed at the Mississagi Provincial park because there are so many free camping options around here, but they are not great for inexperience campers) www.ontarioparks.com/park/mississagiNow a little more complex. Meeting somewhere else like Cypress Hills. This is a super beautiful place that we've got some experience with so we know that is fun to stay at, has lots of wildlife and things like mini golf and food. Its a great option for camping. Its also right in the middle of North America so it might be closer to some people. They have group camping spots that look nice, including covered cooking areas, but we've only stayed in private spots. The bugs were never bad any of the times we where there. Now the reason its a bit more complex is that I can't provide everyone's camping stuff. If we were to travel that far we'd need more room for our things as well (unlike in Elliot Lake, most camping is only a bit of drive, so I could fill a van with supplies and even make multiple trips)... but I could still cover a lot of peoples needs with tents and blankets, just not as many as locally. www.saskparks.net/cypresshillswww.cypresshills.com/Even more complex but not to trixy... going to some big time event together like the Calgary Stampede. Pooka and I have found a perfectly affordable way to stay near the city (camping near the city and the campground provides a daily shuttle to the stampede so you don't have to worry about driving or parking in Calgary which is awesome... and the shuttles can be taken early and don't leave until the grounds are closing for max Stampede time). If we did this the camping part is kind of moot and there isn't too much time to hang out and most of our time would be spent at the stampede... but there we could definitely hang out as well as go to various events (tons of free shows with horses, dogs, skating and more). www.calgarystampede.com/stampedeSooo... most importantly, don't get overwhelmed by the choices and options! (-8 I just want to figure out the best way to get the most people together and have the most fun we possibly can! I think any option at all sounds like so much fun and could be an incredible experience! I'd be happy if 2 or 3 people could show up at our house and we just talked, Pooka can draw some Sphinxes and we can just hang out. I'd also love it if we could all camp/rent somewhere and hang out for a couple of days or a week or anything doing the same things! I'd also love to all be sitting together in a block watching one of the cool shows at the Calgary Stampede, cheering on cowboys or well trained dogs or concerts, (-8 There are options for combining all of the above as well... for example when we met jeanstarwind, we picked her up in the Calgary airport, camped and went to the Calgary Stampede for a few days, drove north and went to the best dinosaur museum in the world in Drumheller (the city is awesome as well with dinsaurs everywhere!) and road tripped back to Elliot Lake staying at lots of wonderful places on the way (cypress hills, Kakabeka falls and more).. the drive along the highway once you enter Ontario makes almost every best drives in the world lists for endless natural beauty. www.dinosaurvalley.com/www.tyrrellmuseum.com/index.htmSo totally tell me any ideas, suggestions, preferences, fantasy daydream combinations or anything! ...no matter the hows and whats we might be able to make anything work! I mean (and I'm just picking random names here, (-8) we could say pick up Toxi and jean in Calgary, go the Stampede and drummheller, meet up with hotaru, rayvin and moophles in Cypress hills for a few days, drive to Elliot lake and pickup Ariya, Zira and Silent at the Sudbury airport, and then MA the next day on Manatoulin island and have an Elliot Lake get together spending a week hanging out with some fun Sphinxy stuff mixed with some nice nature walks... I mean we've got a year to plan and anything can happen! (-8 |
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Post by melodysangel on Jun 16, 2016 14:19:21 GMT -5
Reading this is really making me want to go <3 Id be soo game to go to another province for the views..it would have been a done deal before I got sick. But I have a goal now (and a few things that have started that will hopefully help). Fingers crossed things will improve |
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Post by Mr. Pooka on Jun 16, 2016 14:21:38 GMT -5
That's actually all just good common sense with most animals Toxi, (-8 I super super love animals and nature and I really love seeing them in the wild but for the most part all of them are better viewed at a distance... even if a squirrel or rabbit or anything would let you get close there is usually something wrong ...there is probably some parks or petting zoo examples where this is not true of course, but out in any type of wilderness, animals are all better kept at a distance!
Heh, that came up when Chutcat came up to visit Pooka... it is a bit of a drive because the only 'Ontario Airport' is in California, (-8 ... a bit misleading! Most of our major cities have airports and I think Sudbury is the closest and most convenient... but I don't know if its the most affordable or easiest for anyone in particular. One option we did once was pick up another friend of Pooka's across the border in Sault Ste Marie Michigan (there is a USA Soo and a Canadain Soo) but we'd have to make sure to get passports by then... something we've never done but nowadays need to cross the border. It was way less expensive for her friend to fly there then just on the other side of the border but I don't know if that's still the case and it might be more hassle then its worth?
I like washing my hair every day or other day as well, (-8 on some of our big road trips it's kind of a rule to shower whenever they are available, (-8
I thought the links might be a fun way to poke around and let minds wander onto what is important for everyone in a get-together, both for themselves and if other people come along with them! *pictues misc boyfriends and husbands confused by what Sphinxes even are, but happy at the awesome fishing/rodeos/minigolfing/hiking...*
I was also going to post some pics of some of these places for fun as well, (-8
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Post by melodysangel on Jun 16, 2016 14:28:16 GMT -5
Well, the fiancé is on break and I am just talking to him.
he said I have a goal, its a long drive (hes going camping in Restoule next month) and I have time.
He also said I have to survive a day going somewhere first as a stepping stone (closer, like Niagara falls or Toronto). That thought just freaked me out o.0
Hes right though.
We will see.
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Post by jeanstarwind on Jun 16, 2016 14:49:16 GMT -5
I'd honestly be down with any of the three options! I think the big question mark for me before I say I can come is going to be the cost of airplane tickets. I have some other financial responsibilities that have to come first, and it might turn out that I could better swing this the year after. Pro tip: If you go, and on the way home (for Americans, at least) you're flying from Sudbury to Toronto and then back into the United States - you go through customs in Toronto! You have to collect your checked luggage (a very nerve-wracking experience for me, I was terrified when it took them forever to be sent up on the carousel!) and then walk over to get in the customs line (where I also told them I had a 'beaver pelt' I bought at a tourist trading post and they sent me to some wildlife declaration line - like they thought I had caught and skinned the damn thing myself! lol) and only after that are you released into the terminal. Make sure you have time between when your flight from Sudbury touches down and when the flight leaving Toronto takes off. 30 minutes probably won't cut it.  |
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Post by Mr. Pooka on Jun 16, 2016 14:53:35 GMT -5
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Post by Mr. Pooka on Jun 16, 2016 15:02:04 GMT -5
Helpful tips are helpful jean! (-8
That being said I can also sum up lots of basic costs for lots of these things as well... most are also googleable... I can help figure things like gas, camping, buying things you might need, ..but I've never flown and I don't know the first thing about planning or costs of a flight.
almost every option on the list here can be done from the completely 'budget level' to the 'as much as you want to spend' level. I usually start on the as cheap as possible level myself, (-8 and most of our road trips were made possible by making peanut butter sandwiches in the back of a van vs. stopping at every restaurant... but that being said some experiences are just to neat to pass up! (eating pb and j on the way the stampede meant I could buy 17 different things that have been deep fried or something delicious stuff into something else delicious... and then deep fried!)
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Post by Mr. Pooka on Jun 16, 2016 15:05:48 GMT -5
and your not to far from us! (-8 (I mean perspectually speaking... its a great drive, weather around the point or across on the ferry)
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Post by jeanstarwind on Jun 16, 2016 15:32:06 GMT -5
I did already check expedia, but the problem is that right now you can only pick calendar dates for flights through mid May and if we're doing this in the summer I hesitate to trust that those numbers will stay the same. Currently, using May dates (and my same plan of flying into Calgary and out of Sudbury) the cost is cheaper than when I came in 2012. If I fly into Sudbury and out of Sudbury it's about the same. But will those prices hold for July? Or August? Or whenever? Hard to know, and looks like we won't be able to check for sure for another few months.
Honestly, it's so much cheaper to drive and I totally would...if it didn't take a full 24 hours to get to Canada from Texas. o.O Anybody want to carpool with me out of Peoria/Chicago? lol.
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Post by Sweetintoxikation on Jun 16, 2016 15:59:28 GMT -5
I've just looked up flights and they.. did jump when I looked at Sudbury. BUT.. I can still shop around for that.
But same scenario as Jean. It's going to come down to when the sites allow me to start looking at the more summer months. Right now on Travelocity I can only see up to ... first week of May 2017.
And in the end it'll come down to when it's planned vs in-laws vacation. I think I mentioned that before but I'm hoping to ask my mother-in-law Saturday if she's got any idea on dates they're currently considering.
And all those pictures just make it all look so fun! EEEEEEEEEEE.
As for length of time. Personally I'd go for like.. a week at minimum myself but I also know it might be more doable for a large group to do shorter time first? Because of various jobs and such.
And things to do, I'm perfectly happy to hang out or do things. Since the major reason for me is to hang with all the lovely people I've met through this community and to give REAL hugs!
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pookas place is a 40 hour drive >.> 
