* Mungo Says Bah * Bushcraft Blog

Were I to go camping for a week I would figure out exactly where I want to go - likely Algonquin Park - see a 5 Mb highly-detailed PDF map here.

And I'd then gather my gear together and pack it efficiently in a knapsack:

tent
sleeping bag
self-inflating mattress
hatchet
fixed blade knife
rope
jeans
shirt
jacket
boxers
2 changes socks - I can wash them if needed
wind-up / battery radio - for the boring times
novel
Flashlight & batteries
Lantern, stove and naptha fuel
Garbage Bags, zip lock bags
Mug, spoon, fork, cooking pot, frying pan
paper towels
Dish detergent in a small shampoo bottle
Blanket for Monty
Toiletries
First aid items (bandaids, disinfenctant, antibiotics, pills galore)
Matches
Compass
Emergency flourescent light sticks (2)
Pencil, paper, book
folding chair
pillow

Pack my food nicely in plastic:

Biltong
tea bags
cheddar cheese
tortillas
lemon drink crystals
milk powder
noodle side-dish packets
bacon
dog kibble
dried mashed potatoes
chili mix - dehydrated
cooking oil (in a small water bottle)
eggs
tabascoe sauce
pepper
salt
sugar
Chocolate bars
Oatmeal pouches, raisins or dates etc…
Nalgene water bottle
Hot chocolate and coffee mix with coffee whitener
A nice Cuban cigar
Mickey of good gin

Then I'd gas up the car, drive up there with Monty in the back seat (Spring prefers 5 star accomodation), rent a canoe, canoe for some hours, portage in a little way, canoe in the rest of way, pick a good spot, and make camp in this order:

Shelter - set up tent wit sleeping bags and organize kit
Fire - arrange fire pit, get firewood, start fire going
Food - get cooking gear out and ready - along with lantern and cooking stove.
Chair - Having eaten, place chair at water's edge for a nice view, bring gin and lemon-crystal inspired drink, and cigar and match. Bring blanket so Monty can sit beside me, bring some treats for him (he doesn't smoke cigars)
Relax.

Here is a post I've found from 1998:

December 8th, 1998.

I went camping in Algonquin this past weekend. I left Thursday and got back Sunday night. I feel quite refreshed and ready to tackle society and its crony minions once again. I saw three otters, two pheasants, several neat looking birds, and one dead snake. It rained one night, but a book and a very hot fire distracted me from that. Mew Lake is where I made base, about forty kilometres into the park.

Note for next time: bring less food. I was burning food to get rid of it. Note for next time: prepare food for quick and easy use. I was chopping onions and potatoes with a boning knife wearing socks over my hands in the cold drizzle. Have these items already diced up, as it will already be cold and I have no need to be worried about spoilage or browning.

Before I made it to Algonquin, I tried Arrowhead, and it was closed for the winter. Brilliant me. So I back-tracked to Gravenhurst, found an ex-Oakvillian named Blair whiling away his hours in a bar, staring off into nothingness. We proceeded to the Albion Bar. The establishment had hired two strippers, and we played pool, and drank beer. I felt bad for the strippers, the whole place is entirely seedy and about as backwater as you can get, and the 'gentleman' they gravitated towards, and who without a doubt probably had a business interest in their performance, looked like the Grim Reaper meets ZZ Top. I slept in my car that night, and left at seven the next morning to a more suitable location, Algonquin.

Pages

Merry Christmas

Cherry Beach

Photo Gallery

Monty

Me

Me

Bath Time For Monty

Cherrry Beach

My next camping trip

Wonko Web post of December 8th, 1998.

Most Popular Posts