• HOME
  • WHO ARE WE?
    • WHY VANLIFE?
  • WHAT IS A ROADTREK?
    • HOW MUCH DID IT COST?
    • RENOVATIONS
  • FAVOURITE VANLIFE PRODUCTS
  • TRAVEL DIARIES
    • ROAD TRIP PACKING LIST
    • GROCERY LIST
    • MENU
    • PLAYLIST
  • PARKIN'
    • NEW BRUNSWICK
    • NOVA SCOTIA
    • OHIO
    • ONTARIO
    • PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
    • QUEBEC
    • TENNESSEE
  • VIDEOS
    • PRE-RENO TOUR
    • BRINGING HER HOME
    • NAMING HER
    • DEFYING MAGNETIC HILL
Powered by Blogger.
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest YouTube

Route5

the good | the bad | the smelly

—this post contains Amazon affiliate links—

CAMPGROUND RATING

We think it's important to share our thoughts on the places we stay and we're choosing to give each r place a rating out of five. Five campers means we really loved it and have zero complaints. One means yikes - maybe don't take your family there. Everyone has different reasons for liking or not liking a place, and we may be looking for sites that offer different things than you need. Always do your own research and don't depend solely on our opinions. 

WHERE: OWEN SOUND KOA

OUR RATING: ⛺️⛺️⛺️



  • COST: our serviced site was $55/night + $3 per child/per night (we found this additional charge frustrating because all play amenities except the pool were off limits because of COVID-19)
  • STAFF: friendly and helpful but the office was only open from 10-6.
  • SITE: our serviced site was large and had lots of nice shade - but, our water tap leaked constantly
  • FLUSH TOILETS: yes
  • SHOWERS: closed because of COVID - we don't hold that against them - God bless the creators of dry shampoo! 😉)
  • ACTIVITIES: in ground pool (great option for feeling refreshed after a day of hiking at Indian Falls)
  • THINGS OF NOTE: Firewood was $16 a bag and bags contained just nine pieces - RIDICULOUS! We arrived around 7:30 p.m. the first night and didn't have an option to purchase firewood (though I don't think we would have agreed to pay so much even if given the option). We sent the kids off into the forest to find dead wood on the ground and they brought back enough for us to cook our gourmet dinner of hotdogs and s'mores. The next day we bought firewood in town at Canadian Tire - half the price!
  • WOULD WE GO BACK AGAIN? — meh - if we didn't have a different option


We did have a wonderful time, regardless of some of our complaints. Just getting away and being together makes this Momma smile!

Share
Tweet
Pin
No comments
After bringing Pearl out of storage this spring, I decided to remove the propane stove top. We had never used it. Not once. And it was gross: sticky, greasy, rusty. Yuck! (You can see the old stove in the Philly Cheese Steak post.)This left us 100% dedicated to skillet meals. For now anyway.

This 'throw it in a pot and hope it works' version of pork chops turned out so well, it was worthy of a share here.



Ingredients:

  • butter
  • 4-6 pork chops
  • 1 sweet onion
  • 1 sweet pepper (I used yellow)
  • 1/2 package fresh mushrooms
  • 1C carrots chopped (I used baby carrots)
  • 2-3 C mini red potatoes quartered
  • 1 can condensed mushroom soup
  • 1/4C water

Notice how the skillet straddles our sink?
Just one of the little tricks we've learned navigating this teeny tiny kitchen space.


Instructions:

  • brown chops in a little butter - set aside (cover to keep warm)
  • sauté chopped onions, peppers, and mushrooms in meat juices
  • add condensed mushroom soup and water
  • add chopped carrots and quartered mini potatoes
  • cover and let simmer until potatoes and carrots are cooked - stirring occasionally (15-20 mins)
  • return chops to skillet and cover until you're ready to serve

The soup makes a lovely zero-effort gravy!


When I make this again, I will not add mushrooms. This cooks them to that mushy stage that's almost like eating a canned mushroom. 🤢  If I was making this in a normal kitchen I would sauté the mushrooms separately to maintain some firmness and then add them right before serving - but trying to juggle that in a little camper van is just not worth the trouble.

Response from the kids:


This is weird. We're camping and this is...like...a real meal. 😆
Share
Tweet
Pin
No comments

CAMPGROUND RATING

We think it's important to share our thoughts on the places we stay and we're choosing to give each r place a rating out of five. Five campers means we really loved it and have zero complaints. One means yikes - maybe don't take your family there. Everyone has different reasons for liking or not liking a place, and we may be looking for sites that offer different things than you need. Always do your own research and don't depend solely on our opinions. 

WHERE: HAPPY HEARTS PARK

OUR RATING: ⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️


  • COST: peak-season rates for serviced site are around $54/night
  • STAFF: friendly and helpful 
  • SITE: our serviced site was full sun, but quite large - we also had room for a tent
  • FLUSH TOILETS: yes
  • SHOWERS: paid - $2
  • ACTIVITIES: in ground pool (cold but clean and refreshing), mini golf, giant checkers, bocce ball (to borrow from the camp store)
  • WOULD WE GO BACK AGAIN? — definitely 





Share
Tweet
Pin
No comments
Newer Posts
Older Posts

About me

About Me

Just a girl and a vanlife dream.

I'm Alanna. I am an author and the editor in chief of a Canadian literary arts magazine. My husband Scott and I have been married for twenty-one years and have three children. We've always loved road trips, but now we're taking that to the next level by purchasing a 1981 Camper Van. Come along for the journey. I'll share what we learn along the way. The good, the bad, and the smelly.

Follow Us

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Labels

  • BUDGET
  • DREAMING
  • NEW BRUNSWICK
  • ONTARIO
  • PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
  • PRODUCTS
  • QUEBEC
  • RENOVATION
  • SKILLET MEALS
  • TRAVEL DIARIES
  • VANLIFE

recent posts

Blog Archive

  • ▼  2020 (5)
    • ▼  July 2020 (3)
      • Owen Sound KOA - Owen Sound, Ontario
      • Pork Chops & Veggies - VanLife Skillet Edition
      • Happy Hearts Park - Tobermory, Ontario
    • ►  May 2020 (1)
    • ►  January 2020 (1)
  • ►  2019 (21)
    • ►  October 2019 (2)
    • ►  September 2019 (2)
    • ►  August 2019 (7)
    • ►  July 2019 (5)
    • ►  June 2019 (2)
    • ►  April 2019 (3)




Popular Posts

  • What's So Appealing About VanLife Anyway?
  • How To Know if it's the Right Van For You
  • Can a Vanlifer be Over 30 and Never Wear a Bikini?
  • Owen Sound KOA - Owen Sound, Ontario
  • Biting the Bullet and Going All In
  • Our 1981 Roadtrek Roadtrip Playlist
  • Coffee is the Sunshine of Every Vanlife Morning
  • How to Make Lemonade out of a Sour Job Loss
  • Why Shopping for a Van Will Strengthen Your Relationship
  • Panel Upgrades Pour on the Vintage Vibes
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest

Thanks for Visiting 👋

Created with by ThemeXpose | Copy Blogger Themes