As the days were heating up fast, we figured we’d squeeze in a hike before breaking camp and getting back on the road. We picked a loop called Chickadee Trail—a simple 4 km wander on wide, sandy paths, which meant a low chance of collecting any tick hitchhikers. Their flying cousins, however, showed up in force. Mosquito welcoming committee: 10/10 enthusiasm.
The trail itself was lovely, winding through thick, verdant forest with the occasional open stretch. By the time we finished, the temperature had climbed into the low thirties and we were sweating like pigs. Georgie didn’t care—no ticks meant victory.
Heading east from Winnipeg toward the Ontario border, the landscape slowly shifted. The flat marshes and scrubby trees gave way to thicker forests and an endless parade of lakes.
We rolled into Crystal Lake Campground and settled in. It’s a big place, all full-service sites—amazing how power, water, and sewer can transform the camping experience. There’s a lake and a 4.5 km trail we’ll tackle tomorrow before moving on. Best of all, the campground wasn’t busy and had a laundry room, so we finally did our first load of washing in a week.
Just before bed, we noticed fireflies blinking in the grass outside our site—something neither Georgie nor I had ever seen before.
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