The Great Canadian Camping Adventure traveling from Arran Lake Carefree RV to Craigleith Carefree RV

We departed Arran Lake Carefree RV Resort after a great night with newly found friends. That is the greatest aspect of camping! It really is something that only happens with campers ... within a few hours of meeting your neighboring campers you are sharing stories, drinks and usually a meal or two. Thanks to Angela, Debbie, Nathan and the “men” for a great meal and the night of great laughs around the fire! Can't wait to do it again! Maybe the outdoor dart board will be all done and ready for a challenge!

Heading North on 21, we came into the village of Allenford, which is located on the banks of the Sauble River. Originally known by the Indian name Driftwood Crossing, its name today is a combination of the name of the first settler, James Allen, and "ford" which was added because this was the place where the river was the most easily forded. In 1851 the Indians had surrendered a narrow strip of land across the base of the peninsula to accommodate a road between two Indian Reserves. The parcel of land, known as the Half Mile Strip, contained farm lots as well as a trail which would later become a road. This road was chopped and cleared in 1865, graveled the following year, hence known as the North Gravel Road and remained unpaved until 1940. In 1854, a serious dispute arose from differing interpretations of the 1854 Saugeen Treaty. Lord Bury and the Indian Delegation met at Driftwood Crossing (known as Allenford, now) for a pow-wow. The parties sat, ate, danced in the traditional manner and eventually smoked a "pipe of peace". Today, a Historical Plaque, placed on the banks of the Sauble, commemorates this event.

We drove through the township of Georgian Bluffs. Georgian Bluffs is a collection of communities stretching north from Chatsworth to just south of Wiarton. The Georgian Bay is often referred to as the sixth Great Lake, it features more than 30,000 islands and 1,200 miles of shoreline. Georgian Bay's beauty is serene. Windswept pines, majestic towering cliffs, endless beaches and clear blue water. The Georgian Bay Coastal Route presents the best that Georgian Bay has to offer. Copper Kettle, Cobble Beach, Slough of Despond, Big Bay, Oxenden, Balmy Beach, these are just some of the names that paint a picture of the Georgian Bluffs canvas along the Georgian Bay Coastal Route.  Discover the rich marine heritage and lighthouses that dot the coastline, relax on a beach, explore the great outdoors or cruise the best roads on your adventure. You can hear the waterfalls roar in the spring as winter snow melts, feel the cool breeze off Georgian Bay on a hot summer's night, smell the crisp fall winds and taste the cold winter air as snowflakes drift down. The Georgian Bay Coastal Route is a 15 day - 805 mile adventure around the Georgian Bay coast line, including a ferry ride.

Several popular waterfalls spill from the rocky Niagara Escarpment near Owen Sound, rushing into nearby rivers and streams. Three of the waterfalls – Jones, Inglis and Weaver’s Creek – are linked by the Bruce Trail and other pathways, offering many look-out points along the way. Weavers Creek Falls is an intimate, hidden gem at the end of a short boardwalk through hardwood forest. It is a miniature plunge and cascade waterfalls. In summer, it’s a cool, shaded oasis along the spring-fed Weavers Creek.  In fall, the autumn leaves of the surrounding woods are bursting with color. Weavers Creek flows from the falls through Harrison Park to meet up with the Sydenham River. From mid-September to Thanksgiving you’ll find Chinook Salmon swimming in the river, making their way upstream to spawn near the base of Inglis Falls. Inglis Falls is a 60-foot high cascade waterfall just south of Owen Sound, where the Sydenham River meets the Niagara Escarpment. This waterfall is a must-see in every season with spectacular ice formations visible during the winter. The Jones Falls plunges 40-foot over the Niagara Escarpment on the Pottawatomi River.  The short hike from the parking area carries you through various tree types and flora and fauna to the top of the falls, with a view of the surrounding lowlands.  In spring, you will find lots of trilliums, columbine and a powerful spring runoff cascading over the escarpment.

In early August of 2015, The 153^rd Anniversary of the Emancipation Festival was held in Harrison Park. This is an opportunity to celebrate the journey of our ancestors within the Underground Railroad’s most northerly safe haven.  Individuals interested in history, family, culture and community have been congregating every August 1st weekend since 1862 in Owen Sound. It is the longest continuous running Emancipation picnic in North America. Descendants of blacks, who came via the Underground Railroad to settle in freedom, gather to reminisce and enjoy a time of fellowship. John “Daddy” Hall, Owen Sound’s First Black Settler and Town crier’s life is celebrated at this festival. Celebrating cultural history, art, and music; community collaboration and integration; multiculturalism and heritage

Along Route 26, you can see the Blue Mountains in the distance. The Blue Mountains are a visually prominent section of the Niagara Escarpment rising to heights of over 1,000 feet above the area and Georgian Bay. When you first see them in the distance, they do have a blue hue. But that is not where the name comes from. Blue Mountain's name comes from the unusually blue clay that can be found around the mountain.

We turned off Route 26 and easily found our way to Craigleith Carefree RV Resort.