Day 1 – Thurs Sept 24, 2026 – Travel + Settling In
For the past handful of years my husband and I have been making our anniversary a priority for just the two of us to get away. We have been to a much of Nova Scotia, and loved it! Last summer, actually before our 2nd trip east, we bought a family travel camper. As much as I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing Nova Scotia – I LOVE Camping and seeing Ontario!
This fall for our 22nd Wedding Anniversary we went to Killbear Provincial Park!
Day 1 – Travel and Arrival at the park. Our drive was just over 3 hours, with a stop and very little traffic we arrived in great time! Our site was in Lighthouse Point site 1464 – a beautiful site!
Check out the amount of nature in between each site, this was a fantastic layout.
As we were settling in to the site, I looked over at one of the picnic tables, something caught my eye…
A dime in the center of the table. Finding a dime in an unusual or unlikely place is viewed as a comforting reminder that a departed loved one is watching over you. [1, 2]
We knew, we were meant to be here <3
First thing my husband does once the trailer is leveled and set up, is start a camp fire!
The fall colours above us!
I used my cell phone and RP with my RF/EF Adapter + EF 100-400L lens for these photos. There wasn’t as many on arrival, we spent much of our time catching up with our friends, thankfully with lots of snacks as we missed “dinner”!
One thing I love about camping, is you have your own space, your home away from home. We are grateful we found this trailer last year, that suited our needs! Its been a great adventure for many of us, and our home away from home! <3
Ritva introduced this weeks challege theme of ‘Music’. This one really stumped me, however as I was going through images I knew exactly what was most suiting for my own post. As personally I do not frequent concerts. Ritva’s images, are incredible! I highly recommend you also check out her post HERE! Her event photography is outstanding!
This weekend was Pumpkinfest in Saugeen Shores! I read the theme after we were at the festival, so my selection was after the fact. As I was going through the images from my camera this afternoon I remembered what photos for music I do have to share for this weeks theme!
Pumpkinfest has a midway, midway’s always have music. Higher energy, songs singing, prizes being won, rides going off and people laughing. Its quite loud, but higher level energy to keep you going! We lucked out with great weather so the kids could get some rides in and even enjoy the petting zoo. The images are from the midway, where the music was centered.
The lights and music of the Ferris Wheel, for many a wonderful childhood memory!
With festivals its so important, to me that any public images are not identifiable! But also to capture the moment, its so fun living life through little’s eyes – one of my best memories of raising children!
I do have many more images from the festival, I had a blast this weekend taking photos for me and capturing our neice, nephew and little cousins childhood through lifestyle photography. It truly lights up my heart!
I was eagerly awaiting this weeks challenge, as we spent our anniversary weekend in Killbear Provincial Park with another couple. The park is beautiful, incredibly spacious and so clean. Our two sites were side by side and we had at least 30′ or more between us with immense greenery!
Anne introduced this weeks challenge, move your body. Its true sometimes, even with a zoom, the best way to get the shot is moving your body! Be sure to check out Anne’s beautiful examples here.
I primarily shoot with zoom lenses. When my passion for photography deepened our son was 9 months old, I found out a month later I was pregnant with our daughter. A zoom lens meant the kids could be kids and I could capture their lives from a distance. Lifestyle photography held my heart. I was not someone who liked posing, I much prefer real life happening and moments captured. I have a few prime lenses for fun, many are macro, other than my EF 50L.
To Killbear Ive brought a variety of lenses, pushing myself to use for reach and landscape. Truthfully, I normally rush through downloading the pictures and even staying up late just to get through. Rather, I have put my creative eye forward, to enjoy my editing process. My RP and R7 I got through rather quickly, however the over 500 on my R6MII is when I decided to ENJOY the process vs rushing through. I am loving the images and am so proud of myself for embracing this creativity in me. Pushing my limits – with a sore knee to walk confidently, and safe, to help it get stronger. I will share a handful of images here and then over next week Im going to share photos from each day in the trails we did. I more than highly recommend this park. We were in the Lighthouse Point Campground and our site was 1464 – highly recommend!
This view was a short walk from our campsite, a couple streets over. A beautiful small beach with a powerful view of the sunrise. It felt like the perfect distance to move my body at 7am. The beautiful morning of our 22nd Wedding Anniversary.
We did the lighthouse point trail on Friday (Sept 25 – Happy 22nd Anniversary to us <3), as its within our campground we are in. This was challenging, but worth it! For this trail, knowing it would be more challenging, I took my R6MII + 24-70 f2.8L. There were a couple instances I did wish I put the 24-240mm STM on, for that wide and extra reach! As you can see by the rocks, this trail wasn’t the easiest at all, we took our time and 3 out of 4 of us didn’t walk down to the shoreline. Such a gorgeous view and it was the first time in a month since I confidently went for a walk, since hurting my knee. My knee and leg were exhausted by evening, but also felt really good to get out and move – especially to take photos! The brace helped immensely.
For our walk at Twin Peaks, on Saturday (Sept 26) I knew the trail was 1.8km and majority was wheel chair accessible, so I planned to bring my wide and zoom options. I had my R6MII + 15-30mm STM and my R7 + 24-240mm STM. Going for lighter weight was key, as I am healing a torn acl in my right knee.
This was at the peak – such an incredible view!
Sunset Rock – beautiful ! We parked near the start of the beach on the right, it was an interesting and strengthening walk in the sand.
Sunday (Sept 27) we did the Lookout Point trail, it was the longest one yet. I took both cameras I had with me yesterday with the same set up. I was grateful I had the zoom on my R7 when we were heading back and saw a blue heron in the beautiful autumn swamp. Pulled over and I happily jumped out to get pics of the bird and of the landscape.
This morning, I woke naturally, when my alarm would most days go off, to another beautiful sunrise! I was there early, I thought I had missed it and then suddenly, the sun surfaced.
The view from the top of the trail! It was such a beautiful walk, some of the trail was on natures floor, a lot was a board walk through. There were some swampy areas they were covering.
As we were heading back to our site from our outing, our friend caught the eye of a blue heron, she asked her husband to pull over and I got out and went back to get photos of the heron. Such a beautiful bird.
Monday (Sept 28) before my husband and I left, we did the final two spots in the park we hadn’t been to yet. Harold Point and Granite Saddle. I shot with my Canon R6MII + 24-70 f2.8L lens. I knew we wouldn’t be walking far, so I brought my fav lens out! The views, in all areas of this park, were incredible. These views were amazing.
This was at Harold Point.
Granite Saddle
Overall we had a fabulous time – a lot of walking but it was fairly easy, thankfully! I felt much more comfortable, wearing a knee brace for long or uneven ground walks. Someone we know had been to the park in August, so I had heard from her to be careful on the Lighthouse trail, it definitely had spots where I needed to be much more aware. I am glad, actually both my husband and I were grateful we did that trail on our first day, we were exhausted that night. It was not super long, but it was much more strategic walking. Our friend went down to the waters edge, we stayed up top. Which was ok, I got some amazing view shots!
Here is a map of the park and shows the trails we did!
As I type this, my husband and I are sitting in our camping trailer. On day 4 of our 22nd year anniversary getaway!
KILLBEAR PROVINCIAL PARK
This trip, also with friends, was a beautiful reset for me. Full creativity with whatever pulled on my heart.
This morning, I was drawn to the sunrise. I was here on our first morning, and it was breathtaking! I chose to bring my wide and zoom options. 15-30mm and 24-240! Same spot, different views… hmm as I am thinking of this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge as well!
Good Morning from Killbear and my Cell Phone ;)
I am so excited to download my cameras!!! Like a kid at Christmas!!!
This weekend, my husband and I are celebrating our 22nd anniversary. We are simple people, and for us exploring Ontario, the province where we live, and also giving me the opportunity to photograph wherever we go, is perfect!
Camping in our trailer at Killbear Provincial Park. Beautiful big sites, that are private and immsered within nature.
Life has been ON for so long, my inner self, needed to escape to the woods to simply BE in the outer world, within Nature.
The best, calmest and incredibly grounding way to reset your body, soul and nervous system.
The inner me, is feeling more aligned with the outer me, even just after 24 hours. I am grateful for this time away with my husband, an opportunity for us to get away from daily life and business to embrace the beauty of nature.
As I am in nature, photos will come later! They do not want to upload, if I am able, I will update the post! I have a couple from yesterday morning, our 22nd anniversary of the sunrise over the water! Incredibly breathtaking, I am excited to download my cards on our way home!
Our nieces birthday party had an ice cream theme with various toppings to the kids could each make their own ice cream sundae and enjoy an “ice cream” cake pop on the side!
