HTML Day 2025
This year, HTML Day has landed on a date during my trip to Algonquin Provincial Park! I've come up here with my travel companion Cameron, and we've been exploring some lakes and trails together. I was hoping to maybe make a documentary while here, but it's ended up being a trip mostly about connecting with nature, myself, and our friend Cameron. I've had a couple spontaneous cries. It's good to get up into the wilderness and cry. Crying in the city rarely feels healing. Up here, I treasure every tear.
Laurel sent me a message noting that the 2024 HTML Cookbook that Ross, Gary and I made is being used again this year across the world! Specifically in Boston. Shout out to Boston.
Cameron and I had planned to go paddle boarding this morning, but it's very windy on Opeongo Lake today. I really only just discovered this lake yesterday. The Canadian Shield is littered with lakes, but they're mostly pretty small. Opeongo is huge though! With east and west wings that could be their own lakes, but they're all connected in a sort of Mickey Mouse gestalt.
I'm posted up at a picnic table connect to the rental shop's Starlink, recording myself while Cameron walks around recording some of the lake. I worry being a young lady on a computer in the wilderness makes me look a bit out of touch! Or maybe like a researcher? I swear, it's HTML Day! This is energetically natural in a funny way! Anyways, it's a bit windy and I want a sweater but Cameron did get me a mean Caramel Latte! So I'll be okay. Plus, HTML will keep me warm. :)
Today, let's think about Algonquin Provincial Park... There are a few things I want to learn more about here. So I'll use this as an opportunity to take some notes.
Moose
In our accomodations, we were roommates with a Spanish family who said they visited mainly to try and spot some Moose. As they were leaving, they told us they hadn't seen any unfortunately. I don't feel too keen to see a Moose really, although beautiful, they are very big and I don't want to get in a Moose fight.
This website has some nice information on when to best see Moose in Algonquin. The park covers around 7,630 square kilometers, so there's a lot of room for Moose and wildlife to roam. In the summer months, much of our wildlife is in the shade, and away from all the tourist action. They thrive in colder weather so they're probably all hanging out playing beer pong under some Sugar Maple shade in an area only accessible by Canoe.
Apparently you're most likely to spot a Moose as a tourist to Algonquin in the early spring, when the salt on the roadways is a yummy treat to the Moose, and tourism is slow on the main roads.
Trees
This website has some interesting information on Trees in Algonquin.
There are a lot of old growth forests in Algonquin that aren't protected!
Here are some of the types of trees you can find here...
- Sugar Maple: Known for its vibrant fall colors and sap used for maple syrup.
- Yellow Birch: Recognizable by its shiny, golden bark and strong wood.
- Red Oak: A large tree with lobed leaves that turn red in autumn.
- Eastern Hemlock: A shade-tolerant tree with soft, flat needles.
- White Pine: Characterized by its long needles and tall, wide, straight stature.
- Balsam Fir: Known for its fragrant needles and conical shape.
- Jack Pine: A hardy tree that thrives in sandy soils.
- Shagbark Hickory: Produces sweet, edible nuts and has distinctive shaggy bark.
- Red Spruce: Often found in cooler, moist areas of the park.
- Black Spruce: Common in wetland areas, known for its dark, slender trunk.
Here's more neat information on Algonquin's old growth.
Community
The community in Algonquin is lovely from my experience! I think the way they stay connected is amazing as well. Mostly regarding their Algonquin Adventures forum website. Every solid community has a forum, it's true.
So it's confirmed, Algonquin's community is lovely. I was attempting to coordinate some interviews over this trip with locals and such for a short doc, but most folks were out of town so we couldn't quite make it work with my dates. Nevertheless, everyone I reached out to was super kind and offered ideas for who else to contact.
It seems most folks who come to Algonquin are open to ideas and adventures, maybe the landscape reflects the demographic?
I've also been so happy to run into a couple Dutch families here! Once I'm sure they're speaking Dutch, I approach gently with "Spreek je Nederlands?" It's always met with smiles and excitement to use a bit of Dutch with a Canadian. I don't get much further past "Wer woon je?" but a win is a win. Wat leuk!