After our first day in the park we had decided that the next day we were going to get up and go run. It was about 70-80 degrees in the park and it was just beautiful. We thought that maybe we could do our long runs while we were there so that we would keep up with our half marathon training. It seemed like a really good idea and honestly I was excited about it. I had never ran in a park like that and I thought that the nice cool air would be a wonderful change. Turns out that we were wrong. 

When we started out on our runs it seemed to be a little more difficult than usual. My legs felt like led and I had a hard time breathing. It didn’t occur to me that we were on a higher elevation and what that would do to us physically. So of course I tried to push through it. I thought maybe this would be an interesting challenge and if I just kept going that I would eventually make it. About half way through I realized that I just don’t have the experience when it comes to running in higher elevation and when I reached three miles I had to stop and walk my way back to camp. My legs felt wobbly and I felt bad for giving up but at the same time I knew that if I overdid it that I might not make it all the way back to camp. 

Dad got to seven before he stopped and I honestly felt like a washout next to him. I wished I could have done more but the elevation was kicking my ass. On the other hand I also knew that we would be hiking and knowing that, I just set my mind towards the rest of the day. 

After we ran, showered and cooled off we took a look at the map they gave us and decided to do the shorter hiking routes. That way we could do more and explore. The area was filled with Lakes and each location had two or three different hiking trails that were about a half mile apart from one another. It was paradise to me. So many options and so many ways you can go. 

But first, we needed to get breakfast. So we went to Two Rivers and ordered ourselves some delicious food. The girl that was there remembered us and offered us a cup of her favorite coffee. She was really nice and as it turns out, she left Florida to come to Algonquin. I was surprised and quite honestly a little jealous. She had a cabin down the road from where she works and I can only imagine the things that she gets to see. I always wonder about how places would look if they were covered in snow and I can only imagine all the photograph opportunities. 

Once we were done with our food we made our way to our first hike. Let me tell you guys that I am so happy that I have a family member that loves doing outdoor activities like hiking and camping. We could spend an hour or two just walking around on a trail and enjoying the area. The first trail though was filled with surprises. The first one was a Garden Snake that I happened to hear rustling in the leaves. 

He was quite beautiful and as it happens he was the second Garden Snake that I happened to get a picture of in my photography career. So amazing and quite honestly beautiful. The colors on him were a nice shade and I couldn’t just let him go without taking his photo. On these trails we ran into a lot of interesting wildlife and some strange fungus. One of my favorite finds on the trail were these cool little mushrooms that my Dad pointed out to me. 

 Not too far from the mushrooms we came across one of the weirdest but coolest things I have ever seen. It was a caterpillar climbing up a spider web. Now I’m not sure if they do that all the time or if this guy was starving and just decided to use the web to get to his dinner faster but I can tell you that I wish I had a micro lenses because oh my god was it so cool to see. The picture I got of him makes it look like he’s just climbing up thin air but I swear, his climbing up a web. 

Really All I can is that the day was peaceful and so nice to see the change. There were falling leaves everywhere and it was so nice and secluded. A piece of the world away from civilization. If you guys ever get a chance to go to Canada I highly recommend going to Algonquin. Its beautiful and there are so many places to explore. I know I will be back and I know next time, next time I will get my picture of a moose.