Welcome to A Crock of Schmidt. Here you will find campground reviews from all my camping adventures over the years. I also share cool attractions and destinations we’ve been to, great hikes we’ve done, and some insights on our hobbies. Once in awhile, I toss in some ramblings on whatever nonsense moves me at the moment. Thanks for coming by and I hope you find something that helps and/or entertains. If you do, kindly tell a friend about this place.
Grand Canyon Caverns – Everything to Know
April 30, 2019
I used to love driving. The longer the drive, the better. The first time I drove out west, I made the 3700 km trek from St. Jacobs, Ontario to Chateau Lake Louise (Alberta) in two and a half days. By myself. Without cruise control. The muscles in my accelerator foot hurt like hell by the
L’Anse Aux Meadows National Historic Site – review
April 18, 2019
Is it worth the drive? That is the decisive question when contemplating a visit to L’Anse Aux Meadows National Historic Site. At first blush, L’Anse Aux Meadows sounds like the most awesome historical place in North America. I mean, come on, Vikings! From one thousand years ago! Muscular fighting men dressed in furs and metal,
Coffee Cove Seaside Retreat Part 2 – What To Do
March 18, 2019
Mention a road trip to Green Bay and your friends will envision cheeseheads, Packers jerseys, and shotgunning Schlitz faster than a spirit-crushing Favre interception. Understandable. But in this case, completely wrong. Let them have a couple more Schlitz and then tell them you were thinking more along the lines of sou’westers, kissing cod fish, and
Coffee Cove Seaside Retreat Part 1 – Where To Stay
March 11, 2019
Family can make you do the most unexpected things, in no small part because they themselves do the most unexpected things. Like moving to Newfoundland. Nobody does this unless they’re moving back home. Certainly not born and bred mainlanders, or so the legends (and more often than not, the facts) say. But I have an
There’s No Vaccine for Layoffs
March 4, 2019
You think you’re immune, until you discover you aren’t. In February 1995, god that’s nearly thirty years ago, I grew up in a hurry. Or at least my budding work persona did. I was one of five wide-eyed geology students freshly fallen from the Ontario turnip truck in the early weeks of eight month, co-op,
Rockwood Geo Pro 16BH – review
February 13, 2019
In early May of 2018, we purchased a brand new … checks receipt … 2019 Rockwood Geo Pro 16BH travel trailer. I’ve decided this is the recreational vehicle industry saying “hold my beer” to the automotive industry and its quirky tradition of introducing new models in the autumn of the previous year. This was an
Crimson Lake Provincial Park – review
September 24, 2018
Hanging out in a trailer while it rains during the day is one of the most underappreciated joys in life. That may sound counterintuitive since most campers are hoping to be outside enjoying the sun and warmth and beauty of the natural world. That is, presumably, the entire purpose of camping. But the odd daytime
Jeremy’s Bay Campground – Kejimkujik National Park – review
September 17, 2018
I don’t imagine “national park nova scotia interior” is a common phrase entered into online search engines. The knowledge that you would receive an accurate hit is likely even less common, save for those actually living in Nova Scotia. Let’s face it, inland recreation is not the first thing, or tenth, that comes to mind
South Kouchibouguac Campground – Kouchibouguac National Park – review
September 10, 2018
As of this exact moment, we have camped in eight of Canada’s national parks. We’ve also stayed in two others (hotels) and driven through four others, since we’re keeping stats. With each new national park we visit, our affection for these Canadian treasures grows exponentially. So too does our expectation, I suppose, which is why
Chignecto Campground – Fundy National Park – review
September 4, 2018
When a new adventure is about to begin, I’m always emotionally on edge. It starts a few days, sometimes even weeks, beforehand and doesn’t subside until we are wheels to the highway in the direction of our first destination. Even then some anxiety lingers until we have settled into our first campsite, content that nothing