{"id":23,"date":"2014-10-07T01:02:00","date_gmt":"2014-10-07T01:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/abuffalobus.kleinmartin.com\/?p=23"},"modified":"2018-02-26T14:16:29","modified_gmt":"2018-02-26T19:16:29","slug":"near-winter-camping-at-sprague-brook-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abuffalobus.kleinmartin.com\/?p=23","title":{"rendered":"(Near) Winter Camping at Sprague Brook Park"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00a0 At the end of November of 2013, my son and I took our two dogs to do some near-winter camping at\u00a0Sprague Brook Park<\/a> in the south of Erie County.\u00a0 We had never been to Sprague Brook, but it was suggested to us as a place that had \u2018winter camping\u2019.\u00a0 It turns out that that means that the small loop of power campsites is open until November 31st<\/sup>, but the bigger loops of unpowered sites is already closed.\u00a0 I was actually happy that the site would have power, since the bus doesn\u2019t have a heating system.\u00a0 I had thought that I would bring two small 1500W space heaters, which I figured would keep the bus warm.<\/div>\n
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Such a nice glow …<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\u00a0 I had just had the almost 3ft by 9inch plastic ‘School Bus’ signs removed and replaced with glass to let more light in, so it really changed how the bus was for driving (I was able to see the light above the intersection through the new window! \u00a0Conversely, the new windows provided a way to get the sun in your eyes …) \u00a0I also pulled out a couple of light fixtures to let us see in the evenings.\u00a0 The first of these is a nice brass fixture that is reminiscent of a gas lamp that a previous owner put a little push-switch on.<\/div>\n

I put this up on the wall in the \u2018cabin\u2019 area so we could see to eat and read in the facing bench seats.\u00a0 I had some nice 40 watt amber bulbs, so I put them in and it gave the \u2018cabin\u2019 area a nice cozy glow.<\/p>\n

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The other fixture was a carriage lamp that I put up near the bunk, as our son likes to have a night-light.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t want anything really bright, since I dislike light while I\u2019m trying to sleep, so I settled on a little 3 watt \u2018flicker-flame\u2019 bulb.\u00a0 It seemed like it wouldn\u2019t give much light, but at night when you\u2019re trying to sleep, or get around, it gave off more than enough.<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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And you can just make it out despite the
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\u00a0 We stocked up with firewood, a large, old, several gallon coffee tote full of very hot water, several gallons of drinking water, eggs, bacon, venison, bread, butter, onions, potatoes, coffee, hot cocoa, and some other sundries along with our sleeping bags, a cot (only one of the bunks was done), and warm hiking clothes.\u00a0 Even with all that, we stopped by the EnglishPork Pie Company<\/a> on our way to the site so that we would have some warm food in us while we set everything up.<\/div>\n
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\u00a0 The trip was nice.\u00a0 It started out on four lane & six lane highways, then to four lane roads, and then to nice winding two lane roads through small towns and over streams along water-worn cliff-side that showed the geology of the Devonian period.\u00a0 But it was slower going, some slower traffic and stop lights holding us back a bit. \u00a0\u00a0The pies turned out to be a good idea, as it got dark just as we got to the park, and it was a slow process of backing up and checking behind the bus, then adjusting the bus and backing it some more, and checking and adjusting again.<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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The bus, in situ, with the moon, just after parking …<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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\u00a0 But our campsite was right across the loop from the washrooms and, it turned out, we were the only campers there that night.\u00a0 We set up the extension cord to the 20 amp outlet and plugged in the heaters and the lights, though when both the heaters kicked on, the flicker-flame bulb wouldn\u2019t light, but that wasn\u2019t a big deal, as there were streetlights around the campsites.\u00a0 These probably wouldn\u2019t have been so bright when there were lots of leaves on the trees, but in November, they spread a lot of light around.\u00a0 Luckily, our campsite was in amongst a good stand of white pines which tried to help.<\/div>\n
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\u00a0 As the evening wore on, though, the heat that the engine gave us for the bus interior was wearing away, and even with the two space heaters, it was chilly.\u00a0 The dogs really didn\u2019t care, however, and were happy out on the lines that I tied to a nearby tree, as well as being in the bus.\u00a0 Our husky decided that the bunk was for him.\u00a0 The only downside of having the dogs was the accordion-style bus door, which can make it a bit more awkward to clip the lines on or off their collars, but we work it out, and get a fire started.<\/div>\n
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And this is what warm looked like in the morning.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\u00a0 But our son breaks out a surprise that my wife sent \u2013 some candy.\u00a0 We use the bread, some chocolate, and Mary Janes to make some tasty Toastite<\/a> sandwiches, and we do some setting up and reading before bed.\u00a0 Given how cold it is, I give our son my mummy bag (good down to 0 F when I got it years ago) and he opts to stay on the (for the moment novel) cot, and crawl into his sleeping bag on the bunk still in my clothes.\u00a0 Luckily, this means I got the husky for extra warmth.<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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And here’s the bus at the site in the light …<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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\u00a0 The morning was chill and quiet.\u00a0 The temperature went down below freezing overnight, and in the light I discovered that the side door that I ran the extension cord through was kept slightly ajar by the cord, so there was a source of cold.\u00a0 Of course, the bus is lacking a whole bunch of insulation at the moment, so it is easy to get cold.\u00a0 Rerouting the cord in the light is a whole lot easier, and I got the cord through the back door.<\/div>\n

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<\/a>\u00a0 Looking out from our campsite, we can see that we\u2019re on one of many terraces cut by the stream over time.\u00a0 After we get dressed, we take the dogs for a walk down to the bottom of the valley, watching some deer make their way quietly off to the east and away from our noise.\u00a0 Upon reaching Sprague Brook itself, we were a bit surprised at how small it was, but it was a fast-flowing stream with rocks of many different colors amidst sandy shoals, and the banks showed the past streambeds that had fallen into disuse when the stream\u2019s erosion had undercut trees that had fallen and diverted the flow.\u00a0 But, of course, this was still before breakfast, so, our curiosity sated, we walked back up to the bus.<\/div>\n
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\u00a0 We started a fire and while it was getting to where I can cook on it, our son discovered a playground that was just at the edge of the campsites, so he goes and plays for a bit. \u00a0I got some coffee, hot chocolate, bacon, eggs, & potatoes cooked up for breakfast, and after eating, cleaned up and decided to go for a nice hike.\u00a0 I ended up with both dogs on their leads, one on each hand, which actually balanced me out.\u00a0 As we walked along the south side of the lip of the stream\u2019s valley, we made some good time, and found another playground.\u00a0 And another and another.<\/div>\n
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\u00a0 The first leg of our five mile hike took us past four additional playgrounds before we got to the downstream bridge across Sprague Brook, and after crossing the bridge, we found another two.\u00a0 The dogs and I weren\u2019t as interested in these, but my son was, so each provided a delay to our hike, but not a really bad one.\u00a0 The day was overcast and cool, but not too windy, so it was a great day for hiking.<\/div>\n
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A selection of the trails available. \u00a0Our site was in
\nthat lower right loop.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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\u00a0 The trails at Sprague Brook were numerous, including an 8 mile loop along both banks of the stream, but we only hiked up to more direct way to the \u2018overlook\u2019 in hopes that we could see the bus which was essentially just across the valley, but we couldn\u2019t.\u00a0 There were just too many trees.\u00a0 But our hike back was a bit more circuitous, following the lip of the valley to some interesting places where the roots of trees were the only things holding up the ground and making quite a drop.<\/div>\n
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The high point of our trip – altitude-wise.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Our son with the Brook \u00a0on one of the overhangs …<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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\u00a0 We hiked about 5 linear miles and up and down some 600 feet (250 down, then 350 up and 350 down and 250 up), and got back none too soon, as it started a cold misty rain just as we got back to the campsite area, but it stopped again after 20 minutes or so.\u00a0 The dogs loved the hike and were totally energetic for almost all of it, but they crashed when we got back to the bus, and just slept for hours.\u00a0 We got another fire going and set up our dinner of bacon, venison, Phineas & Ferb mac & cheese, and potatoes & onions, topped off with candy-filled Toas tites for dessert. \u00a0(We earned it.)<\/div>\n
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\u00a0 We read and stayed warm up in the cabin area, then, as getting ready for bed, I realized that the two heaters drew so much electricity from the 20 amp outlet that one of them wasn\u2019t heating, just basically being a fan.\u00a0 After that, I turned off the one that was putting out less heat, and we just had the one heater.\u00a0 We slept in our clothes again, trying to keep our heads inside our sleeping bags, as the air was very chill. (Not surprising as the temperature got into the low 20\u2019s (Fahrenheit) overnight.)<\/div>\n
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And lots and lots of terrain …<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\u00a0 When we got up in the morning, it was dreary.\u00a0 We didn\u2019t have enough wood for a breakfast fire, and our camp-stove ran out of gas, so we had cereal.\u00a0 We took one more hike down to the stream, which was festooned with icicles on branches and sticks near its banks.\u00a0 After that, we tiredly policed up our campsite and made our way in the bus out of the campsite and back home.\u00a0 \u00a0The trip was fine, and it was nice to get the bus up to temperature and get the bus comfortably warm.\u00a0 Unpacking took a bit, but we learned a lot (like that we needed to bring more firewood and that I need to get the 30 AMP hookup working!).\u00a0 Most of all though, our son (and the dogs) loved it and couldn\u2019t wait to go again.<\/div>\n
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\u00a0 At the end of November of 2013, my son and I took our two dogs to do some near-winter camping at\u00a0Sprague Brook Park in the south of Erie County.\u00a0 We had never been to Sprague Brook, but it was suggested to us as a place that had \u2018winter camping\u2019.\u00a0 It turns out that that … Continue reading (Near) Winter Camping at Sprague Brook Park<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"amazonpipp_noncename":"","amazon-product-isactive":"","amazon-product-single-asin":"","amazon-product-content-location":"1","amazon-product-content-hook-override":"2","amazon-product-excerpt-hook-override":"3","amazon-product-singular-only":"","amazon-product-amazon-desc":"","amazon-product-show-gallery":"","amazon-product-show-features":"","amazon-product-newwindow":"2","amazon-product-show-list-price":"","amazon-product-show-used-price":"","amazon-product-show-saved-amt":"","amazon-product-timestamp":"","amazon-product-new-title":"","amazon-product-use-cartURL":"","amazon_featured_post_meta_key":"","_amazon_featured_alt":"","amazon-product-template":"","rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[15,10,3,13,14],"tags":[115,9,113,108],"class_list":["post-23","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camping","category-school-bus-rv-2","category-skoolie","category-sprague-brook-park","category-trip","tag-camping","tag-school-bus-rv","tag-skoolie","tag-sprague-brook-park"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5ieo5-n","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abuffalobus.kleinmartin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Photo836-e1426466903635.jpg?fit=320%2C162&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/abuffalobus.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/abuffalobus.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/abuffalobus.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abuffalobus.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abuffalobus.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/abuffalobus.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1173,"href":"https:\/\/abuffalobus.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23\/revisions\/1173"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abuffalobus.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/45"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/abuffalobus.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abuffalobus.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abuffalobus.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}