S05E07 Driftwood Provincial Park Review + near disaster

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Cell Phone Service: Bell, Telus, Koodo & Virgin Mobile - cell service was poor. Very spotty. Sometimes able to watch video yet other times unable to even send an email. Very unreliable. If you've been to this park please let us know your experience with cell service, especially if your with a service provider different from the ones mentioned.

[@charissatroup5611]

I remember years ago, my friend and all her in-laws had a cottage over Christmas, and the owners told them to ONLY use the main roads going to and from town. Well, mother-in-law and brother-in-law thought that was crazy, and ended up on a snowmobile trail in 3 feet of snow, city clothes, no boots, etc. It's a hard lesson to learn. I'm glad your friends were all ok in this situation. I realize this was some time ago, but I've only recently found your channel, and am really enjoying seeing the different parks. Your videos should take me through the winter. Thanks.

[@e.ch4n]

Your instinct just reminded the mass not to follow solely on technology! So glad Sue and John are safe

[@kimsalmon7593]

Thanks for all of your videos:)

[@CampingwiththeColes]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoy them.

[@cwqrpportable]

OMG, I felt such panick when listening to your story. So glad that Sue and John are fine and were rescued by some locals on ATVs. This is a very good learning experience for me, as a fellow RV'er, to take extreme caution when pulling an RV. Also, as a ham radio operator, I vow from this point forward to always pack one of my small battery powered HF radios and a simple wire antenna in the case of an emergency like this. That type of communication can be a lifesaver. Thanks for another great video Ben and Cheryl.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Sue said she felt the anxiety all over again when she watched the video. I let them see it before it went public, to make sure they were ok with how I edited it. Cheryl's motto is to always be prepared and if you have access to a small radio to work in a situation like that then why not bring it along, just in case.

[@ianlindsey3616]

Hey Ben and Cheryl we received our camping with the Coles T shirt and sweatshirt so looking forward to wearing our new gear. THX for the review and we are looking forward to a beach site at Driftwood.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We hope we get to see you out there in the wild with your Camping with the Coles clothing. We'd love to see some pics on social media of people wearing our stuff at the various parks. Happy camping!

[@jamesmoyes3006]

I love watching you guys. I haven’t been healthy for the last couple years cancer and I love camping, so I’m living through you guys right now thanks for doing what you do would love to go camping with the Coles sometime

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We're so glad that you can get some enjoyment and relieve some old camping memories from watching our videos. Hopefully you can get out there again and we can run into each other.

[@patriciadelorme9006]

Thank you for sharing Sue & John’s experience. It reinforces the point to keep a paper road map in the vehicle & listen to my gut instinct. I’m glad you enjoyed Driftwood. I was able to get a waterfront site in June of 2014. The downside, a lot of pollen in the spring. I have it on my list to return. Safe travels. Looking forward to you Sammy D review as it is on my list as well!

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We're glad that Sue and John are ok and that they agreed to share their experience with everyone. It's a good park and if you can get a waterfront site again, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Happy camping!

[@albertjagt5713]

Wow! That was a story! This trip will be remembered for a long time!

[@CampingwiththeColes]

That won't be forgotten anytime soon.

[@trishaharrison6183]

Wow this is a very good lesson for all of us to learn by. Thanks so much for sharing. It could of been so worse.

[@SamBarge1]

Thanks for making my husband's day. I just told him that a paper atlas saved you and he is very pleased to be validated. We always travel with paper maps as a back up. Navigation is his favourite part of any trip and he feels like the route isn't real if he can't plot it on a paper map. So happy that your friends got out with minimal damage and I really wish you had filmed the black tank valve change. That would have been gripping video.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

There is so much more awareness of where you are when you're looking at a paper map. It's also satisfying to turn a page to the next map when on a long trip. Cheryl's motto is to always be prepared and a paper map is a great back up.

[@huazhang4043]

we were there last august, on a water front site, it was fantastic! they issued a blue algae warning too when we were there, strange, but we and many other ppl swam anyway

[@susienikodemus5668]

So glad to hear that all are well. Thank you for this video. We travel a lot in Northern Ontario and you have to be so careful of the roads you use. 😊We always carry a paper atlas with us. Driftwood sounds really nice. We have considered to visit this park. Heading up to Nagagamisis park in a few days. Safe travels.

[@ek8137]

Lots of good people out there! Glad your friends found some!

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Us too!

[@gracespace1]

Oh my goodness! I am so glad that Sue and John are okay and that there was only cosmetic damage to their trailer. Twice I followed Apple maps. The last time I was sent on a gravel road and because it was night and I had a utility trailer attached and my nephews in the car it got a little scary because I knew I wouldn't be able to turn around. I am old enough to know how to use a paper map, so now after seeing this, I will be investing a paper map. Thanks for the cautionary tale.

[@jason.3011]

Its good to see u guys

[@limestonelizard]

WOW! what a story. Great footage too. Cannot believe they had a trailer attached going over that stuff. Don't go down sketchy roads you don't know and don't trust the apps. I've done it pulling my boat, ended up damaging my truck trying to turn around.

[@kima.785]

What a great lesson for us all - thanks to your friends Sue and John for sharing their experience. We're all so dependent upon Google maps at times to a fault. We carry paper maps in our truck - I actually enjoy getting a map out to get the big picture perspective of where we're travelling but tend to defer to Google thinking it knows about delays/closures, etc. This is a great reminder for all of us! Glad things worked out and you were able to continue on your trip. As always appreciate your helpful content! Happy Camping!!

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We're exactly the same. You don't get a feel for where you are when you're following Google Maps. There's no perspective. There is something very satisfying on a big road trip to turn to the next page of the map book to continue your route.

[@blsanto1136]

Glad to hear everyone is ok! Sometimes with trailers you get into tight spots! And would have loved to see John change that valve. Continued safe travel 😊

[@CampingwiththeColes]

I wish I would have recorded it. Changing a valve on the black tank with the tank being full is a scary thought. He did it very well and no mess.

[@karenireland1544]

Wow! So thankful everyone is ok and only cosmetic damages to Sue and Johns trailer. We had a similar experience following google maps when in New Brunswick at night. We were sent down a road which got worse as our GPS told us we were at our destination (a provincal park near St. John's) and finally got to an abandoned gravel pit where we managed to turn around! We now always have a paper map with us! Thanks for the awesome.reviews, points and tips. ❤

[@caroleholla8613]

Sorry to here you were stuck in that road closure. I'm from Mattawa and I was visiting my family that weekend. The line of stopped traffic was so long .I think the road reopened the next day or later that night. There was two major accident last summer forcing road closure. July and September.

[@kimgardnerrealestate]

Heading here in September, we do have river front! Yay! Thanks for the great review n never trust google maps! Glad they are ok. Can’t wait to see Samuel De Champlain

[@mbirch1593]

Oh man...our worst nightmare while pulling a trailer! We also had something similar happen to us between Restoule and Mikisew, but in our case, the road didn't get narrow like what Sue and John experienced. Passing the" this road is unserviced" was scary though.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

In our case going from Restoule to Mikisew, the road kept getting smaller like with Sue and John. We were lucky to find a spot to turn around. Who knows how bad the road would have gotten had we continued.

[@mbirch1593]

@@CampingwiththeColes 😬

[@robertjordan7323]

Totally agree. Never put 100% trust in electronic maps if your gut says differently. Thanks for posting

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Thanks for watching!

[@suezaple4950]

Sucks what happened to your friends guess one cant always depend on Google maps happy someone helped them . I enjoyed seeing what Driftwood PP was like . I wouldnt mind a park like this as I car or tent camp. And love hiking with the dog, Gorgeouse view of the Ottawa river. Thank's folks.

[@kylemallett283]

I think we took that same road you mentioned going from mikisew to restoule. Luckily we weren’t pulling the trailer at the time but it was not a fun drive. Would be nice if google maps had a towing mode which would only take you on roads meant for towing. Waze at least has the option to avoid gravel roads.

[@camper69]

WOW!! Lucky for sure! I learned a while ago not to trust my GPS or Google Maps. Sometimes their "roads" are ATV trails or a few times just hiking trails!

[@DayHikerFromTheSix]

My heart goes out to Sue and John, as I can't imagine the emotions they when through. We had a similar misadventure with Google maps when it took us on the Red Coat Trail in Southern Alberta. We were trying to get from Eastend Saskatchewan to Waterton Lakes National Park. The shortcut meant we didn't have to drive back up to the Trans Canada. It started out as a normal paved highway, then turned to a gravel road. Then there was a cattle guard, and from that point on it was a muddy, rutted trail with cattle everywhere. Our stress wasn't as bad I'm sure since we could have turned around at any time. We pressed on, and by the time we got to the next North/South paved road, our transfer case was overheating, the car smelled of burned transmission fluid, and the car and trailer were both coated with at least a 1000 pounds of mud. So we scraped the mud off, let everything cool down, then drove up to the Trans Canada anyway to find a car/RV wash. Moral of the story: when the gravel starts, turn around. Thankfully, no lasting damage to anything...just transmission fluid change required.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

That's another scary story. So many of us have these kinds of stories and people need to hear them so they can learn from them. It could happen to anyone!

[@skitaz007]

Love the videos. Keep up the great work. Question, where did you get the connect 4 game?

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Connect 4 was purchased at Marshalls. Sue and John's daughter bought it for them.

[@tonyacunningham6338]

At the end of June, we also did what I believe to be the same dirt road/atv path you noted from Restoule to Mikisew with our 18' trailer in tow. We have since made a rule that if the road turns to gravel we need to stop and investigate our directions more closely. As noted in another comment, Waze has an avoid unpaved roads and due to this, we have begun using that as our GPS. But as noted, we do have a paper map in our vehicle with us.

[@Nausome_nana]

I laughed when you had a paper atlas, my husband laughed when I bought one. I told him some time we may lose a signal and need it. That was quite an adventure you had. I can see how easily it can happen. It was wonderful those ATV ‘ers were. able to help your friends and host a little get together after. I am sure they needed some down time to relax after that ordeal. There is always a story to be told when out camping.😂😂 Safe travels ❤️

[@CampingwiththeColes]

I usually download areas from Google Maps before a trip if I think we're going to an area that we might lose service. I didn't download anything in that area though so I'm glad we had the map.

[@JeannineHubel]

we really enjoy your videos. We were wondering what game you are playing at 8:48 in the video?

[@CampingwiththeColes]

That game is called Dice Poker. We bought from an Ontario company called Michaud Toys. We have no affiliation with them. We just like their games. We have a few different ones. Here is a link: www.michaudtoys.org/

[@JeannineHubel]

@@CampingwiththeColesthanks, it looks like a lot of fun. We’ll check them out 👍

[@supergoodcamping]

That looks like a super comfy shirt! Thanks so much for repping!! Our condolences to the family of the accident victim. Glad to know that your friends' misadventure ended much better than it could have. Cheers to the family that found them & got them freed!! Thanks for another wonderful video and review. Make sure that atlas stays in there the next time you're cleaning the truck out. :)

[@CampingwiththeColes]

It is a comfy shirt! Thanks for watching.

[@Anne-qv7ve]

I think you would really like the Backroad Map Books. I never travel Ontario without them.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

I just looked it up. Never heard of the Backroad Mapbook before. Looks great for exploring. I think we'll stick to the main roads when towing our trailer though. We're not looking for adventure then.

[@fishing7743]

We enjoy your videos very much! What was the board game you were playing with blue and red chips?

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Cheryl and Sue were playing Dice Poker. It's made by a family company in Jarvis Ontario. We're not affiliated with them at all, we just love their games. We have Dice Poker, Dice Baseball and Rummoli. The company is Michaud Toys www.michaudtoys.org/

[@fishing7743]

@@CampingwiththeColes Thank you for the response. It looks like a fun game.

[@dougsmith7195]

NEVER leave the Interstate!!! In 2018 we drove London to Los Angeles, going through Iowa there was an accident, same scenario, the back roads in Iowa are not like the roads in Ontario. I learned just wait it out. Luckily our Escape 17B and 4Runner can go anywhere. The Escape is like a new Trillium!!!

[@dougsmith7195]

Great video!!!

[@xxgg]

What is a good quality LARGE print Ontario map? like seen in the video?

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We have the Map Art road Atlas and we like it. I wouldn't call it large print though as they have to fit a lot of information on a page. You can get it at Mapart.com. Here is the link www.mapart.com/Canada-USA-Road-Atlas--1223_p_1920.html

[@suhailhabibzadah8634]

Have you guys done a review on brant conservation?

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Not yet!

[@66Thetraveller]

What is the dice poker chip board game you have?

[@CampingwiththeColes]

That's Dice Poker www.michaudtoys.org/products/dice-poker. We got it from Michaud Toys. They are a family run Ontario company. We have no affiliation with them but we love their games and have purchased a few different ones. Dice Poker is our favourite.

[@frankharvey2809]

What was the board game you were playing with the poker chips?

[@CampingwiththeColes]

That was Dice Poker. We got in online from www.michaudtoys.org/ we are not affiliated with them in any way, we just love their board games. We also have Dice Baseball and Rummoli from them. They are a family business from Jarvis Ontario.

[@01AceAlpha]

Wise lesson not to push it to get to your destination. Play it smart and safe.

[@chantellek3982]

Wow. This has happened to me, following google maps up near Orangeville. Thankfully I was in a little Jetta to maneuver… but yes, in all scenarios- look at your whole map and the roads it plans to take you on…. I’m not quite sure how the google truck even calls these places roads 😮. Hope they can get everything fixed.

[@lordposeidon9935]

Never trust android map or Google map, It happens to me before in Fairbanks PP take a shortcut towards Windy lake PP take old cartier road that road is logging and hunting ground that can destroy your suspension system not recommended for car SUV maybe possible on pick up along the way there's cross creek bridge but size only of tires wide enough to cross or walk, becareful on that area specially for city drivers😅😊😮 enjoy camping to all of us Killbear Pp || next week

[@ruthdalton1752]

Why is it, do you think that every park review you guys have done you see so many empty sites but if you check the Ontario parks site there are no vacancies. I saw this when I was at Grundy and Canisbay this year? This is so maddening. What is going on in your opinion?

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Our videos may make the parks seem less busy because of how we film it. We usually film the campsites in the early afternoon when many have left and the new people haven't arrived yet. I also try to record empty sites rather than occupied sites because not everyone wants to be in a video. That being said, we've noticed over the past few years many sites sitting empty while the website says they're reserved. Don't know what's up with that. I hope to speak with somebody from the parks at some point to try to figure it out.

[@ruthdalton1752]

@@CampingwiththeColes thanks for your response. I get what you are saying too. It is a frustrating reservation system. Keep doing what you are doing. Your videos are a great resource and fun to watch. I hope I run into you guys somewhere, sometime. Just missed you last year at Grundy! Oh and I love the music on your videos too! Excellent job!

[@donmcconnery5080]

I know the area very well and There are not any good detours for trailers. You have to know where you are going if you get off the road. Hopefully, they have repaired the road into Sammy D and the sites as well. It is a beautiful area, but the last time we were there it needed a lot of TLC. We were very disappointed with the condition of the laneways and the sites were badly washed out. Never a good thing when accidents happen, but the ones to blame are the governments. Shame on them for not twinning the Trans-Canada Hwy. No reason for Hwy 11 and 17 not to be twinned. When crossing Ontario which is the widest province east to west too many accidents happen because of this. Great video and glad you are alright

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Yeah it's really something up there. Hwy 17 is the only route across the province and when it's blocked like it often is for an accident, then everything stops. There is no way around. We've learned a valuable lesson from this. RVs only go on big roads. Skip the gravel detours.

[@gernestmartelle9547]

We have been mislead a few times with google so we always double check our paper atlas or gazateers.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

That's a good practice to have. We've had a couple scary instances too with Google Maps.

[@DavidRienties]

Rogers mobilespotty service

[@OttawaMale43]

Funny that Ontario Govt has made camping only 7 nights and you STILL see empty sites in your video. AND you still get the complaints on the camping in Ontario FB pages that you cant get a site. My suggestion is 10 days and if 24 hrs after check in, if there isnt a structure on the site then that person looses all of the fees and the camp site goes back up for rental. The rangers could take a count every day in the mornings. With this way people wont just book a camp site with an intention of showing up later in the week and leaving all these sites empty.

[@davidbrown3572]

If someone pays for the site, it is their priviledge to not show up. Most folks will cancel and retrieve some of a refund. There may be a multitude of reasons people do not show up on their first day with bad weather being the predominant one. To say they forfeit their campsitre after a 24 hr period is rediculous. They paid for this chunk of property and use it as they see fit.

[@OttawaMale43]

Takes 5 minutes to cancel it if you arent showing up. Stop everyone bitching about not being able to get a site and cancel that site and allow someone else to enjoy it. Ill be in Algonquin in Sept and I bet most of the sites will be vacant and no one can get in there. I guess if you were smart because Algonquin is paperless you would just show up and take over an empty site. @@davidbrown3572

[@davidbrown3572]

Wow! Despite the all the accumulative troubles. Luck was on their side. Must have missed the warning signs of non serviced road. I have travelled North andn know how rugged utility roads are along with logging roads. Definitely not meant for trailers. These roads are not generally mapped out for public use and good chance you will meet a heavily laden logging truck barreling down the road towards you. Your friends are extemely fortunate to not have gotten into a terrible accident. Glad all worked out for them.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Yep, this could have ended up much worse for them. We don't know how they would have gotten out if the family didn't come along on their ATVs.

[@jason.3011]

If u go to Emily its a walk to my house