Tents line the park in front of Farine Five Roses on Lachine Canal.

I’ve camped twice in my life. The first was a 3 day / 2 night school hike during that awkward end-of-year period where the school is still responsible for you but the curriculum has been completed. It was intended to be 4 days / 3 nights, but driving rain throughout the second night lead to soaking wet kids and gear. The prospect for the adults of placating a group of tormented creatures for another 2 days and 1 night proved unpalatable. The buses were called in early and the hike ended that day.

In contrast, Canada offers a much more comfortable introduction to the outdoors. While more glamping than camping, Parks Canada in Montreal puts on Learn to Camp workshops for little tikes to experience sleeping under the protection a sheet of cloth without having to leave the city. The venue is a small park at the northern end of Lachine Canal, at the foot of the famous Farine Five Roses flour mill (long decommissioned but with heritage status that sees the sign continue to stand after having a mixed history). Little me thinks he would have enjoyed this.

Looking north to the grain silos

You can’t see it in this photo, so you’ll just have to believe me when I say the fog was thick.