Hey guys,

I looked pretty hard through the forum, but couldn't find anything on this, so hopefully this isn't a rehash.

I am still planning my trip to Kiosk this summer, and on the last day, instead of driving home (12 hours), my friend and I want to go to North Bay, clean up, grab some chow and a brew, and find a nice place to pitch a tent for the night, so that we can be up and out early next morning.

Does anyone know:

1) A cheap place to clean up, i.e public shower?
2) A good, cheap bar (the divey-er the better )
3) A place where we could pitch a tent, preferably for free.

I hope I emphasized the frugality of the situation

Thanks so much


Tenzing

"I was never one to obsess about the past. Too much to do in the future."

As for public showers, you can try the local marinas on Lake Nipissing in the downtown area. Another suggestion would be to stay at Samuel de Champlain Prov. Park for the night and grab your shower there and you can head into Mattawa for a brewski. The one restaurant we like in North Bay is Moose's Loose change Lodge (huge tasty chicken wings). Another option is to camp at Arrowhead Prov. Park, grab your shower there and drive into Huntsville where there's a no. of good restaurants but this route also depends on where you call home and how your route will be. Hopefully, this is of some help. As for free camping, I'll check this one book I have and it may give some crown land options where camping is free to Canadian residents, nonresidents have to pay a small fee.

Harry

Harry,

Thanks for the info. I'm guessing that the other PPs will have fees as well (don't hate, I'm from the States )

Huntsville could work as well, as I'm going home through Niagara Falls/Buffalo. I've been there once on the way out of the Tim about eight years ago. But one of the reasons I was initially attracted to North Bay was that I haven't been there before and I always like going to new places.

So if anyone has a good bar, I'm all ears...

Tenzing

"I was never one to obsess about the past. Too much to do in the future."

Depends on what you are looking for.....if its an all guys trip
the corner of 11 and 17 there is an establisment by the name of Fannys, there are also several motels on the corner I.E. Travellodge.

Geez, even I've heard of Fanny's...hehehe

Sort of like the Atherley Arms, eh?




Barbara

Hey, I won a dance in a raffle at the Atherly Arms!

Check truck stops near North Bay. They often have coin-op showers.

To pitch a tent for free all you need is a piece of crown land.

Husky-top of hill Hwy 11 north
Fifth Wheel-just off hwy 11 south, before you hit North Bay, thyy have coin showers
if you want a crown land spot to camps, head out hwy 63 about 30 km toward Quebec, about 10 minutes past Redbridge and Balsom Creek. you will see the Nortbay Fish culture station road on the right. The next road turn Right go about 1 km,(right on a big bend) turn left follow road to end. 20 minute lake several crown land spots there. Also close to the trout culture station, so you never know what you will catch in there. use this link to see map directions. I grew up out there, and have camped there manytimes. Its just a clearing in the woods

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&saddr=Trout+Lake+Rd&daddr=46.462458,-79.164391&hl=en&geocode=FdbDwgIdEMpD-w%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=13&sll=46.440814,-79.18808&sspn=0.08801,0.150204&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=13

The "B" is approximatly where you turn left to go to the lake, you can kinda see the road in the image. These are gravel/bush roads but no problem for a car

Sorry those 2 previous posts were me. If you want more info PM me

hehehe....men.

want free camping, and cheap chow & showers, but willing to spend the bucks in a "gentlemen's establishment". LOL

Priorities, eh?


Preacher....please don't expand on that story. We'll just leave the details to our imaginations, ok?




Barbara

it is fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A yeah the y.m.c.aaaaa!!!
google is a wonderful thang,,, use it dude? lazy, lazy!!

But the punchline is awesome!

Mrs. finds out, I didn't think it was a big deal. She hits the roof. Fine. So we have a Marriage Rule. About a week later she's talking about her upcoming trip to Vegas with her mother, "And we're getting tickets to Chippendale's!"

Excuse me? I thought we had a Rule? "It's not the same thing," says she.

Sauce for the goose baby, sauce for the goose.

Can't compare Vegas Chippies to dive Chickies there Preacher

Guess this really broadens the definition of a canoe trip for wives.

Thanks for the "advice". That said, I don't think we'll be going into Fannies, lest I want the gf to kick my butt and leave me. And since we're probably going in her car, that would be a stupid idea.

Swedish, I did google, but you can't tell much from an advertisement. I was just wondering if anyone knew a good place to recommend. Also, the free tent pad doesn't usually come up in a search

Thanks for the advice and keep it coming if you don't mind, minus the strip clubs.

Tenzing

"I was never one to obsess about the past. Too much to do in the future."

A stripper is a stripper. The rest is superficial. No problem with the no strippers rule. No room for double standards. The irony of it all had me laughing. As though I can't buy a $1 chocolate bar from the corner variety store, but she can buy a $10 one from the chi-chi chocolatier boutique.

At the moment I'm thinking it's going to be a long winter.

If you go to Huntsville and really want a dive bar, check out the Hideaway Pub on Main St. There's also the Bayview near the train station but I can't remember if it's still open or not.

Personally I would go to the Pub on the Docks behind Pizza Pizza or the Kelsey's.

Chris

My wife wanted to see what it was all about, so the last time we were in North Bay
we all went to Fanny's, including my sister and her friend. We laughed or Asses off.
there is no such thing as " your not allowed " in our house.

OK I'm from the Bay AKA North Bay. I suggest paying the 20.00 and pitching your tent here http://www.champlaintrailerpark.com/index.html. You will be right by Lake Nippising and an easy 15 to 20min walk from the bar your looking for. Its called Alkazars. Cheep beer and some pool tables and not a bad establishment (off track horse betting as well). Anyway I always start and end my trips at Kiosk and you will not be dissapointed. Carmen (the lady that runs the Kiosk access) is THE BEST. I also manage a restaurant in North Bay and if you come, email me closer to your trip date and I will see if i can get you a special AA meal deal for a fellow paddler....oh it will include chow and beer. That goes for any other TRAVELING AA'RS...oh what have i done


John

Hey John, where you work there? I used to run the kitchen on the "old chief" for the first 3 years it was open, and cook at Churchills.......now I design military protection systems....quite the flip in careers.

Thanks John! That sounds great.