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BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1976 SECTION TWO Darlington Park.. Great Spot for a Picnic This photo shows part of the interior of the pioneer cabin located in the central area of the park site near Lake Ontario. All of the furniture and artifactswere donated by local residents when the restored cabin was moved to its present site in 1967. The cabin is open to the public on weekends during the camping season from mid-May untii Thanksgiving. by Liz Armstrong Even though it's located only seven miles west of Bowmanville, few people in this area make use of the facilities available at Darling- ton Provincial Park. In some ways it's an understandable situation. We usually associate the 401 corrider west of here as a route to shopping centres, jobs, big city entertainment and urban development, and look to the east and north for our outdoor recreation. And there's truth in the old rule of thumb that local residents are often less familiar with near- by attractions than tourists are. Statistics show that thou- sands of other people have been less reluctant to take advantage of the scenic 380 acre park site located south of the 401 between Courtice Road and the Beaton Farm. In fact, since Darlington Park's camping facilities were opened for the season in mid-May, well over 100,000 people have paid a visit, including 22,000 campers. By the end of July last year there had been even more visitors, partly because of the excellent weather conditions that prevailed. Not Crowded In sheer numbers, it sounds as if Darlington Park would be a badly over-crowded spot, though in reality it has rarely been filled to capacity for the past two or three seasons, according to Park Superin- tendent Brian Swaile. There's plenty of space for everyone. If you're from this area, the chances are that you wouldn't consider using the park's overnight camping faciities, and yet, it might provide a nice change of pace from the usual weekend fiasco. Think about it - - no Friday night or Sunday evening traffiç snarls, no two or three hour drive to your destination (which may already be filled to capacity) and no great fuss about the weather. If it should turn out to be a soggy weekend, then it's a simple chore to pack up and head home for more suitable wet weather activities. At Darlington Park, there are 360 campsites for tents and trailers, of which 102 are equipped -ewith Ï letiiW outlets. At each site there is a fireplace, a picnic table and enough space for one vehicle. Conveniences such as toilets, a laundromat, comfort sta- tions, showers, firewood (one amload per campsite per night) and a trailer dumping station are all located nearby. As in all of Ontario's 125 provincial parks, the cost per night for using a site at Darlington is $4.00. The others are $3.50 and if you're a senior citizen, there's no charge at all. Daytime Facilities For the, average daytime visitor to the park, there's plenty to do. You can pack a lunch and enjoy yourself in one of the three main picnic areas, all of which have a large shelter, drinking water and toilet facilities close by. Or bring a steak at dinnertime and cook it on one of the many barbecues on the site. Bring along a fishing rod if you've got a taste for eels, which many people consider to be a delicacy. Several other species of pan-fish can also be caught in the lake. At the western end of the park, you can launch a motorboat, canoe or sailboat for an afternoon on the water in the park's protected bay. And if you enjoy walking, the 210 acres set aside on the premises for day use offer plenty of room for a good hike. There's also a self-guided walking trail along the ravine for those who want to learu more about the park's natural surroundings. If you follow the tail end of the marked trail down toward the lake, you'll eventually arrive at an authentic pioneer cabin. It dates back to the 1830's, and was restored and moved to its present location as a Township of Darlington cen- tennial project in 1967. It's open on the weekends, and visitors will find many inter- esting pioneer tools, artifacts and furniture inside. A pioneer cemetery with several weathered headstones is situated close by. During the summer months, the park employs one staff member to arrange evening programs (such as films and slide shows) and to interpret the park's history and natural environment for visitors. This past weekend, three senior citizens from Oshawa took part in a quilting bee on Saturday afternoon, and an official from the Department of Natural Resources present- ed a slide show about fishing and wildlife in the evening. Coming events this month include a macrame demon- stration, and presentations by the Maple Leaf Judo Club and the Oshawa Naturalists. No Sandy Beach Darlington Park would be filled to capacity every week- end if it had a good sand beach,· Mr. Swaile explained. As it is, most people don't like to swim because of the stones and pebbles, and are further discouraged by the cool water temperatures. But it you're a reasonably brave soul, you should have no problem add- ing swimming to your list of activities. The quality of the lake water is good this year, and tests are conducted every two weeks just to make sure that it is always safe for swimmers. Open Year Round The park's camping facili- ties are closed at Thanks- giving, but the grounds re- main open to the public for the rest of the year. Cross country skiers, snowmobilers and snowshoe fans can take full advantage of the rolling hills and trails when the snow falls. When the bay freezes over and the ice becomes safe, park employees clear one area of the bay for ice-skating. All in all, it's quite a haven for outdoor enthusiasts in the cold months of winter. In fact, all year round it's a bit too pleasant just to pass by. Welcome to Darlington Provincial Park. Perhaps because it's locatea so close by, îew resigents of the Town of Newcastle regularly use its facilities. Others come in droves. By the end of July, over 100,000 visitors had passed through the main gate, including 21,000 campers. Here, a family from Lansing, Illinois sets up a tent in the wooded area of the campgrounds. Many of the other sites are quite open and offer a good view of Lake Ontario. After depositing his shoes at the edge of the dock, this young fisherman from Toronto tries is luek at the deep end. Within a few moments, he'd hooked a catfish, though he was really hoping for a good catch of eels. At Darlington Park, there's also a regulated duck hunt each fall, and six blinds are available for rent on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the season. Book Beat Of the 360 campsites at Darlington Park, 102 are equipped with electrical outlets. Park Superintendent Brian Swaile explained that Darlington is generally used as a stop-over spot for campers travelling to other destinations. However, those who want to stay longer can book in for up to a maximum of 28 days at a stretch. "I wish thee as much pleasure in the reading as I had in the writing." Francis Quarles 1592-1644. The first book is one which is so funny that the authqr must have truly had a fine time writing it. Albert, My consort by Margaret Powell Powell's best known book is Below Stairs and this hilarious book continues the tradition. Albert is her husband and is also the perfect milkman, Though somne people find the beach at the park too stoney, and the water too cola tor swimmîng, mese three young fellows managed to have a good time anyway. Algae, alewives and shad discourage others, though the quality of the lake water is well within government standards and safe for swimming. advisor to lovelorn, taker of bets, and one of the funniest characters ever to grace a book. Half a Marriage by Violet Weingarten This is also a novel about a marriage, but of the other side of it - a marriage which is floundering. It is a sensitive picture of a woman and a man who are facing a crisis in their middle years but who manage to come out on top. Night of the Silent Drums by John Anderson A tightly woven, fascinating novel about the prelude to and the actual slave rebellion on the island of St. Jan (St. John). A realistic picture of the economic foundation of slavery is given. This book is based on an actual rebellion and so is rather horrifying because much of the story is true. Money Management by W. J. Reddin This is a Canadian book which gives detailed and practical advice on spending, saving (bonds, insurance, cash, stocks) and investment (home, car, etc.). Many excellent ideas are here for the person who wants to get more for his-her money. Other new titles which may be of interest include: All said and done - de Beauvoir Golf - Sam Snead Antique Glass - Wills The Rockefellers - Collier and Horowitz Choosing and caring for your swimming pool - Forde The Monday crafts for children age six and up and the Wednesday movies for everyone are continuing Through August. Both are at 2 p.m. at the Bowmanville Library. Behind the tall grass, a small sailboat can be seen skimming along the waters of Lake Ontario. Motor boats and, canoes can also be launched from a designated beach at the western end of the park site. Parking facilities are ample in the dayuse area; as many as 1600 cars can be accommodated at one time. Despite its size, this huge willow doesn't block the sunshine from a picnic table down by the water. There are dozens of tables available in the day use area of the park, including three large shelters which can be reseryed for groups from Monday through Saturday by phoning park authorities at 723-4341.