2013
After Dinner Views
Wouldn’t you agree that the weather was just superb for the Victoria Day long weekend? Got my first boat ride of the season in and I mostly had the lake all to myself. The water has receded to normal levels now although there are many chunks of wood and debris floating about. Enjoyed an excellent dinner at a friends and while everyone was busy cleaning up I took a few moments to grab this shot up the bay. Anything to get out of doing dishes – LOL.
2013
The Church on Lake Rosseau
Everyone familiar with touring around Lake Rosseau will recognize this landmark. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Morinus, Ontario.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water
2013
Muskoka’s New Water Park
Walking Wading through Jaspen Park on the Moon River near Bala during the incredible spring runoff and floods of 2013.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2013
A Very Full Moon
You can get a clear sense of how high the water levels are on the Moon River from this photo looking out towards the Bala Falls. Apparently water levels are on the way down on Lake Muskoka followed by Lake Rosseau and Joseph. Check out the handy little graph below with the water levels plotted over the past year.
This is a graph of the water levels on the Moon River from May 01, 2012 to May 01, 2013. Note the huge increase this year compared to last year. You can create your own graph and analyze the data by clicking here. For additional resources on the Muskoka River water management including the operating procedures for maintaining water levels, click here
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2013
Come Hell or High Water
Here are a few phone camera pics of the high water levels around Muskoka. The first photo is from my friend Cheryl who received it from her friend Lynn. It is taken down stream on the Moon River in Bala where reports of the water levels have hit up to 9 feet high. Check out the boat port roof in the photo – insane!
The other two photos were taken in Bracebridge recently where the water is so powerful it cascades over-top of the damn. Lake Muskoka docks and boathouses are flooded out as well as Lake Joe and Lake Rosseau. Some of the smaller lakes have had high water levels but seem to be recovering faster than the big lakes.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2013
Dangerous Spring Runoffs in Muskoka
The recent rain combined with the melting snow and ice has caused extreme flooding especially around rivers such as the north and south branches of the Muskoka river. The water is now exceeding the capacity of the dams in the Huntsville area. Many road closures and evacuations are taking place. Water levels are up very high on the big three lakes so you may want to have someone check on your cottage and docks. Here is a video taken around Bracebridge that shows the massive volumes of water. thanks to districtmediadesign.
More information here: http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2013
Derek Roy’s Muskoka Shack
Lots of people like to know who’s who around Muskoka. I guess It’s natural human curiosity. I don’t like to “out” the celebs or people of distinction who enjoy their privacy and anonymity here. In this case hockey player Derek Roy’s story is in the public domain. He seems like a very cool guy having built a beautiful cottage for his friends and family to enjoy.
Part #2 – love the goalie in the tube with full gear – LOL
2013
Easter Weekend Freeze-Out
I was up at the cottage for Easter and found that winter still exists in Muskoka. Two hours south in the Toronto area most of the snow has disappeared meanwhile snowmobiles are still buzzing across the lake up north. I chopped a hole through the ice to try and free a frozen bubbler and was surprised to see the ice is still about 8 inches thick. I predict the ice will leave about April 23?
In: boathouses of muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water
2013
Spring Expectations
I took this shot a few weeks ago when it seemed like the spring meltdown was imminent. I think its safe to say going into Easter weekend that the obstinate winter weather is behind us.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns
2013
The Last Blast?
Mother nature is not quite finished with us yet. Another blast of winter has arrived keeping the snowmobile trails and ski hills in the area in fine form. Here is a shot looking out onto the ice from the park in Rosseau. In like a Shetland Pony and out like an Orangutang.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2013
Endogenous Spring Rhythms
I don’t know what all the hoopla is about losing an extra hour of sleep when daylight savings time arrives. Perhaps just sleep an extra hour if your circadian rhythm goes out of sync. For me its a welcoming sign that spring is near and the lakes will be opening up soon. I long for the warm weather, swimming, boating, BBQ, campfires, echoing Loons and good friends on the dock.
2013
Welcome to Sled City
During the Gravenhurst winter carnival it seemed like all the commotion was happening a bit to the north at Muskoka Bay Park. I ventured out onto the ice where hundreds of snowmobilers were involved in the high speed radar runs.
Please click on the photo for a larger shot.
2013
They Run a Tight Ship
I traveled through the town of Gravenhurst this past weekend stumbling upon their annual Winter Carnival festivities. There wasn’t much happening around the Steamships so I decided to take a walk and snap a few pics around the area.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2013
Willmotts General Store
This is Willmotts General Store located in the Beaumaris area of Muskoka. Beaumaris is located on Tondern Island which you simply drive over a bridge to get to.
From Wikipedia: In 1873 McCarthy sold the island to Edward Prowse and John Harry Willmott for $1,560. The two divided the island in half with Willmott taking the northern and Prowse the southern half. The new owners named the settlement Beaumaris after the resort in Anglesey, Wales where they had vacationed. Prowse settled in the big white house while Willmott built a log house next to the site of the present day Willmott store. They cleared part of the land for pasture, built a dock for the newly arrived steamships and connected the island to the mainland by a small log bridge.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns
2013
The Lonely Chip Wagon
Are chip wagons & trucks a Canadian phenomenon? I don’t recall seeing them anywhere else in my travels around the globe, although I did see a cupcake and goats head soup trailer once. I notice in the summer the various chip trucks around Muskoka can be lined up with people salivating for fries or the famous artery clogging Poutine. This particular cuisine trailer is located on Hwy #118 as you leave Port Carling heading towards Bracebridge. Gravy on your fries?
Please click the photo to supersize.
2013
Frizzen Arctic Style
OK, well now we’re in it. Winter that is. Remember those warm thermals we just experienced 2 weeks ago? It was only a hallucination. The coldest measured temperature in the world, as of 6 a.m. today, was –43.1 C in Canada’s North West Territories. Muskoka is not far off at -37C this morning and that’s without the windchill factor. Brrr – Summer can’t come soon enough!
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2013
Breaking Up is Hard to Do
I had a chance to tour around Muskoka this past weekend during the unseasonably warm temperatures. The snowmobile trails are closed and in most places the ice has opened up on the lakes making it very dangerous. I stopped at Foots Bay where it was dead quiet and gazed out to Lake Joseph.
2012
Greetings of the Season
This time of year is always a reminder that it’s time to reflect on the journey and recalibrate the mind and soul in preparation for the New Year. I sincerely thank you for visiting the MuskokaBlog over the years. I have enjoyed the many comments and connections with you.
I’m taking a small blog break and off in pursuit of resplendent sunsets, sandy beaches and cool liquid concoctions, returning in January 2013. I wish you and your loved ones peace, love, health, happiness and prosperity.
Ed
2012
Seasonal Shift
I think you would agree we’ve had a good run with temperate weather in Muskoka this fall. It was relatively warm up until last week then all of a sudden like the flick of a switch it was an arctic freeze up. This is a scene I captured from the roadside not too far from Port Carling.
2012
Boats, Trees and the Fall Breeze
I used this photo for a short time in an earlier post when I was in rant mode about the Pride Marina. It didn’t quite fit the content so I moved it out and stuck it back in here. We are kind of at the in-between stage in Muskoka. The trees have been stripped of their leaves and the skies are grey as we await the first substantial snow to arrive. The photo was from a visit to the Lake of Bays area near Dorset, Ontario
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
