2009
Dead Trees and Dark Skies
I was driving across Hwy # 169 towards Gravenhurst looking for the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve.
I made a wrong turn into the community of Torrance and just kept driving and discovered this field of dead trees on the side of the road. You can see that the fall colours are starting to set in now. I later discovered Torrance Barrens was on the other side of the highway.
Please click on the image for a higher resolution 1280 pixel size.
2009
Sundown Ya Better Take Care
The suns going down early these days and seems to drop like a lead balloon once it hits the horizon. Time to bring the old swimming raft in now. It seems to have grown its own garden.
2009
Llanrwst the Miller House in Muskoka, Designed by Eero Saarinen
The Miller family have been summering in Muskoka since 1886. In 1950 J. Irwin Miller who was operating Cummins Diesel convinced well known architect Eero Saarinen to travel to Windermere on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka to design him a cottage. Saarinen was never interested in residential design however took on the commission for his fellow Yale graduate and friend. The cottage was built near the family summer home and was a modern style design that represented high art in its day.
Although the Llanrwst or Miller cottage may not appeal to most people it is certainly reflective of the great bond people felt to Muskoka by placing their treasured dreams on our shorelines. Saarinen only designed 7 residential buildings in his life time so to have one in our Muskoka is a treat.
Eero Saarinen is now considered one of the masters of American 20th century architecture with many great achievements credited to him including the Gateway Arch in St. Louis Missouri. Miller became Saarinen’s most consistent client with continuous projects from 1950 to Saarinsen’s death in 1961 at the young age of 51 due to a brain tumor operation.
Additional References:
Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future
Muskoka Famed Modernism
2009
Bat Boy to the Rescue
I stood in the yard and watched them come out in groups of 10 or 20 at a time like Stealth bombers all heading off to war. We eventually discovered there were hundreds of Brown Bats living in the cottage attic. This is not an easy problem to solve on your own so I picked up the Bat phone and called Bill Bat Boy. Bill is a Biologist and renowned expert on Bats. He was able to get the Bats to dump the cottage attic for a new swanky Bat condo and cleanup up the guano. (yup, Bat poo).
Brown Bats can eat up to their own body weight in insects per night so its not a bad idea to try and keep them around. Bill Bat Boy installed two of these cool Bat houses at each end of the cottage. Its been quite a few years now and we are happy to report that there are no Bats caught in peoples hair nor are there any vampire like marks on visitors necks.
Bill Bat Boy has some interesting information about bats on his website.
http://www.billbatboy.ca
Please click on the image for a large photo
2009
The Swirls of Summer are Just a Memory Now
This season Uncle Eddie’s summer camp had more guests then ever, especially kids. The visitors are just a memory now as Muskoka empties out and we blend into fall. The roads are quiet, the shops near empty and the boat traffic is minimal. The cottage season is over for some but for others its just a change.
2009
Under the Train Trestle
The train leaves at 10am – be under it.
Underneath the train trestle on a clear sunny morning with a little lens flare du jour
Please click on the pic for a large sized photo.
2009
A Boatload of Free
I hope everyone enjoyed Labor Day long weekend. I think it was the best weather of the entire summer.
I noticed this rather large lawn ornament on highway #118 outside of Port Carling. I had a little peek inside and would not hesitate to say – free is not going to be cheap.
2009
Puzzled
We had a lot of family and friends roll through the cottage this year. Unfortunately due to the rainy weather kids ended up staying inside more then they should have. When I was a kid I don’t recall ever being inside as we were told that the fishing was better in the rain. 🙂 These days most kids are hard-wired to reality distortion generator devices however it was good to see some old school, brain exercising activities like the classic jigsaw puzzle.
Coincidentally it happens to be the birthday of an old friend of mine who I refer to as “Puzzle Woman”. I have been trying to figure Puzzle out since my teens to no avail. So if you are out there somewhere Puzzle – Happy Birthday!
2009
Looking For Goldie and Kurt
Wheres Goldie? Can you take me to Goldie? Have you seen Goldie?
Everyone wants to know where Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell hang their hats in Muskoka. I fought with myself on whether I should make this post however I reasoned that in Muskoka, Goldie has pretty much been outed a long time ago. However, out of respect I don’t dare drive into her quiet little bay as its blatantly obvious why you are there.
Muskoka is filled with all kinds of celebs, kings of industry and sports stars extraordinaire who come to enjoy its beauty and avoid the hoopla.
So from a distance please wave to Goldie however if you need to see just a teeny bit bigger please click on the image.
2009
Johnny Winter, Still Alive and Well in Muskoka
The legendary guitarist Johnny Winter played Muskoka this past weekend. There were only 100 tickets available and of course this concert sold out months ago. If you are not familiar with Johnny Winter he is one of the greatest guitar legends of all time having played with Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and even touring with and producing the great Muddy Waters. Johnny and his brother Edgar were both born albino and have forged careers as great white blues rockers. It was almost to the day that they both performed at Woodstock 40 years ago.
Saturday nights concert was performed at Peters Players in Gravenhurst, Ontario. The room is built like a giant rec room/bar connected to the rear of Peters home. Peter is in the music promotion business with deep connections and the ability to book unbelievably high quality performers. One of the most intimate concert experiences you will ever have.
Check out Peters website and see who else is coming: www.petersplayers.com
Update: I was contacted by Peter of Peters Players who saw my photo and asked if they could use it for a promo.
Click HERE
2009
Muskoka Chain Saw Manicure
This chain saw dude was really going to town.
When I first walked by he was carving up a tree stump like Gramps used to do with the turkey.
About a half hour later it was Boo Boo Bear
Please click for super size
2009
Back Road Boogie
I followed Butter and Egg Road off of Hwy #118 towards Bracebridge, Ontario and soon and ended up on a road called Falkenburg Road. This 1942 Dodge tandem truck was sitting in a farmers field waiting for a new owner.
Click on the Image for a large photo – thanks
2009
The Ditchburns of Muskoka
In 1869, four Ditchburn descendants, brothers William, Henry, John and Arthur, emigrated to Canada from England. They settled in the village of Rosseau, Ontario. When the resort industry in Muskoka began to flourish. The Ditchburn brothers turned to what they new best, their family tradition of boat building.
After about 20 years of building small craft in Rosseau, the Ditchburns, moved their operations to the Muskoka Wharf area of Gravenhurst in 1890. Gravenhurst had much more traffic as the trains arrived and the steamers departed for various parts of the lakes. The Ditchburn is considered one of the most cherished crafts and a household name in Muskoka.
This is the identification plate off of the 31 ft launch On Behalf Of Sam, a 1930’s Ditchburn docked in Gravenhurst Bay.
Ditchburn History
Please click on the image for a large sized photo.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water
2009
Mother Nature and Human Nature Brings Tragedy in Muskoka
Its been a very tragic time in Muskoka this past week. There have been at least five drownings and an airplane crash that claimed the lives of two people. Its unfortunate as people were out enjoying the majestic beauty of the area when disaster strikes.
The recent rains have caused the rivers and streams to move at a very fast rate. Although the falls look soothing, beautiful and inviting its very deceiving on how powerful and dangerous mother nature can be. Most of the drownings were a result of swimming near very dangerous waterfalls.
The photo below was taken last week in Bracebridge.
It gives you an idea of the dangerous volumes of water flowing through the region.
Please be careful!
2009
Classic Cars in Muskoka, Ontario
The classic car and boat show in Rosseau, Ontario on August 01, 2009.
These shows always bring in hoards of people that wander around and admire the beauties. I wonder whats in the little black bag?
Please click on the photo for a large size
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2009
In the Belly of a Muskoka Steamship
I had a chance to spend some time in the pilothouse with the Captain of the R.M.S. Segwun steamship in Gravenhurst earlier this month. I thought it would be rather fitting to also visit the engine room to see whats happening. Well you can see by the look of crew Grumpy that he was none to pleased to see me and my camera. Oh well, I’m sure he got over it.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns
2009
Look up … Look Way Up
Things are looking up in Parry Sound, Ontario the hometown of one of the greatest hockey players ever Bobby Orr no less. This is a shot looking straight up from under the Canadian Pacific Railway train trestle. Its quite an engineering feat from the early 1900’s.
Please click for a 1280 pixel sized photo
Click on the image for a biggie shot
In: in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns, uncategorized
2009
Steaming Down the Isle
A group of us were out on the Segwun steamship recently and as we disembarked we noticed the Wenonah II was filled with well dressed people unlike our obligatory T’s and Sneaks. It was a weddings day in Gravenhurst and your soup spoons on your right?
As we strolled down the dock I noticed the bride and groom walking towards us. I had to do some advanced ninja contortion moves to get the camera out in time to fire off a couple of quick shots before they disappeared into a new life.
2009
The Rambler – The Gravenhurst Antique and Classic Boat Show
I noticed this mammoth monster sized boat in Port Carling last year. Someone told me it used to be Conrad Black’s boat but I’m not sure about that. Connie did like things a tad grandiose so its always possible.
Just a reminder that this Saturday July 11, 2009 is the 29th annual Antique and Cassic Boat Show down in Gravenhurst. All the classic boats will be there along with a flea market, steam boat rides and more …
Its definitely worth checking out. More info here and here
Update: August 5, 2014 – this boat is called the Rambler and is owned by Bobby Genovese and is part of the BG Vintage Racing Team. Recently restored the Rambler Debuts Saturday August 9, 2014 at Muskoka Lakes Association Show, Port Carling, Ontario. More info here.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2009
Take Me to Your Captain
It was a blustery 4th of July when I had a chance to board the R.M.S. Segwun steamship out of Gravenhurst, Ontario. The Segwun is North Americas oldest operating steamship and one of the crown jewels of Muskoka. The R.M.S. designation stands for “Royal Mail Ship” and you can still mail a letter or postcard from her today. I had the opportunity to spend some time in the pilothouse with the Captain discussing his many adventures on the Muskoka Lakes.
Put it on your bucket list if you are visiting Muskoka or plan to in the future
Steamship schedule and info
Please click on the image for a Steamship sized photo
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water
