2008
On Frozen Pond
Last night the temperature went down to about -2C. When I awoke I noticed the pond out front was frozen and contained some unique patterns in the ice. I knew it was time to get the boats out for November is upon us.
click on image for biggie size
2008
The Sun Sets Over Clevelands House in Muskoka
The sun sets over Clevelands House to end another summer/fall season in Muskoka. I took this photo from a new trail that opened up along the shoreline from the Wallace Marina over to the New Red Leaves Resort. Of course Red Leaves now owns Clevelands and the entire shoreline around to the resort. It has to be close to 2 miles of shoreline on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka – do the math.
Click for bigger size
In: boathouses of muskoka, historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, uncategorized
2008
The Old Cranberry Truck in Bala, Ontario
Just before the Cranberry Festival hit the Town of Bala I made a trip over to Johnston’s Cranberry Farm. The leaves were almost peaking and the sun was warm at least compared to now. This old truck was or is used for the harvest of cranberries on the farm. It looks like it probably still works.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns
2008
Sundown on the 5th hole in Muskoka
Sundown on the 5th hole at The Rock Golf Course in Muskoka. This place was totally deserted and even without the trees in foliage its a spectacular place to check out.
2008
October Sky in Muskoka
You can feel that the final days of fall are upon us. The brisk air and unsettling wind bring reminders that winter is just around the corner. Its time to take the boats out of the water and give-in to the change of seasons. It snowed last week and it won’t be long until it stays.
2008
Lock #45 Port Severn, Ontario
When you take highway # 400 north to cottage country you pass over the Severn River that empties into Georgian Bay. This is the township of Port Severn or Severn as its known today. Severn is part of the Trent Severn waterway that is 387 km’s long and consists of 44 locks, 39 swing bridges and 160 dams. This photo was taken near lock #45 the smallest of them all.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2008
The Pileted Woodpecker
I have tried a number of times unsuccessfully to photograph this Pileated Woodpecker? (Dryocopus pileatus) that I see around my cottage from time to time. They are very timid and do not stay in one place for more than a few seconds. I just happened to be standing outside with my camera in hand and this guy flew right beside me. They are a pretty large bird and the same one as Woody.
2008
Out in Muskoka’s Cranberry Patch
Cranberry Marsh in Muskoka Canada
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns, uncategorized
2008
Muskoka Island Reflections in the Fall
I snapped this Muskoka island in the early morning light. The water was perfectly still and reflected the trees, boathouse and white puffy clouds above. There are numerous islands throughout the Muskoka Lakes and each and every one is unique in its own way. You have to be careful navigating your boat near them as there is often shallow water surrounding them.
Muskoka Island (Click on Image to Enlarge)
2008
Exploring the Ghost Town of Swords Ontario
Swords Rd. (click image for biggie size)
2008
A walk through the Muskoka Forest
The fall colors were at peak this past Thanksgiving weekend and you couldn’t ask for better weather. I was lucky enough to tag along on a nature hike with one of Canada’s foremost naturalists, Robin Tapley. The nature hike was courtesy of Red Leaves Muskoka Resort who have setup an impressive 700 acre nature preserve with trails for hiking, skiing and biking which will be open to the public to explore.
Another picture taken from one of the many trails deep into the Muskoka wild and marshland. I highly recommend anyone who spends time in Muskoka to take a walk through these trails. I noticed they are building a maple sugar camp in the bush which will be ready for the spring thaw.
2008
Joseph River Muskoka Boathouse at Sundown
The fall colors have not quite peaked as of yet but should be vibrant this weekend coming which is Canada’s Thanksgiving. There is a little island that sits out in the Joe River that you can see from the road just south of Minett, Ontario. The sun had just set when I snapped this.
In: boathouses of muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water
2008
Purks Place in Bala another Muskoka landmark slated for teardown
Their motto is Boats and Bait since 1908. Purks Place is a Muskoka landmark located on Burgess Island at the Bala Falls in Bala, Ontario. It appears Purk’s will be no more. In the near future a hydro electric power plant is slated to be built in its place. Some of the locals have been in opposition to this and have setup a website savethebalafalls.com
Interesting article by local Bala author and musician Jack Hutton. Â Who Cares About Purks’s Place?
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2008
Muskoka Roadside Mailbox Attractions with Dueling Banjo Soundtrack
While driving the back roads of Muskoka I discovered this wonderfully weird mailbox. Those are actually large boulders mounted on top that would weigh a ton. The driveway also had two poles with similar boulders adorning each side. I was curious what I would discover down at the end of this driveway, maybe a great artist or some other eccentric character? The dueling banjo’s went off in my head and I decided it was just a little too creepy to continue.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns, uncategorized
2008
Bracebridge Fall Fair Revisited
Another photo from the recent Bracebridge fall fair. I noticed these two beauties, a Fairlane 500 and a 1931 Ford Model A with a rumble seat. My father used collect cars and had one like this. When I was a kid we would ride into town in one of those bumpy rumble seats -man we thought we were so cool waving to everyone while it put-putted away.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns
2008
Interesting Boathouses on the Muskoka Lakes
One of the most striking things you notice when visiting Muskoka are the many types of beautiful boathouses. They vary from rustic to charming to grandiose architectural styles. Many of these boathouses feature beautiful sitting rooms, bathrooms, exercise rooms and grand bedrooms. Sometimes driving past you can get a peak at the prized Muskoka antique boats like the Ditchburns, Minette-Shields, Dippys and Greavettes etc.
This photo is of a boathouse on a Lake Rosseau island. It appears someone really loves his sailboat.
In: boathouses of muskoka, historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water
2008
Huckleberry Rock Trail overlooking Lake Muskoka
Huckleberry Rock is one of the most scenic views in all of Muskoka. You can find the trail just off the road that takes you to Milford Bay. These rocks are some of the oldest rocks in the world, well over a billion years old. I will return in late autumn to catch some of the vivid colors.
“Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun. But, Mama, that’s where the fun is.
“Blinded by the light” — Bruce Springsteen.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water
2008
The Zipper Ride
When I was a kid we could hardly wait to go to the annual fall fair. We would usually sneak through a hole in the fence somewhere at the back so we could save the extra money for the midway. Well there was this amusement ride that all kids were really freaked out about called “The Zipper“. Of course we all wanted to ride it and brag about how we lived to survive it despite the rumors about people being launched out of the cages and crashing to a brutal death. (I later learned those weren’t rumors.)
After coming off with green faces we discovered that if we hung around the Zipper we could pick up the money that fell out of peoples pockets. This was a great way to make some extra cash until the nasty Carni man with the stick chased us away – but that’s another story. This past weekend while strolling around the Bracebridge fall fair I discovered my old friend the Zipper
In: in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns, uncategorized
2008
Ride my Llama at the Bracebridge Fall Fair
I took a stroll through the Bracebridge Fall Fair last Saturday. The theme was heavy on the agricultural stuff with giant squash, momma’s best jams and cookies, horse pulling and even a midway with Ferris wheel and the ooooh scary Zipper. As I was wandering away from the hoopla I saw these strange creatures looking for some attention. I did not realize that Lama’s had chompers on them like killer beavers.
2008
Cruising Through the Backroads of Muskoka
I did not know exactly were I was when I found this old 1942 Dodge sitting in a farmers field. Sitting across the road there was a small monument that said, The Hamlet Bardsville, Est 1865. There was a for sale sign on the fence so if your looking for a new set of wheels …
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns
