2009
Blazing a Kodachrome Trail
I got a Nikon camera …
I love to take a photograph
so mama don’t take my Kodachrome away
(Paul Simon)
There are explosions of colour everywhere you turn in Muskoka but not for long. Natures final emancipation preparing for winter.
The photos on this blog are 72 dpi and contain relatively small files in order for the blog to load quickly. Unfortunately that diminishes the quality of the photo substantially. I wish I could show you some of the high resolution shots like this one which is about 15mb in size. The colors and details are truly mind blowing on a large sized high res monitor.
Don’t forget Muskoka’s Cranberry Festival is on this weekend in Bala Oct 16, 17, 18 – if you spot me in the beer tent I’ll buy you a beer 🙂
2009
Gazing Down the Line
The trees were utterly vibrant and near peak this past weekend in the Muskoka area. The trails and back roads were very busy with many out of town visitors sucking in the raw natural beauty. Sunday afternoon revealed snow and ice pellets a welcoming gift for our friends from the city. Still waiting for that Indian Summer.
Please click for a large 1280 pixel photo
2009
Climbing up on Huckleberry Rock
On a rather drab day this summer I hiked up to Huckleberry Rock near Milford Bay in Muskoka. I’m not particularly happy with this shot as the light was wrong and I never brought the proper gear with me as I wanted to save some weight. However, the timing was good as the Segwun Steamship was cruising through the bay on Lake Muskoka. The other object in the background that looks like a boat is actually a rocky island. You can see it better if you click for a larger size.
If you are Canadian – have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
2009
Torrance Barrens – There’s a Darkness on the Edge of Town
I finally found the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve just south east of Bala, Ontario. This conservation reserve is made up of about 5000 acres of Precambrian rock, wetlands and modest tree growth making it ideal for astronomical instruments. It is Canada’s first Dark Sky Preserve. I plan to dust off the telescope I received as a gift many moons ago and return here one night to check out the skies, which are apparently mind blowing. This is a photo of the Highland Pond near the parking area off district road #13.
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Info on Torrance Barrens
2009
Look at the stars, see how they shine for you
Its getting a little cooler umm colder on the water now especially when riding the Jetski however I’m going to stick with it a while longer yet. Yes, I’m crazy and my toes are ice cubes – thanks. Just before sundown I noticed this cool boathouse with its own built in observatory. Bottom of Lake Rosseau near Port Sandfield. Please click the image for a galaxy sized photo
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
Monyca Island Lake Rosseau Muskoka
Keeping with the “Eye Candy on the Lake” motif.
The north eastern part of Lake Rosseau contains many beautiful estates with some extraordinary island properties. This is the beautiful boathouse on Monyca Island. If you click on the photo you can see a larger photo with more details that include some of the intricate woodwork that goes into these beauties.
Please click on the photo for a close up of the boathouse itself
2009
Bridge Over Troubled Water on Lake Joe
I caught this cool boathouse hiding amongst the trees while traveling north on Lake Joseph. The wind was picking up, the clouds were getting dark and the water was starting to get choppy so it was a sure sign a storm was rolling in. It’s not fun being caught out on the water in storms especially if there is lightning.
As you travel north on Lake Joe the cottages and boathouses are not as numerous as other parts of the lake however there are many gems tucked into bays on islands and the remote shorelines. I see something new every time I pass through here which is fairly frequent.
Please click on the image for a boathouse size photo
In: on the water
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
Boathouse on Wasan Island
This boathouse is on Wasan Island not Tobin Island as I originally posted. It is very near the large Tobin Island on Lake Rosseau however. Sometimes I think we take these boathouses for granted as we have been cruising by them for years. They really are a defining characteristic of Muskoka. People keep asking for more boathouses so a few more will follow unless some other distraction gets in the way. 🙂
Update Sept 12: I have now learned that this Island is owned by a group from Germany. Here is their website: http://www.wasan-island.de
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
The Lighthouse near Rosseau
It was a rather drab looking day cruising up to the north end of Lake Rosseau but nevertheless its always great to be on the water. This lighthouse is located on the shoals just south of Rosseau near the distinctive Rosseau Lake College. The lighthouse is still operational and managed by the Canadian Coast Guard. I noticed a few
Please click on the image for a large 1280 pixel size
In: on the water
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
Muskoka Architecture – Driving Through an Art Gallery in Your Boat
While traveling up to Royal Muskoka Island on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka you cannot miss this modern design boathouse tucked into a little bay. I tried to research the history of this structure however came up empty handed so if anyone has anything I would appreciate it. The cottage on this beautifully manicured property is consistent with the boathouse design.
The modern or perhaps international design is certainly not fitting to everyone’s taste however we are very fortunate to see a wide variety of architecture on the Muskoka lakes. Its like driving through an art gallery in your boat. How boring it would be if every cottage or boathouse was the same cookie cutter design.
For an interesting read on Muskoka architecture I recommend you browse through the well researched articles by my blogger friend Thelma Jarvis. Architecture, Building & Design
Please click on the image for a large photo
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
