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
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
Solitas Aloneness
I must admit I have not made it up to the cottage as much as I had planned this fall. It puts a little damper on the posting of current Muskoka related photos. I hope you don’t mind me filling in the gaps from within the perimeter of my stomping grounds.
I was driving up on the Niagara Escarpment yesterday afternoon and noticed this lone tree in a field. It was accompanied by an interesting stone wall about a metre in height that seemed to run forever. Although I didn’t have perfect light, I jumped the fence and setup my tripod on top of the stone wall.
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
2012
Dwight Beach
I enjoy visiting the small towns around the Lake of Bays area especially in autumn. Dorset, Dwight and Baysville are cool little towns. They are smaller than most of the places around the Big 3 lakes and have more of a lost in time charm to them. A little more laid-back and less hurried maybe? The locals say there are less “Cidiots” here – LOL.
The photo is taken at the Dwight beach area before hurricane Sandy blew the remaining colors away.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns
2012
Breathe Muskoka
Muskoka is a sanctuary, a place where we can rejuvenate ourselves, a place to think. Not everyone understands this and for those of us that do we protect and cherish it deeply. The trails are littered with freshly fallen leaves and the canopy’s that remain are golden browns and yellows. It is a great time of year to get out for a walk and breathe the crisp, fresh Muskoka air. The photo was taken at the Artful Garden
2012
Look Out For My Love
Hello folks! I know some of you have been visiting this blog looking for fall photos. Currently I’m on the Rhone river in the south of France heading to the north. I shall return to Muskoka soon. In the mean time here is a photo I took at the bottom of the Dorset fire tower. It is a place where the people not crazy enough to climb up hang out. Enjoy the Muskoka foliage.
2012
You Got Me All Tied Up In Knots
A tugboat at the Parry Sound town dock
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2012
The Famous 100 Mile Cruise
For the first time since 1958 this Saturday August 18th, 2012 the 100 Mile Cruise will be recreated with the RMS Segwun and the Wenonah II tracing the original route of the SS Sagamo steamship. There will be over 100 other historical wooden boats accompanying the steamships on their journey on the Big 3 Muskoka Lakes . The proceeds of this event are being donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. More info here
Photo I took a few years back of the Segwun steamship on Lake Joseph
If you are interested in seeing the steamships and the large flotilla of classic boats they will be traveling through the locks at Port Carling and Port Sandfield. Itinerary below.
8:30 am Depart Gravenhurst Wharf
11:00 am Arrive at Port Carling Locks
12:00 pm Arrive at Port Sandfield Locks
2:00 pm Arrive at Little Lake Joe
2:30 pm Depart Little Lake Joe
3:30 pm Arrive at Port Sandfield
4:30 pm Arrive at Port Carling
8:00 pm Arrive at Gravenhurst Wharf
A historical handout on the 100 mile cruise here
View Big Cruise for a Big Cause in a larger map
The original 100 mile cruise brochure from 1950
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2012
Tracking Cloudburst
Taking a drive around what I call the far side of Lake Rosseau and Lake Muskoka on Hwy #141 is always an interesting trip. These tracks are near Falkenburg Station now a ghost town located just outside of Bracebridge on Manitoba Street. Its great that Google has a lot of these Muskoka roads mapped out.
2012
North Branch of the Muskoka River
This is the north branch of the Muskoka River flowing out of Mary Lake in quaint Port Sydney, Ontario. The river meanders towards Bracebridge into Lake Muskoka and out to the Moon River and down to Georgian Bay. There are 5 dams on this system with power generated at High Falls, Wilson Falls and the Bracebridge Falls.
The Muskoka River Watershed is the largest watershed in the Muskoka district covering an area of 466,000 hectares. The watershed communities are: Dwight, Dorset, Baysville, Huntsville, Port Sydney, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Bala, Port Carling and MacTier
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2012
125th Anniversary Flyby
In celebration of the Segwun Steamship’s 125th anniversary the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Snowbirds performed a flyby at the wharf in Gravenhurst on Friday June 29th, 2012. I found a cool 35 second video on Youtube below.
Note: the Segwun and Wenonah II along with a flotilla of over 100 antique and classic boats will be recreating the original 100 mile tour on the Muskoka Lakes Saturday August 18th, 2012. Apparently the last time this journey was made was in 1958 so there is plenty of interest in this years 125th anniversary celebration. The Segwun steamship is listed as sold out however you may be able to get on the Wenonah II. Details here.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2012
Woodies Galore
The 32nd annual Muskoka Antique and Classic Boat Show is on this Saturday July 7, 2012 at the Gravenhurst wharf. If you have a passion or even a mild interest in the old Muskoka boats I would highly recommend you attend this event. The show includes live music, a flea market, vintage cars and boat tours. Here is a 3:45 min. video of last years event showing some of the beautiful boats and festivities around the wharf. The show is put on by the ACBS Toronto (Antique & Classic Boat Society) and is very well organized. Please click on their link for further details.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2012
In Search of the Grouch in Port Sydney
I was in Port Sydney recently, the town with the cool welcoming sign that says “Home of 800 families & 1 old grouch.” Politician Tony Clement kicks back here except when hes not doubling as Superman and rescuing people from drowning in the Muskoka river. The quiet little town is situated on the shores of Mary Lake where the North Muskoka River flows through. Like a lot of small towns in the Muskoka region, Mary Lake was known for its lumber industry bringing many settlers into the area around the 1860’s. At its peak there were over 25 lodges and Inns located in this area with quite an interesting history. I took this photo at the south end while standing on the town dock looking out to the lake.
- Mary Lake Port Sydney, Ontario
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns
2012
Fairy Falls in Baysville
I heard good things about the Lake of Bays Brewing Company, a microbrewery in Baysville, Ontario located on the south end of the Lake of Bays. We were privileged to take a little tour, sampled product and stocked up on some palatable liquid assets. (love the coffee & chocolate infused Mocha Porter) This microbrewery is owned by a very impressive 25 year old. I love to see thriving businesses like this in little communities and I always try to support them.
On the way back to the cottage we passed a sign with an arrow, “Fairy Falls” – that away. A quick jaunt down a side road and an easy walk through a trail that follows alongside the Muskoka River and your there. A few minutes in and I lost my navigator to the swarming black flies as he scurried back to the parking lot like a spooked Sasquatch. I wouldn’t really classify this as a significant water falls however maybe rapids would be a more suitable description. In spite of the killer fly attacks I held my ground and managed to get some photos. I have included a little experimental 53 second video that I made with my smart phone followed by the final photo below.
Please click on the photo below for a large shot.
2012
The Historic S.S. Bigwin Steamship
It was one of those murky days as I made my way through the town of Dorset and noticing the S.S. Bigwin steamship moored at the town docks with not a soul around.
A little history – In 1910 James Kuhn a Pittsburgh, PA industrialist launched a steamship on Lake Muskoka named after his wife Ella Marie. They spent their summers on Belle Isle (recently destroyed) just north of Beaumaris on Lake Muskoka. After experiencing financial difficulty the Ella Marie was sold some 15 years later and relocated to the Lake of Bays where she served as the ferry boat for Bigwin Island for the next 45 years.
At 66ft in length and a registered 25 tons the S.S. Bigwin would carry guests such as Clark Gable, Louis Armstrong, Winston Churchill, Greta Garbo and many other famous people out to the world-class Bigwin Inn on Bigwin island. Around 1970 the Bigwin Inn went out of business and the steamship was left to rot in her slip. In 1991 the Dwight Fire Department floated her to a local dock and then hauled her onto a property in Port Cunnington where restoration started in 2002.
The S. S. Bigwin was relaunched again on July 10, 2010.
The Bigwin Floats Again
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns
2012
Best Day Video by Dala
A short and very dreamy little ditty by a Canadian group called Dala. There is some great historic video taken on the shores of Georgian Bay around the Honey Harbor area.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns
2012
Longing for your Warm Embrace
I often pass by the farmers markets located in Holland Landing on north side of highway #9 just west of highway #400. Usually I am pretty focused on getting to the cottage however this time I stopped and snapped a few shots.
