2008
The Drive Thru on Muskoka Road #38
There are many roadside signs offering up “cheap smokes” as you cruise through Muskoka Road #38. This road starts in Bala and connects to Highway #400 passing through the Wahta Mohawk Reserve. It was raining and I was short on time but managed to snap this photo of a drive thru shop along the way. Click on the photo for biggie size
2008
Lest We Forget
Remembrance Day, also know as Poppy Day. We are so removed and insulated from what it was like for our dads, brothers, uncles, grandfathers and friends to go off to war and never arrive home again or return changed forever. We now take those sacrifices for granted. Please ponder it a moment…
Taken in Bala Ontario overlooking the Moon River
In: in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns, uncategorized
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
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 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
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
Captain Rob Cruises the Muskoka Lakes
My good friend Rob loves Muskoka. Like many of us, its in our blood. Just like me, he can spend hours cruising around the Muskoka Lakes such as Lake Joseph, Rosseau and Muskoka checking everything out. Its absolutely breathtaking and it just sucks you right in like a giant vortex. Its a deep rooted feeling you get from being up here and it may even be traceable in our DNA.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, uncategorized
2008
Interesting Boats Spotted on the Muskoka Lakes
What am I doing here? I noticed this Power Cat boat over in Gravenhurst at the annual boat show. Pretty funky looking design with twin Mercs on board. This baby was built in California probably in the 60’s. There was no one around at the time to give the run down on her but nevertheless it turned a few heads.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, uncategorized
2008
Marty’s World Famous in Muskoka Releases their Secret Receipes
Marty’s World Famous is located in Bracebridge (Muskoka) Ontario. This place features BIG Ass apple pies, Butter Tarts to die for and the best bean salad you have ever had. Marty, (yes there is a guy named Marty)Â has recently revealed his secret recipes in his new cook book. A cool place to visit in the Muskoka area.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns, uncategorized
2008
Muskoka’s Cormorant Bird Explosion
Here is a close up of the freaky cormorant birds that inhabit a small island up on Lake Joe in Muskoka. I have seen them on Lake Rosseau and Lake Muskoka as well. Apparently the double-crested cormorants were near extinction at one time due to the levels of toxic chemicals. The fact that they are coming back is a good thing even if they are creepy, eat lots of fish and destroy some vegetation. Some people think they came from another area however they are a native bird of Canada.
Information from Environment Canada Here
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, uncategorized
2008
Invasion of the Cormorants in Muskoka
If you have ever traveled down Lake Joseph in Muskoka by boat you may have noticed a very strange looking island. It could be a scene right out of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. This small chunk of land is in fairly shallow water and seems to be the home of a large colony of Cormorants. Its very creepy.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, uncategorized
2008
They call it Mellow Yellow
Not much of a flower type guy but thought I would stick one up to keep the ladies happy.
2008
The Muskoka Arts and Crafts Summer Show
This past weekend I visited the Muskoka Arts & Crafts “Summer Show” 2008. This annual event is held in Bracebridge, Ontario and features many excellent artisans from the area and beyond. One of my favorite artists, Andrew King is always busy with many people dropping by to check out his latest original work.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns, uncategorized
2008
The Year of the Frog
This frog was nice enough to pose for me while I took his photo in the pond beside my cottage. I discovered an interesting article by Canada’s David Suzuki entitled, The Year of the Frog while I was searching for some philosophical copy to accompany the photo. Apparently many different species of frogs are vanishing from the planet at an alarming rate. Scientist consider these amphibians the “Canaries of the Coalmine” as a benchmark for our planets health. Climate change, pollution and a silent killer called chytrid fungus are the main suspects in the mass disappearance.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, uncategorized
2008
Behind the doors of Muskoka
I am always intrigued by doors. Whats behind them? Who goes in them? Do they come back out of them? How did they get to look like this? What gnawed the hole through at the bottom and who put those latches on it? I was walking down the main street of Bracebridge in Muskoka, Ontario and saw this door in the alleyway of an old building. Now I have to go back to see what the building was for.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns, uncategorized
2008
Tragedy hits us hard in Muskoka
I debated with myself on whether I should post this next picture or not. We all enjoy the great things about Muskoka and cottage country but sometimes along the road something happens to remind us how fragile life really is.
This terrible tragedy happened close to my cottage and had a very strong and disturbing impact on all of us in the area. All weekend long people streamed by in cars, boats, walking and on bikes to pay their respects to the three young men who lost their lives here on the eve of July 3, 2008. Unfortunately there are no words to make it better. Our deepest condolences go out to all family and friends.
2008
Tripping around the small towns of Muskoka Canada
Sometimes taking a little peek around the corner pays off. I discovered these cool old doors around the side of the building that sells antiques in the town of Rosseau, Ontario. The building was just crammed with memorabilia and assorted stuff that someone must want.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns, uncategorized
2008
Webers, a Muskoka Tradition
Happy Canada Day!
If you have ever driven up Highway #11 to Muskoka you are sure to know about a Canadian tradition called Webers.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns, uncategorized
2008
Globe and Mail article on the Muskoka High Water Levels
Last week the Globe and Mail (Canada’s National Newspaper) contacted me and asked for permission to use some of the photos I took on the high water levels around Muskoka’s cottage country. They also interviewed me on what I had seen and were nice enough to make mention of this blog.
The Saturday print edition came out with the photo shown below and a story. The on-line version is sans photo and located here
I noticed quite a bit of traffic and a few new comments on the blog then all of a sudden our data center that hosts our websites went down due to a transformer exploding. Unfortunately we have been down for a couple of days but are happy to say we are back in the saddle again.
In: in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, tripin around towns, uncategorized
