THE DISCIPLES

At the confluence of the Muskoka River with the top of Mary Lake lies the sprawling grounds of the Muskoka Bible Centre, the largest conference retreat in Canada. When my boys visited some relatives here we found these inuksuit being battered by the wind and waves, remaining steadfast like the disciples when faced with persecution.

OUR JOCE

It bekame a running joce with us after we kamped at the KOA klose to Gravenhurst, where we stayed for a kouple of days. We rented a kanoe and pakcing my kamera, we explored the lace and waterways akross from the kampground. The cids tooc turns paddling, often out of kontrol, while I tooc turns ceeping kalm and the kanoe on kourse.

WATER WORLD

My boys ready to wade out and tackle the Water Park adjacent to Clevelands House. We started with the closest structures, the gyro, trampolines and small icebergs, then graduated to deeper water to Walk the Plank and fly off the Katapult before finally attempting the tallest iceberg, where Stirling was the only one to reach its summit.

US IN MUSKOKA

With the school year and summer camp commitments finished, I was able to bring my boys Stirling and Alistair up for several days for the first time this summer. We visited this new sign and posed with the letters of our names and I hoped that, like the famous tagline, once they discover more of Muskoka they'll always remember these times.

THE MUSKOKA NOVELS

This afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting and listening to Gabriele Wills, author of "The Muskoka Novels" and fellow blogger, who was at The Rosseau conducting a presentation describing her experiences researching the history of the area and era that are detailed so vividly in her two novels, with a third one in the works.
[Visit her website about her novels and blog for her other writing.]

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My version based on the song from The Sound of Music:
Sunrises at morning and sunsets at night;
Beautiful beaches and trails that delight;
Call of the loons and trilliums in spring;
These are a few of my favorite things.

LAST RUN

A wakeboarder returns to the cottage at dusk after a last run while a spectacular cloud formation moves in, with the promise of an equally impressive sunset. Milford Bay is a sheltered stretch of lake that lies behind the protection of Tondern Island and is often busy with skiers and tubers on the water, and swimmers at the Baycliffe Park beach.

THE COUNTDOWN

The countdown has begun to August 14, the date of Muskoka's own Amazing Race. Modelled after the popular TV series, 50 teams of 2 will compete in various challenges and locations, starting from The Landscapes venue in Baysville. To participate I have to raise $200 in pledges in support of the Muskoka Trails Council and their initiatives.
[Please visit their website to sponsor our team "Muskoka Seasons".]

TWO FUNERALS

Two funerals took place during the German PoWs' internment at Gravenhurst, one for a distinguished soldier who suffered from a blood malady, and the second a decorated major who succumbed to cancer. Fellow prisoners carved wooden monuments in their honour, which were transferred later with them both to a common war grave.

MUSKOKA WHARFARE

A model German U-Boat surfaces in Muskoka Bay, the rocky point in the distance the former site of a PoW camp, where ironically during WWII some submarine crew were interned. Norwegian pilots training at Little Norway used to fly over and drop potatoes at the PoWs' and occasionally practised divebombing and strafing runs on the Segwun.

LITTLE NORWAY

The "Thunder In Little Norway" air show was originally slated for this weekend at the Muskoka airport but was then relocated to Midland, however the thunder still made an appearance. Little Norway was the name given to an Air Force training camp that was established at the airport during WWII where Norwegian pilots came to train.

HAPPY HUNDREDTH

A special celebration was held to recognize the hundredth birthday of the Bala Bay Inn. Once named the Swastika Hotel, the controversial symbols are gone but the ghost of the original owner still remains. Moose FM was there live and is also owned by the same family who rescued this historic inn from possible demolition and renovated it.

LILY WHITE

While attending the Butson's Boats show held at The Rosseau I was attracted to this idyllic scene at the far end of the docks, a Chestnut canoe floating amongst the lily pads, with the matching colour of the canoe and flower. It was an oasis of tranquility far removed from the centrepiece of the boat show and the bustle from the resort's beach.

PORT OF GOLD

One of the most brilliant and breathtaking double rainbows I've ever witnessed before appeared when the sun emerged during the stormy evening. They remained for several minutes and spanned the entire town, however taking measures to avoid getting waterdrops on the lens prevented me from capturing their full image with a panorama.

THAT'S A WRAP

[Photography prohibited]
That's a wrap for the trio of famous actors who recently stayed with us at The Rosseau over the past two weeks while filming their latest movie in the region. The thriller, starring Ray Liotta, Victor Garber and Stephan McHattie, is called Entitled and should be interesting to see when it's released, as was meeting and talking with these guests.
[Visit imdb.com for a synopsis of this movie and cast of characters.]

THE BARGE

Every Sunday evening during the summer locals and tourists gather to enjoy Music on the Barge concerts, a tradition and landmark since the 1940's, with the current bandshell completed in 1959 when it was officially opened and attended by Queen Elizabeth. Tonight's crowd were treated to a tribute to The Beatles by the group The Caverners.

WOOD & WATER

I consider this my Study for Wood & Water, not only as it resembles a painting but also because its details remain incomplete. Each time I visit the wharf I am always drawn to this wood boathouse with its chair, but know nothing about it except that a Sea Ray boat named Sand Bank berths there, and that I wish I could learn more about it.

CLASSIC CARS

The second day of the show featured "glassic" boats, a variety of fiberglass ones with and without fins, classic cars and combinations, such as this AmpFicar that attracted a lot of attention when it began cruising around the bay, and raised a lot of questions, including: "Do they also require a Pleasure Craft Operator's Card now to drive that?"

WOODEN BOATS

Gravenhurst hosted the 30th annual Antique & Classic Boat Show
and as this event spanned all weekend the first day was devoted to wooden boats. The selection was varied with their manufacturers, ages and lengths, their varnished surfaces reflecting the sky and polished hardware, such as this Minett-Shields Gentleman's Racer.

BIGWIN'S BIRTHDAY

The Bigwin, poised above the waiting crowd, is lowered by crane to the water in a special occasion also marking her hundredth birthday. The last of the original fleet of steam ferry boats to ply Lake Of Bays she spent decades submerged underwater before she was recovered, and over the past several years being restored to her former glory.

BEAT THE HEAT

When in Bala I found the best way to beat the heat and humidity was to stand under the cascade of water pouring over the lip of the dam at the smaller falls, where I was totally enveloped. Both sets of falls receive their volume from the entire Muskoka watershed which then empty into the Moon River, and from there travels to Georgian Bay.

MUSKOKA EDITION

With a reflection of The Wall caught on its tailgate, this Ford Escape doesn't sport leather Muskoka chairs or cappucino cup holders, but is simply part of the marketing ploy exclusive to Bickley Ford Sales of Huntsville, who apply this emblem to their family of Special Edition trucks to serve the purpose of attracting attention, like it did mine.
[Thanks to Ken Buchanan for providing me with this information.]

WATERSKI SHOW

The waterski crew create a human pyramid as the finale of their show, entertaining the spectators gathered at Clevelands House. Performing their amazing show on various days and locations in Muskoka, the staff from Summer Water Sports demonstrate their skills and techniques with a variety of technical tricks and stunts.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Happy Independence Day to our southern neighbour and to all the Americans who reside in Muskoka. We remain indebted to some of their ancestors who bought unspoiled wilderness property, and whose foresight and families are playing an important role in protecting the integrity and heritage of Muskoka from risk of further development.

THE OTHER G-8

Local boatbuilder Tom Adams poses beside a replica of the Miss Canada III, a champion racing boat built in 1938. This replica was built in 1987 by Duke Marine Services and is being restored, with plans to be featured in a documentary on its famous driver Harold Wilson, in between racing around the lakes with its current owner.

CANADA DAY

[Photograph pending]
Happy Canada Day! To end the day of festivities at The Rosseau a fireworks display was launched from the water in front of the resort, a spectacular event watched by hundreds of guests around the hotel and over a hundred boats gathered offshore, their navigation lights a colourful display itself and contributing to the night's performance.