PIC STOP

The first pic stop of the day, at the portage between McDonald and McCrae Lakes, the latter my destination, this time via water and kayak, having only reached there before by hiking. The route is an easy and scenic one, the cons are it's easy accessiblity and lack of regulatory camping, making this a busy place, often with partyers.

A DAY AT MCCRAE

It was muggy hiking in and buggy on the way out, but worth the day spent at McCrae Lake with a couple of friends from The Rosseau, swimming, then lounging in the sun and lassitude afterwards. The scenery is spectacular but sadly the lake contains zebra mussels, an invasive species harmful to swimmers and the aquatic ecosystem.

ELEPHANT'S HEAD

Locals call this rock formation Elephant's Head, its profile suggestive of one if you allow your imagination to rule. Below its domed head, a tiny eye, creased with wrinkles, follows your approach, the clefts in the rock forming the outline of its ear. Both the scene and beast appear domesticated with the fence in place, resembling a howdah.

START OF THE ROAD

At the top end of Lake Rosseau, and the north end of Cameron Bay, named for Colonel Cameron who contributed to building the Nipissing Road, a plaque is mounted to a stone cairn, left of the daisies. This marks the original start of the Nipissing Road, a rugged route that for many pioneers, led to a life that wasn't all sunshine and daisies.

MILESTONES

Today I joined several of my collegues from The Rosseau aboard the Wenonah II for a brief cruise to the Narrows, with its lighthouse the destination and highlight. This year marks the ten year anniversary for the Wenonah II and 125 years for the Segwun, with a number of special events planned during the season to celebrate this occasion.

JORASSIC PART

It's nice to find sights around Muskoka that haven't changed since being discovered. On the west side by the top end of Lake Joseph, these ancient cedars grow upside down on this cliff, and along with bird guano nearby on the rock face and this part isolated by dense forest, one can almost imagine being placed in a prehistoric time.