SUNSET COTTAGE & CRUISES

Captain Randy Potts of Sunset Cruises, pilots the Peerless II down the Indian River and past Sunset cottage. The Peerless II was built in 1946 and for 49 years it plied the three bigger Muskoka lakes, making deliveries of gasoline and home heating oil. It was then retired from active duty and later sold privately in 2003, where after being restored it now makes rounds of the same lakes again, this time as a tour boat offering scenic and sunset cruises.

THE CUT

We spent our Easter exploring the upper reach of the Indian River. There was still some ice remaining on parts however at The Cut, a passage built in the late 1800s, connecting the river with Lake Rosseau, it was open and made for clear kayaking.

CHINKING

Port Carling woke up to a fresh snowfall of six inches, and at the waterfront the new snow covering the remaining ice looked like chinking, matching this log boathouse, a familiar landmark on the bay across from the large lock.

OUT LIKE A SWAN

We were out kayaking again, a week since we had to break our way through ice to reach open water. The Indian River is now open from the locks at Port Carling to where it merges with Lake Muskoka, which remains completely frozen over. Ice still exists on Mirror Lake however an open channel allows easy passage. While paddling we encountered a pair of trumpeter swans, a rarity for this area. They immediately took off, a beautiful sight and ending to this month.

COLD WATER KAYAKERS

A stretch of open water and the forecast of a nice day was enough for us to dig out our kayaks and launch them the following day. We were forced to break a path through a layer of clear ice formed overnight to reach open water, which exists from Mirror Lake to the locks at Port Carling, the extent of our first outing of the season.

FORT JOHNSTON

The stone walls of Fort Johnston still remain, named after Benjamin Johnston, an early pioneer and the first postmaster of Port Carling. Concerned about the potential threat of attack from Fenian raids, it was built strategically atop a rocky promontory that commanded a view of the Indian River and any invaders, but now offers a scenic view busy with boaters, and with the Canadian flag flying proudly.

BUOY CORD

Similar to the dimensions of a bush cord of firewood, this cord of buoys lie stacked by the river's edge, waiting to be deployed for a new boating season. The various colours serve different functions, from guiding traffic to warning about hazards, in addition to their unique identity codes acting as navigational aids on marine charts.

UNCLE JIM

The tugboat Uncle Jim sits idle at the dock by Foodland, silhouetted against the misty surface of the Indian River with Hanna Park in the background. Last night the temperature dipped below zero, autumn slowly being moved along as if by a tug, making one appreciate the beautiful mornings like today while they last, before the snow flies.

WEATHERED DOCK

This weathered dock, down by the Port Carling locks, attracted me with the pattern of its planks, horizontal and vertically, its uniform colour separated by a single beam of brilliant blue. It also reminded me of the weather we've been getting lately, multiple days of rain and grey overcast skies, with today finally a bright blue sunny day.

HANNA PARK

The sun sets on the crumbling ramparts and turrets of a sand castle, a former fortress for a young child and their vivid imagination while a picnic table wallows in the water, a product of older kids with more mischievious intentions. Hanna Park is a favourite place for kids of all ages, with its playground and beach, where memories are made.

FREDERICK ROSS

We heard the piercing whistle of the Frederick Ross before we saw it and I didn't recognize it when it steamed into view and then docked. Its industrial appearance is softened by the balusters, cloth trim and stained glass church windows of its cabin. It is owned by a couple in Puslinch, who also own and run the Ontario Steam Heritage Museum.

COINCIDENCE

The boys finished the day with a swim off the dock at Hanna Park, and were thrilled when the Wenonah II arrived on the scene. It was such a coincidence for earlier that day when visiting the abandoned Georgian Bay Store we salvaged a musty copy of The Cottage Times dated from May 31, 2002, announcing the debut of this newest ship.

ME & KEOWEE

I'm pumped about Keowee, a used kayak a colleague of mine found at a bargain price for me, its wide beam offering better stability for photography, and look forward to exploring the lakes this summer. Kayaking is not only my preferred choice of transportation but also my favourite word to use to stump people in the game of Hangman.

STAGES OF WINTER

I found this scene portrays the different stages of winter. The snow that signals the start of winter, the ice the frigid temperatures that cause the lakes to freeze over, and the water the combination from rain and melting snow when winter retreats. Daylight Savings began today, granting me an additional hour to spend and enjoy outdoors.

DOCTOR'S OASIS

Archdekin Park is named in memory of Dr. Fennell Fleury Archdekin, a General Practitioner who loved and served in Muskoka as a family doctor for 17 years. The small public park doesn't receive the same attention as its neighbour, the larger and more popular Hanna Park, but instead provides an oasis for those seeking solitude or healing.

POLAR BEAR DIP

A participant waits his turn before being given permission to dive into the water at the Polar Bear Dip, the final event of Winterfest. When it was finished I overheard a bystander comment, "That's it? Where's the Polar Bear guy?" Referring to the costume I rented and my entrance at the end, it made me smile and last year worthwhile.
[Check out the February 8 post last year for a video my son filmed.]

BETWEEN SEASONS

Today was another day of flurries, a preview of things to come. This rooftop scene of The Boatworks captured the bleakness of the day as well demonstrates how we are between seasons, the weather vane a reminder of the gaggles of geese heading south each passing fall day and the snowshovels stacked over the chimney, prepared for winter.

LAST TIME

This afternoon I was canoeing for what may be my last time on the water this year, on a beautiful day with a full week of rain forecast ahead. As I paddled the usual sounds of boats and jetskis were now replaced by leaf blowers and chain saws however when I returned at dusk all was silent, with Mirror Lake reflecting the October scenery.
[Thank you to Nuwan Perera for allowing me the use of his canoe.]

HANNA'S LANDING

Along a stretch of the Indian River near Mirror Lake lies the dormant waterfront property of the former Glenwood Trailer Park. The site is now involved in a dispute with the proposed development of Hanna's Landing, a subdivision of 250 houses, that has divided residents and become one of the top concerns in the upcoming municipal election.

TURTLE TUESDAYS

"It's Five O'Clock Xxxxxhere". The only picture actually taken today, the others posted today but from yesterday. I came to join a couple of my coworkers from The Rosseau, on the deck of Turtle Jacks's or TJ's, a popular watering hole in Port Carling scheduled to close down next weekend. Today was a day of R&R for me... rest and recovery!