THE POINT

For as long as I can recall, Armstrong Point has always been a popular spot for anyone to visit that knew about its location. Following the unmarked trail, bountiful with wildflowers in the spring, brought you to its lookout with the most scenic view of Lake Rosseau, and a bench from which to watch the spectacular sunsets. When I visited recently I was disappointed to find a number of "No Trespassing" and "Private Property" signs posted and spraypainted on over a dozen trees at the trailhead. I am not aware of the details behind this change but I get the point.

MUSEUM LECTURE

As part of their 50th anniversary season the Muskoka Lakes Museum is offering a series of free lectures, held most Wednesday evenings. Tonight's feature was "Cottaging 50 Years Ago" and was presented by Susan Daglish, who regaled the audience with her experiences of cottage life then and before. Their cottage, on Lake Rosseau, is one of Muskoka's oldest, originally a squared log cabin and is called "Subha", an East Indian name meaning "place of peace and healing."

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.

FLYBOARDMAN

Performing like a cross between Ironman and Aquaman, Flyboardman, a member of the Summer Water Sports team, rehearses for their show that night at Clevelands House. Capable of soaring to a height of 30 feet and diving like a dolphin, a flyboard is connected by hose to a PWC, where it harnesses its power from and in this instance is also being controlled remotely by its driver.

SEEING DOUBLE

It isn't often the angled, sail-and-mast designed doors are open, inviting a closer inspection, of this pair of sailboat houses, two of only four that are found on Lake Rosseau. Built in 1935, they once housed a sloop and two sailing dinghies, but are now home for two wooden launches.

A COLD ONE

During the summer, one of my favourite places to visit and enjoy a cold one is Windermere House, with its outdoor patio overlooking the lake. With the temperature at -25°C, it was a cold one today when I stopped by while exploring the area, and learned the Lady of the Lake is currently undergoing some room renovations for the season ahead.

SHIFT CHANGE

Daybreak spreads across the eastern sky, relieving dawn of its shift, a parody of the day shift at The Rosseau taking over from myself and my colleague, Dawn, this morning. Working the night shift allows me to take advantage of any beautiful days or attend a special event, as well as be able to witness many of our beautiful sunsets and sunrises.

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.

TOBIN THERE, DONE THAT

This afternoon I kayaked around the perimeter of Tobin Island, the largest island on Lake Rosseau, which took me over five hours as I explored every inlet and bay along the way. It was a beautiful sunny day after freezing temperatures overnight, that created clusters of icicle formations at the shore that resembled candles being dipped.

LIKE A LION

The verdict remains undecided if March went out like the proverbial lion, with its sudden snowfall yesterday, or not, by all melting today. Another debate is whether the edge of this rock formation looks like the profile of a lion's head, its mane starting with the trees or if you include more of the rock, resembles a sea lion with its head lowered?
[Thanks to Captain Randy Potts of Sunset Cruises for this trivia tip.]

CHILLAKING

Chillaking is a term that I've invented to describe the combination of kayaking in near freezing temperatures. With the ice out earlier this year I've been taking advantage of most pleasant days to get out and experience the lakes in a new light, sometimes with fresh snow still lingering on the ground, enhancing the scenery of the area and trip.

EDITH MY SLUSH

One of my last ice fishing days due to the recent warm temperatures deteriorating the condition of the ice with pools of surface water and in spots over a foot of slush to negotiate through with the ATVs. We spent the afternoon fishing by Edith Island, previously a hot spot but came up skunked. Perhaps the fish have given up minnows for Lent.

LOOKING UP

After cooler temperatures and all the rain we've been getting, the forecast is looking up with great weather ahead for Thanksgiving and beyond. Today was a perfect day to be out in my kayak again and for a change am looking up to one of my favourite viewpoints, where its bench can be seen at the top directly beneath the moon.

HEADING HOME

I spent several hours kayaking among the Venetia Islands and along the west side of Tobin Island, before heading home through Cayleys Cut and under the footbridge at Woodmere Island, where this photo was taken from underneath it, using it for a top border and the two islands to frame my destination of Armstrong Point in the distance.

MISTY MORNING

Last night was the first frost of the year, a harbinger of the seasons to come. In the meantime it made for a beautiful morning with mist rolling along the lake and the sun a welcome relief when it put in its appearance, dispersing the mist and melting the frost, the shadows providing only a temporary reprieve from the sun's rays and warmth.

MUSKOKA MEMORIES

We redeemed our gift certificate today for a tour aboard the aptly named Muskoka Memories, a 1960 22' Shepherd runabout. Jeremy Fowler of Butson's Boat Shop took us to Port Sandfield to enjoy ice cream, before cruising into Lake Joseph and returning by the river. We had an awesome time, another one for our Muskoka memories.
[Thank you Jeremy for a great tour and for taking our photograph.]

KAYAK KIDS

We went kayaking this afternoon, my boys anxious to demonstrate their prowess honed at the camps they attended earlier, and were pleased when allowed a kayak each. We circled around Ouno Island where they saw the sailboathouse and the bear (statue) that I told them lived there, before returning to the resort where we started.
[Thanks to Dan Arcand and the MSR staff for use of their kayaks.]

STORM WATCH

I headed up to Armstrong Point in hope of catching some dramatic photographs of the storm, with the sky an ominous black and blue, but shortly after an eye appeared, offering a glimpse of the better weather above and it wasn't long before the storm began to break, the sun highlighting the clouds red, resulting in a beautiful sunset.

FINAL GLANCE

A final glance from my launch site at Adams Bay, to the vista of the Venetia Group, a cluster of islands where I spent the past couple of hours threading my way amongst them, exploring them for the first time. It was a beautiful day and long weekend, and with the summer now half over, hopefully the remainder of it is as nice as it has been.