We have some great events in Muskoka each year. Among them are some really well attended and managed triathlons.
Chris is entered in three: Gravenhurst, Bala and Bracebridge. We were out the other night, Chris doing the hard work, while I kept the sailboat alongside. You might recognize the route: west between Pine Island and the mainland cottages near Touchstone.
Kirby watching for good form – hey, a Lab ought to know!
We had a number of meetings of the Muskoka Watershed Council today. Lots of great projects underway intended to benefit our environment, and all of us who reside here or visit. Included in the full council meeting was a presentation of the Skeleton Lake, Lake Plan in development by the Skeleton Lake Cottagers Organization; wonderful to see the inclusive plan to preserve this, still quite pristine and unique Muskoka lake. Information specific to Skeleton Lake, or any other of the lakes in Muskoka is available on the Muskoka Water Web in the lake data sheets link. Please be aware, if you are not linked-out already, there is an important page to explain how you interpret the water quality data.
Our meeting were held in the Raymond Community Centre, hosted by the Township of Muskoka Lakes. After the meetings we visited Fish Hatchery Park at Skeleton Lake.
Entrance to Fish Hatchery Park
Located just in from 141 of Fish Hatchery Road, the park has an entrance on either side. To the left follow the trails along the river to the falls. To the right the entrance leads to Skeleton Lake and the dam. Although not used as a fish hatchery for a number of years, the park is a great place to take a hike.
The falls at Fish Hatchery Park
I only had a BlackBerry with me for the photo, so imagine what you can do with a bit more control. Bring your camera along and go for a hike to the falls!
Maybe it’s just me. Does it seem that Hydro One have outsourced reliability… to their customers, slowly over the years?
Think back twenty or thirty years; power failures – that’s what we used to call them – were really rare. Weren’t they? Now they are referred to as power outages, and they seem pretty frequent. Now, cottage buyers think of it as a real plus when a cottage has a back-up generator because the power fails …often. We buy generators and have battery power supplies for our computers because we expect many incidents a year.
Hydro One Storm Centre
Hydro One has an app now to provide information about power outages. Although referred to on the page as Hydro One Storm Centre, there are a few power interruptions of late that have had little to do with storms.
Although the page states that the app is available for smartphone and tablet devices, it’s not an iPad app – but there’s an iPhone app that you can 2x on an iPad.
As long as your device has cell coverage, it’s great not to have to use the phone to get the updates on the … outage.
Here’s another video for the Muskoka Watershed Council‘s YouTube channel.
Eric McIntyre, of the Eastern Georgian Bay Stewardship Council discusses spiking water flow downstream from Bala Falls, its devastating implications to Walleye reproduction and the current status of the agreement between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ontario Power Generation.
2005 water flows, highly detrimental to Walleye reproduction have now been improved somewhat.
Eric spoke at the Muskoka Stewardship Conference.
In the video, there’s some interesting detail about Walleye habitat, the Moon River Walleye fishery and the need to control water levels in Lake Muskoka.
Oops, not a great spot to pitch your tent!
Did you know that it may take 60 years of egg laying for a female turtle just to replace herself!
I just finished editing, and posted a video on YouTube. Glenda Clayton is a very warm and engaging presenter who presented at the Muskoka Watershed Council‘s Muskoka Stewardship Conference.
In 40 minutes you’ll not only be able to identify Muskoka’s turtles by species, but be more apt to help “wheelbarrow” them across the road.
Assisting a snapping turtle across a roadway. The back-end is the good side.
So, you’re all up to the cottage for the summer, one of the kids finds a turtle and wants to keep it as a pet. No matter how wonderful they may look and how convincing the argument to adopt may be, NEVER, NEVER allow this to happen. With predators as well as cars at every corner, the odds are so stacked against turtles that we need them ALL in the wild reproducing.
So cool! Hard to resist keeping a guy like this as a pet, but please don’t – don’t, don’t, don’t!
I just finished editing and posted a video on the Muskoka Watershed Council‘s YouTube channel. George Daniels has obviously been a driving force behind some terrific conservation efforts on fish habitat in and around Muskoka’s Lake of Bays. After the death of George’s son Andrew, a couple of Andrew’s buddies launched the Andrew Daniel’s Fish Stewardship Program.
George presented the program at the Muskoka Stewardship Conference.
In the video, you’ll learn about many of the initiatives taken on by volunteers, local business, government and NGO’s – great stuff! You can pick up a fish ruler and poster at all of the Lake of Bays marinas.
This has been an extremely busy Real Estate season so far, which is a good thing!
On the other hand, this has the resulting effect of slowing some of my other activities. I have some great video presentations from the April 28th Muskoka Watershed Council Stewardship Conference, and I’m really trying to fit in some time to process the material and post it. The 1st one is Jan McDonnell from the Ministry of Natural Resources with Birds At Risk in Muskoka.
I really have to push these out since there is lots more material I’ll be recording at the Muskoka Summit on the Environment over the next two days. The summit is all about Biodiversity Loss. There’s still time to register here.
Well, this gorgeous property has just been reduced by $296,000, and is now $999,000. Have a look at the images of the property below; additional details are here.
Martin Lake, 100% within the 58 acre property
It’s close to 400 for ease of access, yet so far from the rest of the world. 58 acres of beautiful rolling hills and forest to explore. The property encompasses an entire lake, has a waterfall, complete with covered bridge and lighthouse, all contained within the boundaries.
Covered bridge and waterfall
The main house, beside the lake is currently a two family dwelling with 2750 sq. ft. on each floor, totalling 5,000 sq ft. (completely finished).
Main house 5000 sq.ft.
The property near the house is beautifully landscaped with many perennials.
There is a separate house, two family dwelling with 1500 sq ft. on each floor,total of 3,000 sq ft. (completely finished). There is also a heated garage, 20′ x 48′, with a 17 foot ceiling.
Second house 3000 sg.ft.
Heated Garage 17′ ceiling
The southern edge of the property borders the Seguin Vally Golf Course.
We were out on Gull Lake today. The early heat wave blown away by crisp north westerlies. Thanks to Dave and Sandra who have spent many happy years on Gull Lake; now selling their Gull Lake home.
I had no idea that there was anywhere near this much boating on scenic Gull Lake. Heading south east takes you to a cut, through which you discover the equally beautiful Silver Lake. There are miles and miles of open water as well as small coves and granite rock faces. Perfect for power-boat cruises as well as kayaks and canoes.
Gull Lake narrows to admit you to Silver Lake
Some of the waters from Kahshe Lake run to Silver Lake, then to Gull Lake and then through the Hoc Roc river into Lake Muskoka.
Gull Lake has lots of space for water sports of all types, or just for those big views.
Gull Lake looking north west to Highway 11
We saw so many gorgeous rock faces dropping straight into blue water, and made mental notes of where to return.
Granite cliffs on south Gull Lake
There are cottages dotted up and down Gull and Silver Lakes. We heard many stories of the history of some of these cottages and Gull Lake itself. One is the story of Dead Horse Island; we wonder if you know this story…
Cottagers have been enjoying Gull Lake since the 1800’s.
We are very excited, and justly proud to be able to offer such a rare Muskoka property.
Private cove for kids … or floatplanes.
There is no question that the majority of people we take to see Muskoka properties spend 80% of the time inspecting inside the buildings and 20% on the property. This doesn’t seem right. Although lots of us do it this way, we should spend most of the time wandering the property.
Ahhh, but so many properties are not really wanderable; they have nicely built decks and stairs, to take us from the cottage to the waterfront to the boathouse because they are often steep. The perfect cottage properties were developed many decades ago.
On this property the superb architecture of the cottage and boathouse, although beautiful, are secondary to the level point, cooling in Lake Muskoka, comprised of almost 900 feet of waterfront.
A simple path, not stairs, wends its way to the boathouse.
Once you have satisfied yourself that the property itself is incomparable, then it’s always nice to have buildings like these.
Pine Point’s boathouse.
Lake Muskoka, dotted island views from cottage
Grand kitchen area
Main cottage Muskoka Room
Architectural details
Inside the boathouse
Additional details are here.