All Aboard! The Steamer's Here!

Once upon a time, not so long ago, Paul Tapley would go to Huntsville by lake steamer. The trip began with getting over to Thompson's Portage, near Haystack Bay Marina now. You could go by rowboat, or on foot. Once there, you crossed to the Dwight Bay side of the Portage, and ran up the flag on Clinton's Dock.
As the Steamship passed in the main bay, she'd see the flag, and toot the whistle. On her return pass, she'd come into the narrow bay, and collect passengers.
Cows, Paul used to point out, had to ride on the deck. Passengers had it softer -- they could go inside, out of the rain, listen to the piano (or play it, as my grandfather enjoyed doing), have a cup of tea, maybe a sandwich... Rain or shine, it was a fabulous, restful and highly civilized way to travel.

When the steamer arrived at the South Portage terminal of the Portage Flyer Railway, it was everybody off the boat... onto the train... and then one short mile later... onto the waiting steamship S.S. Algonquin to complete the trip into town. More tea. Another sandwich. Watch the shore go by, pass through the Canal...
Now we drive, and it's all kind of hectic.
But... you CAN go back again. At least briefly.

Sunday Nancy got to go on the Royal Mail Ship SEGWUN, the last of the original steamers still plying Muskoka's waters. Built in 1887, and starting her life as a paddlewheeler, the Segwun will take you on a variety of cruises around the South Muskoka lakes.

Nancy can highly recommend the dinner cruise, from 6.30 to 9.30, watching the sun set on Lake Muskoka while enjoying an excellent meal and the beautiful backdrop of the old steamship. Easy to see why this ship, and her sister vessel The Wenonah were voted Ontario's best large outdoor attraction.
















Don't think the kids would be interested in a dinner cruise? Well, on Sunday's, The Pirate Captain Corbin takes the Wenonah... and cordially invites pirates of all ages on board.
















And you never know who you'll meet on board! Lou-Ann and Bratislav cottage just down Fox Point Road, past Bondi. Having dropped the kids at camp, they were enjoying a little 'together' time before heading back to the city.

















Vic scanned the shoreline for his friend's cottage, and Nancy found herself in deep conversation with Jamie, who usually vacations at Nor'Loch Lodge! And no cruise on Muskoka Lake could be complete without the obligatory appearance of one of the classic wooden boats that wrote their own histories on these waters.















And the sun? Well, yes, indeed, it most obligingly set, putting on quite a display. And Captain Phil set that boat back at the dock with less commotion than it takes us to get the canoes out for the Marathon Swim!