G8 and Muskoka... there seems to be a Parallel Universe

There's getting to be more and more buzz about the upcoming G8 Summit taking place at Deerhurst at the end of this month. The fences continue to go up (Welcome to Muskoka!) My friend Jenn took this along the road leading into Deerhurst. After the Summit (which starts Thursday afternoon, parties hard through Friday, and on Saturday packs up and moves to Toronto for the G20) some of this fence will go to make up the new Dog Park in Huntsville, allowing Rover to run free behind prison walls... The rest? Who knows? Probably for sale, if you feel the need.

There is already a large police presence in the area. Don't speed. Just a reminder... Part of that may be due to the weird case of the missing body parts currently going on -- a murder investigation has found evidence in two locations in Lake of Bays, and one in Barrie, and more yet to come. It seems to be completely unrelated to Lake of Bays, or Barrie... It is weirdly unsettling. It has lead to some strange occurences -- like the chap who had just finished burying his dear old dog in his (big) yard when the cops arrived. Apparently they'd spotted the activity on satellite, and came to find out what he'd buried. Made him show them... That in itself is as weirdly unsettling as anything else. I lost a chicken last week, dear old Ancient Crone, who was almost five, curled up and passed away in her nest. Old birds do that. With full ceremony, she was accorded a native burial, lovingly placed in our woods... Did somebody watch me do that on satellite link? Should I be expecting a visit from men in SWAT gear?

Journalists are roaming about as well. CBC had some hilarious footage recently starring the Great Northern Blackfly, and interviewing "the man on the street." Many of whom (other than the blackflies) had no idea what a G8 was, where it was, when it was or why it was. Apparently, for the billion plus being spent on Security for the event, the trickle down effect of information to the masses is not quite hitting on all cylinders. Then again, I gave a couple of chaps a lift into town last week. They live near the Park. They don't listen to the radio. Don't "do" computers. Never watch the news. Don't read the papers. You can't help everybody... it may come as quite a shock to them to wake up one morning and find GreenPeace in their untold multitudes partying on the lawn... I suggested they stock up on beer and groceries, be sure the bbq was ready to go, and just carry on. We parted great friends.

Brian got himself in the papers, with this photo he took last month of the Barracks being set up in the gravel pit near town. Some 800 housing units, some 5000 people are congregating here in Mosquito Central.



That photo lead to us being contacted by Nick, who writes for McLeans magazine. He, like all the rest of the journalists, is looking for a 'story', an angle... Maybe a good photo. The roads may be getting a little congested, but the air is still open -- Brian's plane isn't grounded until much closer to the Summit, so he and Nick went for a flight. It was an education. It always is. Seeing this area from the area is a breath-stopping experience. Down here on the ground with the rest of us mortals, the trees and lakes and hills may be fabulous, but they sure do block the view... Not so from above.



We think Nick found his story. And his photo. We're eager to see the article he writes. And we've got our fingers crossed that he'll come back and do another story here, after the firestorm of the G8 burns out. We hope he'll come and stay with us us, spending time at our resort and discovering the real reason Muskoka roots itself so deep into the hearts of those of us who know it. The real reason Stephen Harper described it as a "Jewel"

There are a quite a few misconceptions about Muskoka. One is that it is plural, The Muskokas. Eeek!!! How wrong that is. There is ONLY ONE Muskoka. Journalists please take careful note. Another is that it is the sole domain of the uber-rich Cottageaucracy, that if you can't buy and sell a small country with your pocket change, you can't come here. Muskoka has more small family-oriented resorts than it does five star City on the Lake Hotels. The big guns are undoubtedly lavish by resort standards, but there is a host of accommodation to chose from to suit every taste and every pocketbook. Owning your own cottage is not the only option to spending quality family time in God's Best Backyard. Far more affordable and stress free is spending quality family time at one of the area's smaller, family-run, family-friendly, relaxed-the-way-it-should-be resorts.

Too bad the World Leaders won't be able to enjoy THAT experience!