Christmas, 2010
To all our friends,
Seventeen inches of snow Nov. 26th heralded winter’s arrival. Christmas lights are already strung, the gardens bedded down, ski trails cleared, but no matter how ready we think we are, it takes that first huge snowfall to make it real. Christmas on the doorstep. The time of year we like to stop, reflect, and touch base with all our friends, both near and far.
Being Canadian, we talk about weather. Winter brought us lots of snow. Also many short lived thaw cycles, sparing us the punishing 40 below range. Brian had a new, top-class trail groomer for the ski trails, producing faster grooming, and trails second to none. Improvements to the tubing hill, and Snowshoe Frisbee Golf proved popular. The Lodge was busy all winter, but it was quieter in the cottages. Perhaps it’s the economy, or the timing of the winter storms, but there were generally less people travelling.
That’s a shame, because winter in the city is really just a continuous November. If you want to make friends with winter, you need to come north and get outside. We’re unrivalled in offering a reconnection with the natural world, among the most affordable of vacations, and close to home to boot, through all seasons -- doubly so the summer months! The world economy isn’t looking particularly bright. It’s understandable people are travelling less, but getting away and into a natural setting (especially one with a lake!) is a time proven way to reduce stress, improve friendships, bond families, and needn’t cost a lot. We’re offering Super Specials, for instance: 3 days, 6 people, $600. Family Day is proving to be a very popular getaway weekend, but there are Winter Carnival weekends too!
David is into his final year at Georgian. His work co-op placed him here for the winter – how wonderful having him around, getting very hands-on in all areas of our resort operations, while fitting in snowmobiling and skiing. He greets that first snowfall with fist-pumping enthusiasm.
Nancy volunteered at the Ontario Youth Nordic Winter Games at Arrowhead (the other park, near Huntsville, an often overlooked alternative to Algonquin). In February, the Real Deal took place in Vancouver. Red mittens waving, we joined the rest of the country, cheering our medalists. Brian and Dave sledded to Bigwin to watch Matt Weidinger set the Guinness World Record, 2906 km. in 24 hours on a Yamaha snowmobile circling the lake. They also enjoyed a long snowmobile trek with our guests later in the month. We got in a bit of downhill skiing, stole silent moments on snowshoes, and checked out our ski trails, too.
Spring came early -- ice out on March 31 -- and hot. Mostly skipping spring, we dove right into summer. At Easter, adults were in t-shirts, kids were in the lake. There’s always one last winter gasp. May 11 was cold enough to freeze pipes. After that, we sailed into a summer that broke records for temperatures and clear skies. Refugees from the unpronounceable Iceland volcano stayed with us waiting for their English skies to finally clear.
Brian and David were busy prepping for the installation of a solar panel, involving much ditching, trenching, and pouring of cement before installing The Array – it all sounded (and looked) very Sci-Fi. The upgrades and renovations at the resort never stop, and David discovered there’s plenty to learn!
May 13, David and Mike Bechtel got a driving lesson about how you can be doing everything right and still get run into in an intersection. A routine trip home from Georgian turned into a life lesson that expanded from sudden stops and airbags into car shopping, insurance, police reports and –
for Mike – some health issues that surfaced after the wreck and put him into physiotherapy. Luckily, he made a good recovery and was able to be here for the summer. That was good news for us – with David back in class for the summer, Mike’s help was indispensable. This was the first summer Dave hasn’t been here, and his absence was notable! He was home for most of the weekends – fitting Bondi “in” between visits with Megan! Brian and Carol grabbed a short break in Brechin in late May, before we added Lived through the G8 to our resumes. By late June, the lake was already in the low 80’s – but we were all in hot water as the G8 Summit rolled into Deerhurst. Road closures, massive expanses of fencing and a security presence that looked like it cost every bit of the $1 Billion materialized. Helicopters and surveillance planes were constantly overhead. The boys went biking to see if they could spot tanks – they were directed to go bike elsewhere. World Leaders were greeted with a Force 5 Earthquake on June 22nd. It shook us, and shook David in his Georgian Residence in Barrie even harder. Welcome to Muskoka! Bondi was taken over by Security personnel – total chaos reigned until Carol got them sorted out into our accommodation, but from there on it was all peace and light. Thankfully we got extra help from some of our local friends who pitched in to help us with the housekeeping. Also thankfully, it was a peaceful time, and the local protests were amicable and even hilarious.
On the home front, Carol finally got her kitchen renovation. It began in January, to a recurring theme of trying to get providers to get things right, but once the cupboards were re-ordered and the contractors finally showed up, then returned to correct the mistakes, it began to come together. Brian and David took over much of the work, which ensured that at least that portion was done on time and well crafted. She’s waiting now for the new lights in the dining room... Home renovations are not something that can be hurried, apparently.
The same refrain was heard outdoors, with the installation of new generators as back-up during power outages; and erecting solar collectors. Bondi is greener than ever, with one 10 Kw collector and another array providing hot water. Lest anyone think that process seems simple, let’s just say there’s never time to do it right, but always time to do it over... and the final touches to these installations (we hope the final touches!) got done in September. Let us also point out the Brian the Engineer was proven correct... The big array proved most popular with monarch butterflies too.
We enjoyed having Carol’s grand-daughter Sarah for two weeks in July. She got in lots of riding, and proved to be quite an asset helping out around the resort as well as in the stable. She’s got her mom’s artistic vision, and is quite the young photographer!
The best part of Carol’s summer includes the fruits of her garden labours, enjoying the best produce in the world. This year, she even managed to grow some peanuts (ostensibly for her, but really for her friend Chipmunk) With the hot weather, everything was early this year. Eggs from our
chickens are always in demand. So are the chickens – we suffered from foxes this year. Other predators include our deer, still diligently doing their best to eat the gardens. Carol has removed some flower gardens around the cottages where it too frustrating deer-proofing them. She’ll concentrate on the big garden. For the first time in a great many years, we had vacancies during July and August. We welcomed new friends and faces into our Bondi Family, but there is always room for more. The pattern is for more last-minute bookings, and shorter stays. All we can say, is if you’re considering a getaway, give us a call first! And please mention us to your friends!
Our program of Stars, northern lights, wolf howls and owls kept many of our guests out on the lawns late into the nights, with many requests to “go out again tonight, please.” Dave and Mike took up fishing, or as they call it lure losing. Yes, there are fish in our lake. Yes, they are mostly still in there... Guests heard our local wolf pack singing most nights (well, early mornings). In honour of our Bondi beavers near the river, we also ‘adopted’ Woody, at the Muskoka Wildlife Centre. You might have seen him bobsledding as the official beaver at the Olympics. Really. Look him up on our Blog! http://bondi-resort-algonquin.blogspot.com (The Blog was ‘highly recommended” by Macleans magazine!) Or drop by MWC in person and say hi! He likes bananas, we’re told.
In mid-July, Nancy had eye surgery for cataracts – who knew? It’s an amazing procedure, she was home by noon, and at the cook-out that night, with better vision than she’s ever had. The procedure is amazing, and she highly recommends it.
Not one cookout was threatened by rain this year. Nor were the marathon swims. David was home for the last swim – out came the bbq barge and waffle chefs. The summer broke records for temperature and sunshine, while Toronto was lamenting rain. It was 30 degrees here in late August, with our usual steady breeze off the lake,. That little bit of altitude we enjoy pays off in providing us with a wonderful micro-climate. We’re higher than Toronto, and north of the storm belt.
September rained. A lot. The colours were lovely, set off against dark skies, and there was lots of sun in between the showers, but October and November set in to be at their finest, with lovely warm days, crisp nights that left us almost believing winter was a long way off. Then, wham, winter happens fast...
In a hilarious twist, Napster, our rotund ginger cat, embarked on a new career as a famous artist. Painting with his tail, he ‘whipped’ up several designs. What started as a lark has blossomed for him – he’s been featured
in 3 magazines, several newspapers, had a guest appearance at the Mall, and moved over $3000 worth of cards and prints. All the profits go to charities, and he has a blog where you can order from him on-line, through the Bondi Resort Blog (Our blog was highly recommended by Macleans magazine!). His collectors now include the Minister of Industry; a director of the original IMAX films; and a celebrity artist in London. Achmed continues to be a little terror, with a huge fan club. Now that he’s famous, Napster stands his ground more, and the two are getting on much better. There is a strong rumour that Nancy may be joined soon by a new puppy... stay tuned, and watch the Blog! Due to the G8, eye surgery and election campaign, Nancy’s time was very constrained. She sent, Abby to a friend who took our now five year old ‘gal’ into competition with, with great success. The other horses continue to be well, but less active than they should be. Pony “Squeegee” acquired a cart, and embarked on a career as a “smart car”, adding drives around the resort to his pony ride mission. While Nancy continues to coach and judge, she is a lot more “choosy” about her clients.
October was a whirl. While Nancy was successfully campaigning for re-election to Lake of Bays Council, the rest of the family were in Florida enjoying some sun and surf. It looks to be an interesting new term at Council, with a new Mayor and mostly new council and huge deficit. Enough said. She’s running away for a short holiday of her own in December.
Come November, Dave and Brian took gun and Hunter courses. It’s possible we are taking this “eat local” thing too far...
Christmas is a time to stop and think about what – and who -- really matters. It’s been a troubled world in many ways, 2010, but we’ve made it through other troubled times. We’re strong together. Every sunset has a sunrise. It’s time for us to realize collectively we need less ‘things’, more time with each other and in the beautiful soul-restoring Nature that surrounds us. Christmas comes around to remind us that no matter how steep the mountain - the Lord is going to climb it with you. We wish you a new year full of good things, things that truly matter, -- as your friendship matters to us. Blessed be.
“Be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead!" (I Peter 1:6)
Best wishes, and blessings, from the Tapley Family at Bondi Village
Brian, Carol, and David, and Nancy
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