Dream Places

There is something magical about looking straight up into the treetops. Especially now, when the treetops are so colourful. With the clouds behind, and the wind moving the branches, it is easy to get disoriented and almost feel that you are about to float up into those trees.


One way to avoid this is to pull up a chair, like these on the deck at Springside cottage, and enjoy the views of the lake and the trees while sitting down!

Eyes in the Skies

Carol and Nancy were working in the garden this week, Carol weeding the flowers, and Nancy cutting cornstalks, when a pretty darn fancy plane came overhead. A Piper Navaho, it circled us once, then came back again, wing tilted, obviously having a good look. We waved, and wondered who was checking us out.

Brian was in the air at the same time, with his own Piper Cub PA-11, a much smaller plane -- but in true Bushpilot tradition, a plane on floats. His mission was to take some photos of the fall colours, from an eagle's perspective.

Later in the day, we received some photos by email, taken from the Navaho -- which turns out to belong to friends and long time resort guests Lyndsay and Ernie. Lyndsay's mom Pamela was in the plane, pointing out the window and locating all the things she remembered at Bondi from their visits here. She didn't see us waving back, sadly, but we probably looked like little ants from that height.

Brian, upon landing, added his own photos to the day's collection -- and in the little picture, on the top right hand side, you can just make out a tiny little airplane -- that would be Pamela and Co. -- Brian was MUCH higher (but then, he wasn't trying to see us on the ground!) and was circling above their plane while they were circling above us, and the chickens were running in circles on the ground!


Seeing north Muskoka from the air, especially at this time of year, is a magical experience, and a breathtaking one. You don't truly appreciate the shape of the Canadian Shield and its myriad lakes until you see it from above!

Autumn Colours

Labour Day traditionally marks the end of Summer and the beginning of Fall.

One of the most wonderful things about Muskoka is the changing of the seasons. From the crisp winter whites through the soft spring greens and sunbaked summers, the year moves on towards the autumn and the best display of colours on earth.

We are just beginning to see the blush of red on some of the trees, but by mid-September we will be in the middle of the trees' great display of artwork. I remember showing photographs of Bondi to new friends I met on a safari in Kenya. Clustered around me by the campfire, the photographs eagerly passed from hand to hand until I thought I'd never see them again, there was much discussion, and a general consensus that "these are Not Trees, Mama, these must be Flowers." It was hard to convince them otherwise.

The maples certainly can put on the colour red to equal any flower in Carol's gardens. Along with the golds and russet shades of the oaks and poplars, the forest really lights up. Some of the best hiking in the year is on offer come autumn, with the leaves underfoot, the colours overhead, the lakes their deepest blue. The hike to the top of the Lookout trail is rewarded with a panorama of colour. A drive down the country roads is like driving through an art gallery of the very best kind. Or just relax at the cottage, and enjoy the view.

This photo is of Lantern cottage, taken looking back from the end of it's dock.
And, yes, that tree could be a flower, it's so beautiful.