Join us in a Different Season!

Have you stayed with us before, but  not in the winter season?  

 If you have, we'd love to welcome you home for a two night stay during February, or March, to experience us in Winter.

No need to get in and out of cars -- once you are here, you can just dress the kids (and yourself), step out the door and be ready to play on our toboggan hills, ski trails, snowshoe trails and more.  Grab your camera and check out the beautiful photographs all around. Meet the deer and track the wildlife.

Come to the stable to collect fresh eggs from the hens.   Grab a board game from the office, and curl up for the evening next to a cosy fireplace while you reconnect with your family. And perhaps with yourself.

If you are a returning Bondi guest, but this is your first WINTER VISIT, we'll offer you a 30% discount.     If you've spent some winter time with us before, we'll give you 25% off, just because we love you too.  And if you've never stayed with us, we'd love to meet you to, and will give you a 20% discount if you mention this post.

Just let us know you're coming to see our Winter Whites...  or that you are coming back for Another Look...

We've got cottages for everyone, from a couple, up to 8 or even 9 people.

Maybe you've visited us with a group -- come back on your own, or bring some friends, and extend your Bondi Time.

sun dog over the BMD fishhuts!

Deer Beds, and Deer in Beds.

deer bed, under the tree between Cedars and Clover cottage.

These are deer beds.  These are where the deer bed down for the night.  These are right outside the door of Clover cottage.

And these are deer.  In beds...  Enjoying the sun today, right in front of my cottage.  They are here every day. They come to raid the bird feeder at the house, and hang out near Clover cottage, making for wonderful photo opportunities!

on the lake, at the end of Clover's dock.  Check out their path beaten in across the bay.

Wild About Us

deer fur, along the trail by Springside

wolf tracks! Megan's hand gives some scale to this Big Boy

Last week, some of our guests came across a wolf-kill near one of our ski/snowshoe trails, up on top of Hemlock Bluff.  There was not much left -- one thing for sure, when a pack of wolves take down a deer, they don't waste any of it.  

Later that week, the same guests saw wolves trot across our frozen lake.  And then they spotted the Bald Eagle, who was visiting another kill-site out on the lake past our bay.

another clump of fur...  

more wolf tracks

A few days ago, out walking with Taffy and Megan, we came across signs of a scuffle, much closer to home.  Along the trail next to Springside cottage there were clumps of deer fur, tracks going every which way, both deer and wolf.  And then, nothing.  The deer escaped, the wolf went hungry. But the tale written in the snow was fascinating.

At the Visitor Centre in Algonquin Park, the rangers set out a car-killed moose near Sunday creek, so visitors could watch the activity around the kill.   Martens, Fishers, Foxes, Ravens have all been busy, glad of the food in this cold month.  And wolves.  The visitors have been so excited by the chance to glimpse wild Algonquin wolves... 

Stay with us, check out what's wild about us, and then hop over to the Park, just ten minutes away, and see what else is happening in the 'hood.

you can read the story from the traacks in the snow!

Ice Falls, Still Water

Ice falls along Hwy 35. When water stands still it creates these amazing works of art

Explorers' Edge and me... and more importantly, YOU

Explorers' Edge is the Provincial organization that promotes tourism here in Muskoka -- and on their website, they just ran an article I wrote, about the Resorts of North Muskoka (of which we, of course, are one)

deer on the lake in front of Bondi

Check it out here.

And then and come check us out, here at Bondi Village.  We're wild about our place -- just ten minutes from Algonquin, 20 to the Ice Trail at Arrowhead, we are just steps away from the deer who come daily to visit. And the local wolf pack leave their tracks all over the place.

Ski our silent woods and restore your faith in the world.  Snowshoe through fields and forests that are white and still...  Pull out your camera to get great photos of our wildlife and birds. Visit with our horses and hens.

Just come find yourself again.

We have cottages available most weekends still, one bedroom up to 4 bedroom, so come on up,

an Update on the ASC trails, fresh today.

Dug out the Drag Today.       Hooked up the Drag today and did Trail D101B from 76 then back to Dwight then back on D101B up to Oxbow. Its -14C and they should set up nicely. Every year I'm so thankful for the Excelent re-design that Garry Evans from Tall Pines did on our Drag. It works flawlessly. The packer pad he designed and built for us and Tall Pines works great also. The Guy is a Genius.       We didn't change the status of our trails this week as there are still a few wet spots and the other trails we packed will need another pass on them to be able to open.       We have All heard the term "Short Term Pain for Long Term Gain". Well last year we lost the use of our part of Trail 65 due to logging. I'm happy to say we will benefit from the logging roads they built and will have a new 12.7km awesome trail. It had been packed once and will need to be signed and groomed 1 more time, GPS the route so it can go on the OFSC Interactive Trail Guide. Hope to be able to get to it next. A huge Thanks to Kent and his brother Bruce for the help linking the trail and Kent riding shotgun packing it. It was a long day.       Next week if the cold temps hold I plan to get to the west side of Dwight on 77-78-79 to get them packed. There are plenty of wet spots on those trails and I see there is sled traffic on them so that should help put some frost into the ground. Just a heads up as we open the remaining trails, the existing open trails won't be groomed that day. We will try to open 1 day and groom the open trails the other day so they don't get out of hand.       Here is the latest Kawagama TV update from Don Able.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJko8SlTnMw       That's it for now. Good night from Oxtongue Lake.       If you no longer wish to receive these updates you can unsubscribe or send me an email at tim.drouin@gmail.com. If you know of anyone else that would like to get these updates let me know.       Remember you can purchase your ASC Club Membership online using PayPal  http://www.algonquin-sc.on.ca/webcam.html or at any of our events. Think SNOW ***** Tim Drouin

We have Snow. And Today, some Sun!

Sun finally peeking through. We've had a dust of snow all day and two more days forecast. Yes our ski trails are all open and good to go. Snowmobile trails are also up and running. Arrowhead and Algonquin are in great shape for snow. Hidden valley. Has all runs open. Just because the gta is stuck in an endless loop of November slush doesn't mean you can't come play in our big beautiful snowy backyard #northmuskoka #bondivillage #explorersedge

Sun shining through the icicles!

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plenty of deer tracks, the ski trail groomer at rest, and lots of snow.
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it's a little dark, but there are deer under the big pine tree, right in front of Wheelhouse!

Authentic Adventures

 There was lots of camaraderie, some arts and crafts, a birthday party or two, great food, lots of time in the Great Outdoors...

and wildlife.  The group of guests here from the Ancient Mariners' Canoe club last week came across the remains of a deer killed by wolves on top of the hemlock bluff.

The next day they saw the wolves trot across our bay.


Three deer came right up to the door of their cottage.








And then they spotted the bald eagle, coming in to another wolf kill site on the lake.

And then there was more birthday cake...

Yes, we still have snow

Despite the mild week, we still have decent conditions -- ideal for snowshoeing actually!

I didn't post this week because I was here, there, everywhere -- including a trip to  Guelph on Thursday to bring my horse home from the Ontario Vet College...   I note that there is NO snow in Guelph. Just gray, brown and slushy vistas.  Come north, it's better here.

Guests this week found a deer kill near one of our trails -- the wolves had left almost nothing behind.  The following day, they saw the wolves trotting across the lake. Pretty exciting!  

So yes, we have snow... come north and enjoy it!  

Enjoying the Wild

 So many happy faces!  Here is an album of photos taken by Ralph Novak last week while he was here with the Ancient Mariners Club.  They put me to shame, they are so 'on the go!'

And after a day out on the trails, the fun moves indoors as they feast and laugh together.

It is always a joy to host groups like this.  With our 20 k of ski/snowshoe trails, there are plenty of places to go to 'make tracks'.

We don't like Ice...

Dave and Megan sanding after the storm last week. We may be doing it again, tomorrow!   

We prefer the Snow Dance, where everyone joins hands and chants:  Ice and Rain, we just say NO! What we want is Fluffy Snow!

The Wolf Moon

Last night's Wolf Moon over Sunflower cottage. Why not come spend time with our peace and quiet?

One of our guest, Yaara, has made this amazing image of the Wolf Moon.

Now, that is a snowbank!

no snow in the GTA??? Come North!!! We've got all the fun happening -- the skating trail in Arrowhead, Back country skiing in Algonquin Park, our very own 20 k of ski and snowshoe trails here. And, um, yes... we've got the snow :)

Skate and Dine, it's Fine

The Ice Trail at Arrowhead has made it to the list of the top ten in the WORLD.

Come on up, stay with us, enjoy the peace and quiet of our 600 acres of wilderness, then take int he Skate Trail, and then dive into some of the local cuisine.  

It is ALL GOOD.

Come Play in Our Snow

Thinking of a winter weekend getaway? Not much snow in the city? We have fantastic snow conditions, and we still have space, in cosy cottages with fireplaces and lake views,suitable for just couples, or for a whole group. Ideal for families, friends, and outdoor enthusiasts, we provide almost 20 km. of ski and snowshoe trails and toboggan hills right here on our private 600 acre wilderness. Lots of opportunities to see wildlife here, too. AND we are only ten minutes from Algonquin Park's winter wilderness, twenty minutes to the world class Skating Trail and ski venues at Arrowhead Park, ten minutes to Hidden Valley's downhill ski centre, and connected to the Snowmobile Trails of the Algonquin Snowmobile Club. Plus, with all we have to do right here on site, there is no need to put the kids back in the car, no need to drive anywhere once you are here... Step out the door, and enjoy the truly Great outdoors!#bondivillage #takebackwinter #explorersedge #ontariotravel#muskokatourism #northmuskoka #muskoka

Arrowhead Skating Trail, still unique, still fantastic

Skating Trail is now open at Arrowhead Provincial Park! Best time to be there is mid-week -- it is less crowded. Stay with us and enjoy our quiet trails, then take in the active Skate Trail and the Park... win win.#northmuskoka #bondivillage #muskoka #skatetrail #arrowheadpark#explorersedge

Fire and Ice

Come for the weekend, Jan. 28th. Spend some time tubing Main St. in Bracebridge, at the Fire and Ice Fesitval (they turn the entire main street into a tubing run!!)   and then restore your soul in the peace and quiet of our ski/snowshoe woods