They're Back!

It must be spring. Raccoons are exploring the shoreline

Time to Secure you Summer!

Time to plan your summer... We still have vacancies scattered through July, on beautiful Lake of Bays. Check us out! Find out why the National Geographic Travel Editors have named Muskoka the TOP summer travel destination in the world, three years running. Our resort is wonderfully uncrowded, with over 1200' of shallow sandy shoreline, clean water, woods and trails, and an organic farm (complete with hens and horses!) Once you are here, there is no need to go anywhere else, although there's so much to do in the area you may be tempted into daytrips... Algonquin Park is on our doorstep, just ten minutes away!#bondivillage #summervacation #explorersedge #algonquinpark#ontariotourism #northmuskoka #muskoka #besttraveldestinationever

D'you mind if we play through?

March 21st, the BMD, complete with golf cart, took to the lake for the annual Play the Bay tournament.

Playing a round of golf on the lake on Sunday. It is highly recommended to a) know the ice conditions, and b) use coloured golf balls.

Fantastic weather, warm, sunny, little wind... need sun screen big time! Why go to Florida?

Best time of the year!  And no need to book a tee time! 

Brian informs us that he 'won', needing just 10 strokes to get all the way around the Island. Dave and Mike each needed one more than that.

The Fish Are Victorious!

March 10, we had huge winds.  The fishing hut, with no doubt a little help from a trout shoving it from below, succumbed...
All is not lost however. Apart from the mess made by the tipping of the woodstove, and the ashes spread liberally through the hut, all survived.  The lads set it back up and enjoyed a few more evenings fishing before huts came off the lake.

Gearing Up

Canada 150. Even the melting snow wants to celebrate.  This was taken March 15.  Now we've got melted driveways, the mud begins.

March Moon

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Often  known as the Sap Moon, the March full moon marks the time when maple sap begins to flow and the annual tapping of maple trees begins.

At the time of this Moon, the ground begins to soften enough for earthworm casts to reappear, inviting the return of robins and migrating birds.

Roots start to push their way up through the soil, and the Earth experiences a re-birth as it awakens from its winter slumber.

Thanks to our friend Yaara Eshet for the lovely artwork.  I especially like the little fox chasing the moon's reflection :)

Summer Reads.

Dan calculated the best trajectory for spitting a watermelon seed successfully at the cookout on our beach... Now he's moved on to publish a little light reading for the cottage this summer!!!

More great Wolf Photos!

Wolf Watching in Algonquin Park! — Yesterday during rainy and overcast conditions an Algonquin (Eastern) Wolf was observed walking across the flooded ice of Lake of Two Rivers. This wolf headed toward the island stopping only briefly to drink from a hole in the ice, probably caused by the recent draining of melting snow. The smooth ice made for easy, but wet traveling for this adult animal. At several times, this wolf actually left a wake in its path, much like a canoe during the summer months, as it loped across Lake of Two Rivers 

I will Follow...

Sometimes we hear the wolves... sometimes we get even luckier. Thanks Jacqueline Godard for sharing the photo from your cottage this morning, on Little Whiskey Bay, Lake of Bays.

Lake conditions are such now that the deer are using the lake as a highway, and whither goest the deer, there goest the wolves, so we get some unique chances to see these incredible and hard-to-see creatures.

A deer killed on the lake also brings in all sorts of other wildlife -- fox, fishers, martens, ravens and of course eagles.

After the Rain comes This

March 7th, it rained hard most of the day.  But rain never lasts.  And after the rain comes the promise of a lovely tomorrow. When it turns cold this week we'll be skating to the island.

On that same evening, March 7th, my good friend Jacqueline Godard caught the rainbow -- over Langmaids' Island.

Our friend Fred Heinzler from Dorset caught this image a few days earlier.
We get spectacular sunsets here.

Eagles Above Us

I was too slow to photograph the eagle who has been overflying Bondi off and on this past week, but my neighbour Jacqueline Godard had her camera at the ready. Lake of Bays Baldy... This one was cleaning up after the ice fishermen, near Langmaid's Island. Jacquie estimated the wingspan at about five to six feet. Big Big Bird, and glorious to see them coming back to the region.  He/She spent a morning soaring over the Lookout on Tuesday -- and yes, that is one BIG bird.

Spotlight of Sun on the new Sofa

New furniture in the Lodge. And check out the sunlight pouring in!  This is the time of year we are renovating and upgrading.  Red Pine and Longside acquired new sofa beds.  The Lodge got some new furniture. So did Springside... Always more to come, but we are always working to improve!

Snowbanks! Lots of them

In answer to the question "do you still have snow", allow Taffy to show you the snowbank at Red Pine cottage. Great conditions for snowshoes and skis.  This was taken March 4. Since then we have had rain, melt, high winds and oh yes, some more snow. The conditions for snowshoeing are still fabulous.

Construction woes

Apparently there is an insufficient amount of insulation in the bird house roof. Photo taken March 4th -- Sunshine!!!

Making Tracks

Monica was here with a 'team-building' group of fine young minds who are researching stem cells and seeking cures for cancers, leukemia, and all sorts of horrible things. They spent two days with us, planning the way forward and enjoying the great outdoors. Some of that including snowshoeing our winter woods... Thanks for sharing not only this photograph but your great team of people with us Monica and Dr. Dick!

The Great Outdoors -- and Outdoor Clubs

Some pictures of one of our favourite Nature and Outdoor clubs who spend some time with us each winter. The rest of the province seemed to be getting endless rain, but we were able to drop some powdery snow out there for them, and sprinkle the sunshine too! It's always a treat to host these groups who are so 'in' to the 'out'(doors). A day spent hiking/snowshoeing in Algonquin Park was followed by a more leisurely day here on our own Bondi Village Resort Trails. Thanks Bill Summers for sharing the pictures.
We look forward to welcoming you all back next year!

To Shed Light

'the reason we do science is to shed light', and we recently hosted a team-building group of great minds here, from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.

Thanks for shedding some of that light here with us ❤

Sharing the Love

Feruzeh borrows a snowbank to send some love to her sister on Feb. 23.  We still have big snowbanks!