Length of stay: 3 days
Visited: April 2023
It’s finally starting to feel like spring here in southern Ontario with warmer weather and a lot of sunshine. But it’s only a matter of time before the mosquitoes become active. So for the Easter long weekend we decided to head up the cabin to enjoy the bug-free outdoors for the time being. We also hit up a few provincial parks in the area to take advantage of the nice weather.
Day 1: Sunset
We left home bright and early Friday morning. There were surprisingly a lot of cars on the road. But then again it was a long weekend and the forecast was calling for nothing but blue skies and sunshine for the next few days. Along the drive to the cabin we stopped at Presqu’ile Provincial Park for the day to go on a few hikes. It’s been awhile since we’ve been hiking, and if you don’t include our visit to MacGregor Point Provincial Park the weekend before, even longer since we’ve been to a provincial park.
While there’s no longer any snow back home, there was still quite a bit in the area around the cabin. This should make the hike in interesting. We arrived at the top of the road leading into the cabin just before 5p.m. We parked our car and from there it’s about a kilometre hike to get to there. The first hundred metres weren’t too bad, but then we encountered some deep sections where the snow nearly went up to our knees.
We’re sure glad we wore our winter hiking boots, but that didn’t prevent the snow from coming in around our ankles. I ended up rolling my socks over the edge of my boots, which helped out quite a bit. But the worst part was when you thought you were on steady footing, only to sink into the snow seconds after picking up your back foot to take a step forward. Needless to say, progress was slow.
I made one more trip back and forth to the car while K stayed behind to get a fire going inside. The nice thing about visiting in the spring is just how much daylight we get. We appreciate it so much more at the cabin where there is no electricity. We made dinner and looked out at the lake where a group of wood ducks provided some entertainment.
After we were done eating, we made one more trip to the car to get the remainder of our stuff, which was mostly just our extra water. We didn’t want to leave anything behind in the car as the temperature was supposed to drop below freezing overnight. The sun was low in the sky and casted a soft glow through the trees.
The sun was setting by the time we returned. We retreated indoors to watch the remainder of the sunset and enjoy the warmth from the fire.
Day 2: Canoeing through the Ice
Today was supposed to be another beautiful day of warmer weather. It was a bit chilly first thing in the morning, but the lake was calm. A fresh layer of ice had formed around the shoreline.
After eating breakfast, we made an attempt to go for a canoe ride. We weren’t sure how far we’d get given the lake was still partially frozen and we weren’t sure how thick the ice was. But we decided to give it a whirl anyway.
We were quickly rewarded with our effort as just as I was about to step into the canoe, I spotted a $5 bill under the water near the shoreline. Thank goodness our Canadian money is waterproof! I had to use my paddle to break through the layer of thin ice and dipped my hand in the water to retrieve it. Sure the water was freezing, but it’s free money. We were off to a good start.
We canoed around the bay, breaking through the ice every so often with our paddles. It was oddly very satisfying to hear the sounds of the cracking ice and to watch the broken ice sheets slosh around in the water. We managed to create a path through part of the ice to get across to the other side of the lake. This required having to backup a few times to gain more momentum, but we got into a pretty good rhythm.
We paddled around a bit more to admire the frosty water. The sun became a bit too blinding though, so we headed back to the shadows on solid ground.
I went for a walk later in the morning. Given all the snow through the forest, I stuck to the main road. As the weather warmed, the snow continued to melt, creating puddles, seasonal creeks and muddy patches along the road.
I made it back to the cabin just in time for some lunch. K’s parents decided to come down for the day and had arrived while I was on my walk. We hung around for a couple of hours, ate some food and chopped some wood. We then headed to Frontenac Provincial Park for the remainder of the afternoon to make use of our Ontario park pass.
The trails in Frontenac were in good condition considering the time of year. It took us an extra 20 minutes to get back to the cabin though. We had to make a detour as part of the main road was closed due to flooding. We made it back to the top of the road leading into the cabin at 7pm just as the sun was starting to set. The temperature was cooling down and it was supposed to drop below freezing overnight again.
We got the fire going in the wood stove and made some dinner.
Day 3: Canoeing along the Shoreline
We woke up to another nice day of blue skies and sun. First things first, I made a couple trips to the car to drop off most of our stuff while the snow was still frozen. It is much easier to walk along the frozen crusty snow than when it warms up and becomes softer and slushy.
After making a cup of tea, we went for a canoe ride around the bay. There was still some ice on the lake, but not nearly as much as yesterday. As such we were able to explore further along the shoreline. Last summer a powerful windstorm known as a derecho swept through this area, causing a lot of damage. Along the shoreline there were many trees that had fallen over, pulling up the earth around the roots. It was interesting to see the buckled ground around the fallen trees.
We canoed further around the bay, admiring the reflections in the calm water. The water levels were abnormally high from all the spring melt, which was probably good for the lake. There are a few other cottages on this part of the lake, but everything was quiet this time of the year.
Once we made it back to solid ground, we put the canoe away. We then headed inside to make another cup of tea and some breakfast. After cleaning up after ourselves, we finished packing our stuff and got ready to head out. But when we were halfway to the car, we started to question whether we actually locked the door to the cabin. So we put our stuff down and decided to walk back to double check to get that peace of mind. It turns out we did lock the door to the cabin, but the door wasn’t actually fully closed. Good thing we went back otherwise I’m sure some of the wildlife would be claiming the cabin as their new home!
We then headed back to the car for real this time. We planned to make one more detour along the way home to stretch our legs and take advantage of the nice weather before heading to our family Easter dinner. While I was going to write a separate post about it, it would largely just consist of me complaining about all the flooding along the trail and the mud. So let’s just say Darlington Provincial Park isn’t so darling in the spring and leave it at that.
L
Sounds like a wonderful retreat! Plus, you made money on that canoe ride so that’s always good!
Oh I know. I was so not expecting that considering how remote the cabin is. It was a good start to our canoe adventure to get through the ice on the lake.
It’s a good omen!!
I’d say so! I’m sure glad our Canadian bills are waterproof!
That is lucky!!
Love your beautiful reflection photos, of trees being mirrored on the calm lake. This post ‘feels’ so calm and peaceful. ❤️
Thanks for your lovely comment. I’ve always enjoyed going for a canoe ride early in the morning when the lake is at its calmest. And it’s great for taking pictures with all the reflections. We certainly had a peaceful and relaxing long weekend at the cabin, which is exactly what we needed.
Your cabin is in a truly beautiful location! 😃
For sure. It’s a relatively quiet area, although there’s been quite a few cottages that were recently built on other side of the lake in the past few years. I guess a lot of people made the move to cottage country during the pandemic. It was nice to visit early in the spring when everything is still calm and quiet. There’s something nice to be said about just focusing on the simple things in life.
How nice to be at the cabin when the lake and forest awakes from winter slumber. Canoeing through the thin ice sounds like it would eb fun and good on you for spotting the 5 er. Have a great Sunday Linda. We are off to Jasper today for 5 nights and then off to Vancouver to dog sit. Hope we can find roads that are open. Cheers. Allan
We are headed to Penticton by Wednesday (but first a detour to Sask). Finding routes around the fires has been challenging. Safe travels, Allan.
Safe travels to you as well Lynette. The smoke from the Alberta wildfires are actually visible in parts of Ontario. This morning I woke up to hazy skies and a red sunrise.
Thank you very much, Linda. Yesterday was dodgy as we drove through the equivalent of something out of Dante but we’re fine. Today is much better.
Yikes. Sounds very nerve-racking. Glad to hear the conditions improved though and that you didn’t have to turn around. I was reading an article earlier this morning about how Alberta’s wildfires could persist throughout the summer. Not good.
I’ve heard that too. That’s so terrible. Some people have lost everything and then there are all the animals. Truly awful.
I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like for the people who have had to leave their homes. It seems wildfires are becoming much more prevalent. I can only hope that we take climate change and the environment more seriously. Stay safe out there.
I agree. We do need to take climate change more seriously, but we are at the mercy of complacency and greed. It’s probably going to get worse before it gets better, unfortunately.
It’s a depressing thought, but you’re right. It’s too bad our politicians are too focused on the short-term and are more reactionary rather than proactive. C’est la vie.
I’ve always enjoyed visiting the cabin in the early spring when the days start to get warmer and the nights are less cold where we don’t need to wake up as often to feed the fire. The lake is typically quiet and the bugs aren’t out yet. While we weren’t able to go far in the canoe, it was very satisfying to break through some of the layers of ice. And it’s always great to find money on the ground (even if it’s in the freezing cold lake)! Safe travels to Jasper (and then the west coast) given all the active forest fires. Take care. Linda
Your photos – especially the sunset photos – are stunning! What beautiful spring weather and totally enjoyable without the bugs.
Thanks for your kind words. There’s always something so magical about watching the sunset (or sunrise) over the water. The bugs are now starting to come out, so we likely won’t be back at the cabin until later this summer.
Wow, your photos are so beautiful, Linda! I would love to chop the ice as the canoe cuts through. Ontario is such a beautiful province! ❤️🇨🇦❤️
Thanks for your lovely comment. I can’t say I’ve ever tried canoeing through the ice before. This was a first for me. While we didn’t make it very far, it was surprisingly a lot of fun to smash through the ice with our paddles and canoe. It was also neat to see the frozen patterns on the water up close from a different perspective. Oh the things we do to entertain ourselves during the winter!
I grew up on a lake in Michigan and took the rowboat out to smash through the ice. Fun!
That does sound fun!! It’s very therapeutic in a way.
❤️
It sounds like a wonderful weekend! How could it not be in those gorgeous surroundings? Your photos are spectacular!
Thanks for your kind words. We couldn’t think of a better spot to enjoy the early days of spring, even if there was still some snow outside.
The wonderful scenic Photos definitely bring to life the feeling of being there, thank you for the chance to share in your adventure.✨
Thanks for reading and for your lovely comment. After a long winter, it was finally nice to enjoy some warmer weather and spend time outdoors enjoying nature.
Here in the UK it’s late Spring, I’ve just been pruning in the garden , everything’s growing like mad, it’s hard to keep up 🍀☘️🌿, weak sunshine but a welcome bit of warmth. … ☀️
We’ve had a bit of a weird spring so far with a lot of variation in the weather. It started off really rainy and cold, but now we’re enjoying some warmer weather and a lot of sunshine. It’s amazing how the landscape seems to just transform overnight. Best of luck gardening. I’m hoping to plant some veggies this weekend.
What a beautiful long weekend you had. The extra daylight sure makes a difference and it must be nice to experience that visible transition between winter and spring.
You should buy a lotto ticket with that $5. It’s a lucky find and perhaps a sign of better things to come! 😆
And here’s to us getting to the next long weekend faster and May this week just fly by.
It’s always great to have nice weather over a long weekend. I’m glad we headed up to the cabin for Easter as we likely won’t be able to return until the end of the summer. The mosquitoes there are awful. And agreed, the longer days make such a huge difference.
I’ve actually never bought a lottery ticket before. But maybe I should with that 5-er. Ha!
I hope work starts to wind down for you before the long weekend. I’m looking forward to some time off!
Wow! Wow! So beautiful place an photos, in blue. Love the cabin, must be very relaxing and a romantic weekend. Amazing post! Thank’s for share Linda.
Have a lovely week ahead!
Keep well.
Elvira
Thanks for your kind words. It was nice to escape from the city and spend time in nature at the cabin. Once we get a fire going in the wood stove, it can get quite comfortable and cozy. Enjoy the rest of your week. Linda
Always a pleasure visit your blog, Linda. Sounds amazing. You can prepare some soup on the wood stove. Enjoy the rest of your week as well. Elvira
You are too kind. That’s a good idea about using the wood stove to warm up some soup. Sounds like a great way to warm-up. Have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you for your comment, Linda.
Exactly a good soup, with some spices. Keeps you warm.
You bet! Same with a hot cup of hot chocolate afterwards!
Thank’s Linda.
Great idea! Cheers with a cup of chocolate. Happy weekend!
Beautiful image . This cabin is so amazing. Anita
Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. I’m glad we managed to visit the cabin over the Easter long weekend as we likely won’t be returning for a few months when the mosquitoes are out in full force. It’s the perfect place to get some rest and relaxation and just enjoy our surroundings.
So amazing beauty of nature and excellent photography 🌹🙏👍🏻😍 so interesting and beautiful
Your trip and the mist 🌫 also there , very cool and peaceful weather and inspiring lines to read
Home stay please also so lovely and grace 👏👍🏻thank you so much for sharing dear friend 🙏🥰
You are too kind. After a long winter, it was finally nice to spend some time outdoors enjoying the warmer weather and the scenery. It was very peaceful. Enjoy the rest of your week. Linda
You are most welcome and thank you for happy wishes 🌷❤️🙏🥰🌷
This was my favourite to the cottage so far! Perfect. The long day, the crist air, the canoe ride, the icy water, the calm water, the no mud, the no bugs, what more can you ask for? Sorry about Darlington, but this makes you appreciate the perfectness even more!
For sure. Life doesn’t get much better than this sometimes. I must say, it was surprisingly a lot of fun to go for a canoe ride on the icy lake. While we didn’t make it very far, it was very satisfying to try to smash through the ice. Darlington was a bit of a bummer, but thankfully it was along the way, so we didn’t waste too much time. We certainly had a few laughs about it after the fact. And overall we had a lovely Easter weekend.
I adore the combination of sun, snow and frost covered water. It looked so peaceful for a leisurely canoe trip Linda.
I was surprised to see so much snow still at the cabin. It made a bit challenging to walk in with all our stuff, but at least it looked beautiful. It was also a lot of fun to go for a canoe ride through the icy lake, something I’ve never done before. It was definitely a peaceful and relaxing weekend.
Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend away, Linda 🙂 Your cabin is beautiful and so is the wonderful setting which is an ideal place for connecting with nature. I find that being outdoors heightens your senses in a way that cannot be replicated indoors. Thanks for sharing and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
For sure. I’ve always enjoyed visiting the cabin in the early spring when the forest is just starting to wake up. There aren’t many cottagers (or bugs) around either, which makes it a much more peaceful experience. I couldn’t agree more about how nature helps put your senses to work. Plus it’s just so good for your well-being. Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your week. Linda
It’s so beautiful – those sunset pictures are the epitome of peaceful serenity. What a wonderful way to spend the weekend.
There’s just something so special about watching the sunset over the water. It was a great way to end the day. Well, that and sitting next to the wood stove. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the weekend, especially given the nice weather.
Oh, I always get so excited when I read you visit your cabin! A kilometer doesn’t sound that far … but walking to your cabin in such deep snow (with luggage) is certainly a challenge. Watching lovely sunsets and kayaking (while finding money floating around) – it sounds almost perfect! Your photos of the lake are beautiful – great reflections on the calm water.
You are too kind. It’s not that bad of a hike to get to the cabin, especially on the way in as there are a few downhill sections. But walking in the deep snow definitely added an element of challenge (and frustration). But it was all worth it. We couldn’t have asked for better weather to enjoy the outdoors. I’m glad we even got some canoeing in, even though the lake was still partially frozen. And it’s always a real treat to find money on the ground, or in this case, in the lake.
That brilliant blue of water is beautiful! I bet it gives a pretty contrast too with the lingering ice on it. How lucky to have such a peaceful place to run away to, especially before the bugs come 🙂
For sure. It’s amazing how the appearance of water can change depending on the weather. I’m glad we managed to visit the cabin when we did as we likely won’t be returning for a few months now that it’s a full blown mosquito festival outside.
It can be a challenge when the weather is on the cusp of changing, winter to spring. I enjoyed thinking about canoeing on that beautiful blue lake between ice floes.
For sure. Despite the lingering snow, spring was definitely in the air. It’s also nice how long the days are this time of the year. While we didn’t make it far in the canoe, it was a memorable adventure. Plus the scenery was stunning.
“bug free” Canadian exploring is the way to go.
Oh I know. We’ve officially put away our hiking shoes for the next couple of months as the bug blood bath has begun.
What a pleasant and peaceful getaway you had. The landscapes are beautiful, and the reflections are stunning.
Thanks for your lovely comment. I was surprised at how much snow was still up at the cabin. While it was challenging to walk through, it was all worth it for a quiet and relaxing weekend. Plus it made sitting by the wood stove feel even more cozy. And we couldn’t have asked for better weather.
The photo with the reflections in the calm water is really stunning! This has been a really enjoyable read, especially because of the stark contrast with how the weather has been these days in my part of the world. Blue skies never fail to lift up my mood.
Thanks! We didn’t make it very far in the canoe as part of the lake was still partially frozen, but it was still an enjoyable experience. Plus it’s a great way to get a different perspective of the lake and to see the frozen patterns in the ice. I couldn’t agree more about how some blue skies and sunshine can have such a big impact on my mood and energy levels. Enjoy your weekend. Linda
Your photos from the canoe with the reflections of the trees are so beautiful!
Thanks for your lovely comment. That’s one of the reasons why I enjoy going canoeing first thing in the morning when the water is super calm and it’s hard to tell where the trees end and the reflections begin.
Very beautiful, thank you for sharing such amazing photographs👍🏻👏🏻
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. Nature is very photogenic, especially on a beautiful day.
Yes of course, no doubt on it.
Stunning photos!
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. Even though there was still quite a bit of snow, we had such nice weather to enjoy the early days of spring.
Well done on the $5!!! What a great story 🙂
Linda – your photos are stunning. I love all the reflected trees in water shots. The water is so still, and the colours are amazing.
Keep up the good work!
As for being an ice breaker – how Canadian! What fun.
Alisen
You are too kind. I’ve always enjoyed going for a canoe first thing in the morning when the water is calm and quiet. This was my first time paddling when there was still some ice on the lake. It was oddly very satisfying to smash through some of it with our paddles. It did feel like a very Canadian experience. And finding that fiver was such an unexpected surprise.
Whatever the season, a weekend at the cabin is always a serene time away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s just a shame we can’t make the most of the Canadian summer we’ve waited so long for. Whether it’s the heat, the mosquitoes or the wildfires, there’s always something to spoil the party, and all the good times have to be eventually concentrated in the fall.
For sure. It’s always nice to escape from the city and spend time in nature. I couldn’t agree more about not being able to take advantage of the later days of spring or early summer because of the bugs or other conditions. We’ve been taking a break from hiking and have been working on our garden, but have had to put that on hold too as we’re currently under a heat warning. And because the mosquitoes are unrelenting. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m looking forward to the fall!
Gorgeous photos! Can’t imagine breaking ice while canoeing! But as long as one doesn’t tip I guess it’s OK. Walking in melting snow is so so hard! Good call to do it when it was frozen. Bernie
We’ve done our fair share of canoeing, but paddling on a partially frozen lake was a new experience. We stayed pretty close to the shoreline and didn’t make it far. I’d say it was easier to crush through the ice than to walk through the slushy snow though!
Yes, slushy snow is a true workout!
Oh yes! It definitely gets the blood pumping! Thankfully we don’t have to think about snow for another half a year or so.
Maybe only 5 here!
Enjoy it while you can. Although, I’ll probably be wishing for snow once the heat and humidity kicks in for the summer! I’d rather deal with the cold than the heat!
That’s because it is easier to dress for cold than it is to cool off from heat. But it will be gone in the blink of an eye and think winter, which everyone thinks lasts forever, will be gone in the blink of an eye. See the theme here?
That’s very true. You can always add layers, but there’s only so many layers you can take off! And you’re right, time seems to fly. I hate to say this, but the days are only getting shorter now that we’ve passed the summer solstice. It’s a good reminder to make the most of it and enjoy life, whether it’s winter or summer.
I never like to think about the days shortening in the summer. I come to reality in about Sept! But yes, it’s important to enjoy each day.
I come to reality when it’s still dark when I leave for work in the morning and again when I come home. As you said, we have awhile to go, but in the meantime, we might as well enjoy the long days while we can!
And awesome that it was bug free! We have so many that it’s absolutely awful.
It’s like that here too! The mosquitoes have been brutal. I was reading an article the other week about why the mosquitoes are so bad this year in Ontario. We had a very wet spring, which creates perfect conditions for them to breed. Plus the warmer weather from climate change doesn’t help the situation either.
We didn’t have that wet of a spring, and it’s now dry, dry enough that we are desperate for rain, and yet they don’t let up.
Oh gosh. I swear, the mosquitoes are getting more resilient and are multiplying at a higher rate each year. Hope you’ll get some relief from the bugs and the dry conditions soon. After weeks of dry weather, we finally got quite a bit of rain this week, which was much needed. I never thought I’d be so happy for rain in the summer.
I’m always happy for rain, but I am a farmers’ daughter, and now a land owner with a small amount of income tied to the 100 acres. Glad it’s only an extra income and not tied to it like a real farmer. That’s so stressful.
No kidding!! It makes you wonder about the future of agriculture in the context of climate change.
I feel that a lot more of our veggies will be hydroponics. We now eat tomatoes and cucumbers from Osler (a tiny town north of Sask) rather than the ones from Medicine Hat. Decreasing transportation costs will offset the electrical spend. As to the big field crops like wheat and canola farmers and researchers are actively working on what they can control. It’s definitely time for action. I used to believe climate change would affect my grandkids lives but I realize now it’s much more immediate. Bernie
We’ve been trying to grow more of our own vegetables during the summer and this year we’ve expanded our garden space by quite a bit. It’s a lot of work and makes travelling difficult during the summer, especially given how dry it is, but I enjoy it. And fresh food always tastes better. What we can’t grow we buy from the local farmer’s market. I know what you mean about climate change. And it’s crazy how even though it’s on our doorstep, so many people still deny it.
Beautiful reflections.
Thanks!! That’s one of the reasons why I love going for a canoe ride first thing in the morning as the lake is typically as smooth as glass, which helps creates perfect reflections on the water.
Seems great. Beautiful photos, the trees, calm lake have made their presence felt in your composition.
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. It’s always nice to get away from the city and spend time surrounded by nature, especially when the weather is nice.
You’re always welcome 💐🙏