Length of stay: 2 days
Visited: September 2023
It’s officially fall here in southern Ontario. The leaves are starting to change colour, the days are getting shorter, and it’s finally cooling down. To make the most of our favourite time of the year we decided to spend the weekend at the cabin to get a sneak peak of the fall foliage.
Day 1: The Sunset
We arrived at the cabin late Friday evening. The road leading into the property isn’t maintained and has seen better days. We parked our car near the start of the road and walked in with our backpacks. It’s about a 15 minute walk (just under a kilometre). We planned to come back the next morning to haul in our food and water for the weekend. It was about 12°C inside the cabin, so we didn’t bother starting a fire. We just unpacked our sleeping bags and pillows and went straight to bed.
It was a little chilly the next morning, but it looked like it was going to be a beautiful day. The lake was calm and there was a light layer of fog swirling on the surface. Despite all the rain over the summer, the water levels of the lake looked extremely low. Perhaps because we haven’t gotten much rain this past month.
After enjoying a cup of coffee (for K) and tea (for me) we walked back to the car to collect the rest of our stuff. The sun was just starting to come out through the trees in the forest. We made breakfast and then headed back out to the car to spend the rest of our morning at Bon Echo Provincial Park.
By the time we returned to the cabin it was in the late afternoon. We could have made ourselves useful and collected some firewood given how dry everything was. But we figured there’s always tomorrow. The highlight of the evening was watching the sunset over the lake. Talk about a nice view from right outside the cabin.
When the sun was setting, a couple of guys boated over to the bay to go duck hunting. It looked like they were pretty hardcore about it as they had set up a series of decoy Canadian geese. And so we retreated indoors as listening to the sound of shotguns wasn’t really the vibe we were going for.
It got dark just before 7:30pm. Even though it was quite comfortable, we got a fire going in the wood stove. There is no electricity at the cabin, so the wood stove, in addition to our lanterns, is a great source of light. Plus who doesn’t enjoy playing with fire!? We spent the rest of the evening reading by the wood stove.
Day 2: Old Mining Buildings
The two dudes who were duck hunting yesterday were back at it early the next morning. We were hoping to go for a canoe ride, but we figured we should wait until later in the day as we didn’t want to deal with the hunters. But it turns out we didn’t have a choice as the hunters came right outside to the front of the cabin.
It turns out that they shot a duck and had badly injured it. It was still alive but they couldn’t find it. And so they asked permission to search around our shoreline. We used this as an opportunity to inform them of the property line and to let them know that they were actually hunting on our land. It turns out they’ve been doing it for a couple of years and thought it was crown land. Sure. But here’s the worst part, despite searching around the shoreline for well over an hour, they were unsuccessful at locating the injured duck.
The one benefit of the hunters coming by was that we could clearly see just how muddy the shoreline was. This would make getting into and out of the canoe messy. So we decided to go for a walk instead. We first dropped a load of stuff off at the car and on the way explored some of the old mining buildings located close to the property.
In the early 1900s this area was once used to mine for gold. While the mine has been closed for over a century, some of the foundations from the old mining builds are still visible within the forest.
When the mining buildings were closed, many of the furnishings were sold off or given away. Some of the furniture within the cabin actually came from these old buildings. There are also other remnants that have been left behind entirely.
We headed back to the cabin to eat some lunch, clean up after ourselves and finish packing. We just had one more trip to take to the car.
Until next time.
L
I agree that fall is the best season in Ontario. What a beautiful sunset over the lake.
For sure. The fall foliage in Ontario is outstanding, especially with all those sugar maples. It’s my favourite time of the year in general as the days are still warm and there are no bugs.
A beautiful place to be! ❤️🇨🇦
You bet. It’s always nice to escape from the city and spend time in nature.
🤙🏻🤙🏻❤️❤️
Nothing beats fall by the lake. You could have done without the duck hunters, but not without the sunset. Glad you made it back for the fall Linda. Happy weekend. Allan
For sure. It was a bit too early to see the full display of the fall colours, but some of the leaves had already started to change. Either way it was a fabulous weekend. And that was one of the nicest sunsets we’ve seen in a while. Cheers, Linda.
Your lake photos are stunning, Linda! What a beautiful spot (too bad about the duck hunters). Great to see a post about your cabin again. Cheers.
Thanks for your kind words. We ended up squeezing one additional visit to the cabin a bit later in the fall before the baby came in December. We likely won’t be back anytime soon. It was nice to enjoy the warm weather and some sunshine, even if we had to listen to some gunshots in the morning and evening.
Congratulations on your little one!
Thanks!! We’re a bit (more like a lot) sleep deprived, but we’re all healthy and happy.
Good to hear. I remember well the sleep deprivation part. Not fun, but it does pass.
Words I love to hear!
Yeah, fall is amazing. The history around the cabin is so interesting, I wonder what an archaeological excavation in the area will bring up. It’s our third fall in Sarnia and, every fall we wake up to many gunshots sounds that drift across the water from, what we figure, are Michigan hunters. We don’t love it.
Ontario is such a great place to enjoy the fall foliage. The mining history of the North Frontenac area is super interesting. It’s neat how there are ruins from some of the old mining buildings that are so close to the cabin. Listening to gunshots is not exactly the experience many people who spend time in nature are looking for. C’est la vie.
Thanks for sharing this idea. But we no leaves on our trees in Nova Scotia
Anita
It’s too bad how quickly the leaves fall once they start to change colour. We have no more leaves either, but hopefully it’ll be a short winter. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. Linda
Love that sunset. Ah, yes, hunters that go by their own rules. Would love the evening by the fire reading!
It was a pretty spectacular sunset that kept getting better and better until it disappeared. Sitting by the fireplace sounds lovely these days now that it’s winter. We had our first major snowfall of the season today. More to come on Friday.
Got a little bit earlier and now getting lots!! Yeah.
I can’t complain too much as it’s been a very mild winter so far. We’ve had more rain than snow. We could sure use some sunshine though, even if it’s cold.
I love your sunset photos, very beautiful! Hopefully no more duck hunters there!
Thanks for your kind words. There’s always something special about watching sunset by the water. Here’s to hoping that those hunters stay away next fall. It definitely took away from the whole experience of trying to relax and enjoy nature.
Beautiful!
Thanks for your lovely comment and for stopping by. There’s no better way to end the day than by watching the sunset.
Wow! Really nice!
Thanks! It was nice to get away and enjoy the warmer weather and early days of fall.
Wonderful and beautiful place and photos, the cabin looks so cozy and warm.
Thank’s for share Linda and have a lovely and relaxing weekend.
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. It’s always nice to get a change of scenery and to spend time in nature. It was definitely relaxing.
Always a pleasure visit your blog, Linda and photos looks amazing too.
I believe must be like a medical prescription at leats once per month let us have a relaxing experience like that. Happy for your! Keep well.
Elvira
You are too kind. Being in nature is definitely a great way to relieve some stress. All the more reason to do it more often! Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Always a pleasure visit your blog Linda. Thanks for share, agree with you. Enjoy the weekend as well.
Take care.
💚
Thanks for stopping by. We always have a wonderful time when visiting the cabin. It’s the perfect spot to unplug from the world around us and slow down.
The sunset was amazing!! I would not be happy with the duck hunters either.
Watching the sunset was a great way to end the day. The display of colours was outstanding. Listening to the sound of gunshots took away from the whole experience of trying to enjoy the solitude of the forest though.
The sunsets are beautiful, but those duck hunters!!!! How awful. Will you put up private property signs now?
I have a feeling that even if we put up private property signs that they will largely be ignored. We’ve had other issues in the past with ATVers and snowmobilers using the property … even when we’re there.
The cabin looks so cozy (minus the duck hunters)! It’s nice to get some fresh air and see some fall colors. Love that sunset!
Once we get a fire going in the wood stove, it can get nice and toasty inside the cabin. Seems lovely on a day like today when it’s cold outside and we’re expecting a snow storm. Agreed, it’s always nice to enjoy the outdoors, especially in the fall when the leaves are changing colour. Have a wonderful weekend. Linda
Lovely sunset photo.
Thanks for your kind words. The sunset was pretty spectacular. It was neat to see its progression and how much the display of colours changed.
The autumnal tints looked beautiful and colourful. So pleased you enjoyed a good trip.
The fall is my favourite season to visit the cabin and to enjoy the outdoors in general. Besides the duck hunters, it was a wonderful weekend. Thanks for reading, Linda
So mesmerized Sunset photos and many wonderful photos and beauty of the lake marvelous 🌹🙏👍 ,thank you so much for sharing dear friend 👏🏼💖
Thanks for your kind words for leaving a comment. Watching such a beautiful sunset over the lake was the highlight of our day. Have a wonderful weekend. Linda
Beautiful location and photos. That’s awful about the poor duck.
The property has been in my husband’s family for over a century. It’s one of our favourite spots to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature. We could have done without the duck hunters and the sound of shotguns though.
Looks lovely, shame about the duck hunters (what a horrible way to spend time….maiming ducks☹️) I haven’t seen enough of that province!
It was nice to escape from the city for a change of scenery. It’s too bad about the hunters which took away from the experience of wanting to enjoy the solitude of nature. Hopefully it’s a one-time situation. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and thanks for stopping by. Linda
The sunset colors are so beautiful! It’s always interesting to see man-made structures that have been abandoned and are being reclaimed by nature, like those remnants of an old mining that you saw. I don’t know whether the appearance of those hunters was a good thing or not, because on the one hand they took away the tranquility I imagine you were looking for when you came here. But on the other hand, from them you found out about the muddy shore so it saved you time and energy.
For sure. It’s been neat to take pictures of the ruins to see how much they’ve changed over the years. Even the path to get there is starting to fade with fallen trees and new growth. I wasn’t a fan of the hunters, or rather hearing the sounds of their guns. It definitely took a way from the experience of trying to connect with nature. It’s the first time we’ve seen them and we’re hoping it will also be the last. I guess we’ll find out next fall!
A sunset to set time aside for, to savor.
For sure. It was nice to watch it unfold from right outside the cabin.
You’re right, Autumn is definitely the most beautiful season (especially when I look at your photos). Wow, sunset was a spectacular affair! And that fire looks so nice (I can almost hear the wood cracking). Despite the hunters’ presence, I’m sure it was a great time to get back into the simplicity of nature.
One of the great things about living in Canada is that we get to experience all four of the different seasons. But the fall is easily my favourite. It certainly was a wonderful weekend, even with the sound of gunshots during the dawn and dusk. But hopefully those hunters won’t make it a regular occurrence.
Lovely, the leaves and the sunset are absolutely beautiful in autumn 🙂
While fall wasn’t quite in full swing, it was nice to get an early glimpse of the fall colours. The sunset was especially spectacular that evening with such a beautiful display of colours that was then reflected in the water.
Autumn is always my favorite time of year too. Old mining remains, sunsets across the lake, and reading by a wood stove all sound fantastic. But the injured duck and hunting on your property- shame on those hunters.
It’s too bad that once the leaves start to change, they don’t last much longer. It’s a final burst of colour before winter arrives. We weren’t a fan of the duck hunters, both in terms of hearing the sounds of their guns, but also for letting that injured duck suffer longer than it should have. Here’s hoping they don’t show up next fall.
Lovely! I love a good sunset and also a warm fire!
Life doesn’t get much better than that sometimes!
Sorry to hear about the hunters. Thankfully you had glimpses of a gorgeous sunset before they appeared. The old mining buildings look neat to explore. Perhaps you’ll find gold one day?
There were a few mining operations in the area that were looking for gold, but they didn’t stay in business long. There isn’t much gold to be found in eastern Ontario. But who knows. We had such a fabulous view of the sunset right from the shoreline.
Bon Echo is one of my favourite provincial park. How nice to have visited in the fall. This surely must feel like a different lifetime to you now with baby Margaret? 😆
Hunting sounds interesting to me but there’s also a part of me that get worried about being in the woods and getting accidentally shot by hunters. Ok, I’m gonna try to put this out of my mind now. 😆
Oh gosh, it sure does feel like a lifetime ago! We ended up squeezing in one more visit to the cabin later in the fall, which might have been pushing it a bit, but I had no regrets. We’re looking forward to taking Margaret there (and to Bon Echo). Perhaps later in the year. It’ll be an extra workout having to lug her and all her stuff in (and then back out).
I know what you mean about the hunters. They were out at dawn and dusk, which made us a bit nervous to be outside as the lighting isn’t the greatest then. Here’s hoping they don’t return next fall.
I totally share your animosity towards the hunters. And it figures they’d be oblivious to the property line. Despite that unwanted presence I’m sure you enjoyed being in the nature and reading by the fire. The simple life is the best (at least on the weekends, ha ha).
Oh I know. There is no crown land by the lake, so their excuse was a bit suspect. Thankfully they were only hunting at dawn and dusk rather than the entire day, so we were at least able to enjoy some solitude from the forest. It did make us a bit nervous to be outside though as the lighting that time of the day isn’t the greatest. And I hear you on enjoying the simple things in life!
Oh what beautiful photos you take, really amazing scenery and looks like amazing weather. Bet the fire store kept you warm. And the sunset photos are beautiful. Always great when you can get lots of sunset photos.
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. What better way to take advantage of the nice weather than by spending time outdoors in nature. Watching the sunset was a great way to end the day.
The fall is always great in the mountains!
You bet! The fall is my favourite season. The changing colours always adds something special to the landscape. It seems to go by way too quickly though. And then it’s winter …
The reflection photos are absolutely stunning, oh my goodness!
Thanks for your kind words. It was one spectacular sunset. Makes me appreciate the direction the cabin faces.
Wow, that sunset view from the cabin is just magnificent.
It was a beautiful display of colours that was also reflected in the water. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Linda
These are such beautiful photos, Linda! There’s nothing quite like heading out in the great outdoors in autumn. While the leaves are falling, the sunsets become golden, as do the fallen leaves, grasses, and sense of ambience. This is the perfect time to dress just a little warmer, go for a walk or simply sit on a bench and read a paperback. Thanks for sharing, and I hope all is well. Aiva 🙂 xx
Beautiful autumnal colours!
Heading to Canada in April for a month after a month in the US (east), so should be fabulous. 🙂
That cabin looked so cozy. I love cabins. I haven’t had the pleasure of staying in one since I was 9 or 10. I miss that. It was so much fun . Seeing the coal miner areas is awesome. I visited an area around here a few years back. We visited a coal miners’ village . It was really eye opening reading about all that they went through to provide for their families . Awesome post. Great pictures !!!
Thanks so much for your lovely comment. I’m such a fan of cabins too as they are often nestled in the middle of the woods. It’s all very comfy cozy once you get the fire going inside, which is the perfect spot to curl up with a good book. Sounds like you’re long overdue to stay in a cabin again! It’s always fascinating to catch a glimpse of what life was like for miners or loggers. It’s tough work!
If really is!!! I don’t know how the miners did it. They were people to be admired for sure. I think I am overdue 😭😭 . I have such great childhood memories staying in cabins. I love the fires crackling at night . I would always be reading by the fire 🔥🔥 I remember one book, in particular. It was a book of scary children stories ( I was like 8) and I would read the stories to my little brother 😅😅. It was so fun as we were in the woods so it made it more frightening. I always enjoy your trip posts . Thanks for posting such beautiful content
You are too kind. The smell of a campfire is one of my favourite scents. When you mentioned reading a scary book to your brother, that reminded me of the TV show “Are you Afraid of the Dark?”. I used to watch that all the time when I was younger.
Wow!!!! You watched that show too??!!! I used to love that show 🤣😍 I miss it. It was pretty scary for a kid’s show too .
Hahaha I know! Same with Goosebumps. There’s no way they’d make shows like that for kids nowadays. TV just isn’t the same.
It really isn’t ! We were so lucky with the TV experience we had
Oh I know! And I’m sooo glad social media wasn’t around when we were younger either!
Me too 😁😂 we lived in sacred times haha