A good weekend finishes with a crunch, bump and thump

As is normal my day started early but the mornings have been wonderful and warm so I sat on the front porch of 460 Sarah reading and responding to emails as well as checking important things like banking, finance and Supercoach. I was joined by one of the common animals we see around here. While I see chipmunks and squirrels as cute little creatures others see them in the same light that Julie sees rabbits. Rodents is how Hank describes them. This description is technically true but they're still pretty cute.   

After the excitment of Canada Day, was the rest of the long weekend going to be drab and boring? No way! After all I am living in Gravenhurst, the Gateway to the Muskoka And did I mention at any stage that the National Geographic Travel Magazine rated the Muskoka Region as the best summer distination for 2011? If I didn't here is the article. http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-trips-summer-2011-photos/ 

Oh well enough of the gloating and smirking it was time to get on with the day's adventures. I had received an dinner invitation from Ron and Barb and when I mentioned Belinda and Emma they were happy to extend the guest list by 2 Aussies. We would be following Hank and Barb so that meant being home by 4.30pm.

Our plan for the day was to take the drive around Muskoka Lake and along the way explore the towns of Bala, Port Carling and possibly Bracebridge. We made bread rolls in anticipation of a picnic lunch at some time during the day and headed off with no huge plan apart from stopping at interesting places along the way.

Interestingly the carparks at the Gravenhurst Wharf and at Grace and Speed looked nearly full as we drove by on Highway 169 so maybe the stories of of the business of the area were going to be true. When we arrived at the normally sleepy village of Bala I was astounded. Car parking was at an absolute premium but the chauffer (Belinda) was an experienced Sydney driver and appeared at ease in finding a carpark right near the Bala Falls. It would have been a nightmare if it was me driving.

Bala is a place that seems different to a lot of the places around the lake but I can't really understand why. It's worth looking more deeply in the future and as it's only 25 minutes from home that could easily be a project while I am alone in the coming months.

We parked right next to the Bala Falls and the old Church where we parked caught my eye, but not for the Service nor for the sale of art, collectables and souveniers that was going on inside it. For me it was just the building. As I said there is a lot at Bala that is interesting which will certainly bring me back. 

Where we next stopped will certainly be one of the places I'll return to, on a number of occassions. Iroquois Artisans http://www.iroquoisartisans.com/index.html  has an amazing feel. This visit was made even better with the owner, Carol, being there. Emma, Bea and I left with not only a few lovely souvenirs but with far greater knowledge that we had when we entered the gallery.

Right next door is another Bala Tradition and we stocked up on a little sweetness at the Don's Bakery. http://www.donsbakery.ca/ After we looked and drooled we waited for our number to be called and left with some delicious cinnamon buns. mmmmmmmmm!

Off then to enjoy not only the cinnamon bun but also our salad rolls at the picnic table outside Johnston's Cranberries. http://www.cranberry.ca/Farm/festival.html Cranberry marshes don't look that spectacular at the moment but they look a lot different than when Julie and I saw them under a blanket of snow during January. Lunch was fun and very satisifying.

We forgo the opportunity to taste the variety of Cranberry wines and headed further around Lake Muskoka to Port Carling where we were confronted by a Canadian version of Byron Bay. Beautiful (and some not so beautiful) people were out in force in this very upmarket summer destination. Unlike when I had been here in January the place was packed. No one appeared to be wearing a shirt, bikinis were everywhere, every second car was a convertable (roof down of course) and people were even arguing about parking!!!

I have to admit that that it was a georgous day and the Port Carling looked great. Emma and Belinda did enjoy the browsing through shops that were selling clothes that wouldn't have been out of place at Torquay, Narooma, Bondi, Manly, Coffs or Coolangatta. Just a little surreal.....I sat in the shade with another guy who was waiting on his wife, daughter and grandaughter and watched the passing parade.

The main attraction to Port Carling is still the water and there were boats galore and this time the lock was a bit more than a block of ice. The girls may have been dreaming a little about that wealthy cottager with his Greavette, Duke or Ditchburn heading toward Lake Rosseau and the "cottage". I was interested that the LCBO (bottle shop to Aussies) had an entrance direct to the wharf. Hmmmmm????

Those comments shouldn't hide the fact that Port Carling is a lovely place and abounds with Art and beauty. Just another gem in the delight that is "The Muskoka".

However there was a very important dinner to attend and were cut short our tour and left Bracebridge for another day and arrived home just in time to follow Hank and Barbara to fellow volunteers Ron and Barb's place where we were joined by their friends John & Mary and Joanne. Hank, Ron, Barb and John have been friends since they were all working at a summer camp many years ago and knowing them now it would have been a fun p[lace to go as a 10 year old.............

This was a good way to finish a great day surrounded by lovely people. All those that were there were delighted to have the input from the Aussies and Emma was certainly in good form. Memorable for all involved!!!!!

As both Emma and Belinda had early flights to catch  (to Vancouver and to New Orleans) on Wednesday morning they had decided to head home on Sunday but before they left we  headed across Sarah St to visit Barb and Hank one more time and they were introduced to another IDENTITY of the neighbourhood.

"Duke"!!!

My weekend wasn't quite at an end and after I did a bit of housework I relaxed and read before I headed back to Gull Lake for the next of the Sunday night Music on the Barge concert. This time the band was the Linconaires which featured a band some of whom had been playing together for up to 50 years. Good fun music in a nice place as they were back on the "Barge" this time. This enabled a variety of transport to be used to get there.

Given the weekend I had enjoyed sleep came easily and for once I managed to sleep until around 9am. Unbelievable but nice.

Totally refreshed I headed off for both a bike ride and then after lunch a walk. Life was good and I was feeling fit and when I got a call to say that Julie's Aussie boss, Sue, had arrived at a friends B&B and "would I like to come around for a drink" I answered in the affirmative. Don't know whether it was the invite or the thirst or the feeling good but............... me and the stairs had a bit of a falling out!!!!!!!

 "No animals were harmed in this replay"..

I must be a slow learner but I forgot that it is not a good idea at all for me to rush when stairs are involved even if it is for an important occasion, i.e. to have a drink with friends. I will learn one day. Maybe!!!