Shots captured by me at dawn on Monday 6.06.11 via webcam found on WeatherNetwork.com
Southern Ontario Awakens 6.06.11 SUNRISE PHOTOS

Indian River, Port Carling, ONT, CA - 5.13.11

If you are like many folks in Ontario who get away from home to cottage country on the weekends (and beyond), you may not be waiting for May 24 to begin hauling up your boats to the many lakes and rivers in southeastern Ontario.

The summer season in Ontario though quite beautiful (amazing, breathtaking–take your pick of adjectives) is also quite short. So then, water enthusiasts whether they use watercraft or partake in the myriad other ways of soaking up the ambiance of cottage country, are quite ready to make the short journey there even if the weekend forecast looks like this weekend’s:

Haliburton Highlands weekend weather May 13-14

Not that we should ‘expect’ balmy, rain-free days so early in the season but one can’t help but hope that at least one day of the weather shall be nice for recreational activities outdoors. Probably not happening this week as the rest of the week for the most part, is not looking super-duper, either.

I can see from the webcam shots that I just took that it is probably no exaggeration that in the next 24 hours you can expect upwards of an inch of rainfall. Fortunately, the temperature will remain mild overnight  Friday at a low of 57°F.

You’ll wake up on Saturday to light rain with the temperature remaining steady at 57°F, before dropping to 54°F Saturday evening with more light rain and a low of 50°F.

Haliburton Highlands Long Term Weather 5.14-5.19

Sunday, as promised, will be cloudy with showers and a high of just 54°F.  The low overnight will be 43°F and the rain accumulation will be 0.1 inch.

Monday, expect light rain and a chilly high of 48°F. The nighttime low will be 39° and the rain accumulation will again be 0.1 inch.

Tuesday, expect isolated showers, a high of 57 °F and an overnight low–again– of 39°. The rain accumulation will again be 0.1 inch.

Wednesday expect (what else?) light rain with high temperatures reaching 61° and overnight lows about 45°F.  There may be a half-inch or more rain accumulation.

Thursday, May 19, brings more scattered showers, a high of 61°F and an overnight low of 46°F.  The rain accumulation will again be 0.1 inch.

EDIT/ Also, there are the bugs:

Bug report

Have a week full of happy trails!

Turkey Point, Ontario

I’m so excited. After a disappointing spring and summer where I leaned heavily on the ever-gorgeous Reach Harbour, Lakefield and Chapleau River webcams to bring beautiful scenes to the Maple Lake Ontario blog, I found today that several new locations–with functioning webcams(!) have been added! I can’t tell you how welcome this is and despite the shots not being perfect–on all of them I’ve fixed the angle and brought up the contrast, etc., they are beautiful to me because a) they are photos of scenic Ontario, Canada a/k/a “The Motherland” and b) the webcams function when I click for example, “Magnetawan River in Britt” (the name of the river means “swiftly flowing waters” in the Ojibwa language) and Turkey Point (on the north shore of Lake Erie in southwestern Ontario). I have noted, complained actually(on the blog and in emails), that in the case of sponsored webcams–and some so you know, are private–regular folks covering the cost of hosting and the webcam themselves, in the case of sponsored webcams like Halcom Communications in Haliburton they continue to get free advertising and they should give back at least a webcam shot, right? I have not seen a shot of Haliburton, which is among the closest areas to Maple Lake Ontario since last spring. Same goes for Indian River, Port Carling. It used to be one of my favourite scenes year-round and Muskoka Realty Corp is still taking credit–yet no webcam shots–ever since last winter, in their case. So welcome, welcome, welcome to some fresh Ontario webcam locations! I’ll get to the rest and have the weather up later tonight but for today, the first day of October 2010, please enjoy the beauty of autumn in Ontario Canada.

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Don’t forget to click on the photos. Several have some pretty fall foliage to enjoy.

Hey folks!

Welcome to the last weekend of September!

In looking at the current temperature at Maple Lake/the Haliburton area, I can see you’ve had a rather mild overnight. Now to find what weather you can expect over the weekend of September 25 and 26, 2010 and the week to come.

Weekend Weather Haliburton Highlands - September 25. 2010

Expect to awaken to light rain Saturday morning with rain continuing through the afternoon (sorry). Temperatures shall struggle up to about 52°F for a high on Saturday. By Saturday evening expect showers with cloudy skies and a temperature of 46°F. Rain continues overnight on Saturday with the temperature holding steady at 46°F. Precipitation accumulation should be in the neighbourhood of about a half inch.

Weekend Weather and Long Term Weather Forecast Haliburton Highlands September 26. 2010

Sunday should be a slight improvement on Saturday though it will only be about 54°F. Expect variable cloudiness, especially in the afternoon.There is no rain in the forecast for Sunday and the low overnight will be a nippy, though fairly normal, 41°F.

Monday will bring isolated showers but a more moderate high temperature of 61°F. The low overnight will mirror Sunday at 41°F and the total rain accumulation should be about 0.3 inches.

Tuesday will also bring isolated showers but the moderate high temperature of 61°F repeats, which is nice. The low overnight will be 48°F and the total rain accumulation should be about 0.1 inches.

Wednesday looks to  have cloudy periods and a high of 63°F. The low overnight will be 46°F and there could be a trace of precipitation.

September closes out on Thursday the 30th with cloudiness and showers, a high of 61°F, a low overnight of 52°F and possibly 0.1 inches of precipitation accumulation.

October commences with isolated showers, a high of 55°F, an overnight low temperature of 45°F and 0.1 inches of precipitation accumulation.

In a word it is going to be a soggy (but not soaked) week. Make it a good one!

Happy Holiday Weekend to both Canada and the U.S.!

I haven’t checked elsewhere but both Maple Lake, Ontario and where I am (23 miles northwest of Chicago) are having very nice holiday weekend weather compared to last year. That makes me hopeful that Maple Lake especially will have a good summer weather-wise which of course effects lots of other aspects of life, too.

On with what to expect in the next week from  the weather and the bugs:

July 1 Holiday Weekend Weather

Chances are if you look outside or are outside right now you’d see a lovely sight–perfect holiday weather at Sunny and 75°F. It will be be clear overnight with a low of 61°F. Seems like summer is here. Yay!

Sunday morning will be sunny and 66 °F, rising to 82°F by Sunday afternoon with a sunny high of 82°F.

Sunday evening will be clear and 77°F and Sunday overnight will be mainly clear with a low of 68°F.

Long Term Forecast. Southern Ontario. July 5 thru July 10. 2010 - CLICK TO ENLARGE

July 1st Holiday Weather- Click to enlarge

Looks like Deer and Horse flies are going to be most pesky. Your mileage may vary.

Scroll below for More photos from the southern Ontario area today July 3. 2010– including cottage country!

Ontario late June sunset photos

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Happy week!

Kincardine Harbour Lake Huron - Ontario - April 27 2010

Kincardine Harbour - Lake Huron - Ontario 4.23.10

One of the reasons I like to check back via webcam on areas in southern/ south central Ontario is the seasonal changes that are most apparent by gazing upon the same vistas week after week. In the hard, cold midst of winter, very little changes. The water is frozen and if more snow falls upon the snow already on the ground—well, to my eyes it just looks like more snow.

But. This change–the one above is the one that signals to me that winter is officially over. Just four days ago there was but one boat anchored in the water of Kincardine harbour. However today at sunset when I pulled up the harbour on Lake Huron next to the Penetangore River, the harbour was nearly half full with boats in the water. Cool beans!

Since it was the time the Ontario sun was setting I was lucky enough to get some lovely photos including one that is wallpaper-pretty (you need to photoshop a bit of glare out–but otherwise it is luscious).

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Indian River, Port Carling, Ontario - 9.24.09

Weather Forecast - Friday - September 25, 2009

The weather forecast for West Guilford/Haliburton Highlands on Friday is no surprise to anyone that’s kept track of  many Fridays over the summer. It with be clear and beautiful with sunny skies. Expect a comfortable high of 57° F. Lows Friday night will be in the mid 40′sF°.

Looking ahead to the coming weekend, Saturday starts off partly sunny with a high temperature of about 61° F. In the afternoon you may see some isolated showers. Expect a low overnight of about 41°F.

The weekend closes as a cloudy day with showers on Sunday and a high of 63°F.  Evening temperatures will be mild with a low about 55°F.

The traditional workweek on Monday starts with light rain and a high of 57°F. Overnight lows should be about 48°F.

Tuesday will be yet another day of light rain with a chilly daytime high of only 48°F.  Overnight temperatures are expected to dip down into the low 30′s°F.

Wednesday, expect a reprieve from the rain. Variable cloudiness is predicted with the high a brisk 46°F. Overnight temperatures are expected to about 37°F.

Thursday, the sunshine returns! Expect a sunny day with the high about 55°F. Overnight lows however, will dip down to freezing at 32°F.

Have a great week!

*Sorry that there was no forecast here on Maple Lake Ontario this past week.  I had my first major computer meltdown and ended up wiping the hard drive. With help from both my sons I am back up and running along with my photo program which I realize is totally priceless. From here on in I should be able to stay current on the weather, the webcam shots and with any luck some nice change of colours fall photos.

Dorset, Ontario 9.24.09

Kincardine Channel, Lake Erie, Ontario 9.24.09

Kincardine Harbour, Lake Erie, Ontario 9.24.09

The weekend weather forecast for the Haliburton Highlands is the best so far this summer!

It’s truly gorgeous–sunny, clear, humidity is tolerable. And it’s going to be nice on Sunday, too! Can you believe it? I need to pinch myself ‘cos it’s been so long since Maple Lake has had an entire weekend that was this nice.

My weekender neighbours are quite fortunate since they just need to pack an overnight bag and in a snap they can be in paradise. Not quite as fortunate are folks like my immediate family who left today to return to the States.

Turning quite serious, folks, we are all on the same page on global warming now, right? We acknowledge it; it is happening right now. We have used and abused our poor planet and it does not have to be reflected as “warming” in certain spots. Here in the Haliburton Highlands, it’s been really cold and wet until this week. Pay attention to the excessive precipitation, especially.

Maple Lake, to be frank, has given me an eye infection simply by using lake water to wash my face. I know this because I wear goggles in the lake as I am unable to see without my contact lenses. The waters of Maple Lake have spewed up all kinds of garbage this summer–literally all kinds of plastic, coke cans. I’ve not ever seen it like this and it makes me really sad.

I’m sure I’m not the first but I feel that the year-rounders, the permanent residents should move forward to protect the lakes of Haliburton County. Obviously, we cannot change how Mother Nature is behaving right now but we can change human behaviour. Impose restrictions to protect our lakes and all nature that depend on the ecosystem, as people haven’t shown willingness to “reign it in” on their own.

First, I would like to see the obvious pollutants removed from the Lake. I would like to see a ban on motorboats that leak gasoline into the lakes and nearly drown swimmers like me with their huge waves (not kidding– HUGE waves).

Truly, I hate the noise too, but it’s the pollution that is sickening me. The boats are getting more powerful, ridiculously fast, and burning petrol at a time when I thought we were supposed to be practicing conservation. Our lakes are what make this area the paradise that it is. And we are doing our damnedest to destroy paradise.

Please, Haliburton Highland year-rounders, restrict the use of motorboats to the weekend and otherwise allow all the the other nonpolluting boats free and unfettered any time. The beautiful sailboats, the rowboats, canoes, paddleboats—all of them wind/man-powered and not harmful to our dying lakes.

If we don’t start reigning in our excesses and our abuse of the lakes of Cottage Country there is no doubt in my mind that we shall lose them. Nothing would be sadder if our unquenchable need for “things” and need to have the biggest, fastest motorboats and personal motorized vehicles hastened the death of our lakes–leaving nothing left for anyone.

I can only hope that the fine people that live year-round on Maple Lake and in the Maple Lake area take action this winter and next summer to deal with the craziness that breaks out every weekend here with ridiculous amount of polluting watercraft on what was what was once a clean lake. It’s not just here but throughout Cottage Country.

Also, as related to a lesser pollution, what the heck is with the unrestricted use of fireworks on Maple Lake every single weekend? Hey, I LOVE fireworks. They can be really special–but every weekend?! WTH? My poor dog is terrified. She shakes and glues herself to her people.

Ban fireworks on Maple Lake except for Canada Day, period. Stop the insanity, please.

/end preachy rant

Here’s the rest of the weather. If you can, stay up an extra day as Monday will still be beautiful:

As for the bugs, it has warmed up, they like warm, there are lots of them. Stay in the lake and otherwise slather on your insect repellent of choice.

Have a great week!

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Lake Muscoka, July 15, 2009

It’s difficult to put into words the feelings one has when about to embark on a trip that will keep them from home for the better part of a month. I have a to-do list in my head which I really should transfer to text–if I could find the time.

Last year I burnt up quite a bit of time at the Lake by working. Cottage County installed the base station for internet at (on, actually) our cottage so even though I swore I’d take a week off from work, I never did.

This year is decidedly different in that work has changed considerably. I’m doing more work independently but with that comes more juggling of  saying “stop!” to it for  the duration. As much as Canada doesn’t seem like a foreign country as far as mail service it is. Certainly in terms of internet access to a number of United States-based websites it is. Both these restrictions may prove either incentives to work less or work more.

Trying to find a workaround for them could consume large chunks of time and may ultimately prove fruitless. If I just say “no” to work completely then I won’t have to fret about getting access to the websites which provides a good deal of substance which I transform into content (I create content for put simply, things I like). I suppose it would be smart to find out just “how ” restrictive using the Canadian internet will be . (Is there such a thing? It’s probably using the Internet in Canada, right?). I hear so much about China and North Korea and other countries being crazy restrictive. I suppose I’ll find out soon enough.

I can keep my freelancing gigs to a point but there’s also a point where I’m defeating the purpose of vacation. Ten days to go and I’m juggling so much that I’m not even worried about the weather.

Guess it just proves  that old saying about everything being relative. I do hope we get some good weather though. I’ve been watching the forecast for Maple Lake and right now, I see the first couple days of vacation ( should I say “holiday”?) look good temperature-wise though there is rain one day. The upside of regular rain is less fire hazard (though one must always be cautious–we are in the woods after all). The downside besides literally putting a damper on things is the bugs! My cure for too many bugs generally has been to stay in the Lake but not in the rain. See? Fret. Fret. Fret. Always wanted to be a Type “B” personality–never got there.

And where are all the people on Maple Lake who were supposed to sign up for Internet so our fee could go down? Don’t you know you can get television, too? No separate service, simply be slightly savvy and you can find your programs through the Internet and since it’s high-speed and since if you live on the Lake you cannot be far from us–the base station–your reception should be good. What are you waiting for? I’ll come over and show you the ropes as I’ve already –with son and spouse– gone through it. I’m seriously concerned that if people don’t sign up I’ll lose my service because I cannot see paying for 12 mos. of service and using it for barely one month. OK. I’d say I’ve fulfilled my fretting requirement for one day. Have a good one!

Weather May 30-31

If you are looking to spend some time this weekend at Maple Lake or in the Haliburton Highlands for that matter–bring your fall clothes. It’s still not really warmed up there which is OK seeing as though we are barely heading into June. I have to remind myself that it is in fact still spring. You’ll have a high of 62°F on Saturday with partial clouds and some rain moving in in the evening.

Weather through June 5

Sunday’s high will only be 57°F with cloudy periods. By Monday, you’ll have a return of clouds and showers and a high of 60°F. Tuesday brings variable cloudiness and a high of 59°F. On Wednesday, expect cloudy periods with a high of 60°F. Thursday, scattered showers return with a high of 60°F. Friday looks to be the nicest day of the week. Expect sunny skies and a high of 66°F.

The bug report is pretty confusing. Some bugs are not even in season and then the next day they are considered “high,” so I’m not quite sure how one is supposed to interpret that.

Bugs – click to enlarge

Pretty pictures of Southern Ontario on May 29, 2009

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