Torbay Cottage, North Bay~
Well folks, it’s t-minus about 64 hours and the clock is ticking down to my momentous leave of my entire family for a week at Maple Lake (they’ll join me for three more weeks at the end of week one).
It’s a bit unnerving and I can feel the anxiety starting to creep in–not about a week alone (are you kidding?–nirvana!) but of leaving the guys behind. With the youngest being almost 16 y.o. no one really needs me but I’m a control freak so I’m completely beside myself that they’ll forget to do all the things that I always do–and then what? Probably no big disaster–but tell my itchy brain that!
My main concern is the additional three weeks when spouse and younger son and our dog, Raven will join me at the lake. I’m afraid that eldest son, who does not have the vacation time to use so is staying here, will let my plants die. 
I should be getting anxious about the near-700 mile drive there–but I’m not as I’ve done it so often–either alone or with a kid or two.
Moving along.
I stopped by Maple Lake Ontario today to check on the weather and the bugs and before doing so I checked on the the sun setting in Ontario and what a beautiful sunset it was!
I have a number of really pretty sunset web shots to share, then long-range weather, then bug forecast.
*About the webcam shots. It’s quite hard to obtain a good webcam shot due to factors including that most webcams are outside so the lenses get dirty, the webcam gets skewed to a strange angle, and bug juice collects. What I do is grab the shot and most times or in the case of the Dorset and Haliburton webcams, always clean them up and try to bring out as natural a photo image as I can.
Kincardine Harbour~ from Lighthouse One
Kincardine Channel overlooking the Penetangore River which connects to Lake Huron.
Silver Lake Resort~
Dorset Sunset, July 15~
Haliburton Sunset (enhanced)~
Once again the goofy neon car image at the top right area is where the road turns sharply, avoiding a plunge into Head Lake. I used to love going around that as a kid. Still do. 
Extended Weather Prediction for West Guilford:
That looks really good to me!
Hrm. Don’t forget your DEET!
(Above) Kincardine Harbour sunset
This is only funny if you are me but through a mixed-up spouse’s insistence that I had an appointment today and from my plan to leave the Friday after said appointment, we both extremely had crossed wires of communication–for the entire holiday weekend. It’s now all straightened out and I’m not stressing as I was because everything was off it’s timetable. Glad that’s fixed. <wipes brow>I’m excited to present the long-range forecast which includes the beginning of my month-long vacation at Maple Lake!
In addition, I’m very happy to note that it is no longer “no-see-um” season! Woo-hoo. I’ll-take the good news where I can get it. 
After the long-range weather and bug report for West Guilford/Maple Lake I’ll share a couple of Ontario webcam shots from July 9, 2008. Guaranteed pretty.
*NEW~ Updated on July 11, 2008 for July 12-26 dates. It seems to be looking a little better.
Black Flies.
We brought back a number of souvenirs from Maple Lake but besides buttertarts the ones that made the biggest impression are the many black fly bites that all three of us–plus our little dog Raven are still showing evidence of.
Poor little Raven’s (she’s a 12 lb. Schipperke) stomach was covered in bites and it was too late to avoid them once we realized that a morning walk in the newly-mowed back field was not a great idea. The person who walked her in those early morning hours also sustained a goodly number of bites and is glad to show them off to anyone who might take an interest (there really haven’t been any takers). Spouse also took a number of hits when he unwisely mowed the grass wearing nothing but shorts and gym shoes. His torso got eaten up pretty badly as well as his legs.
Judging from the Bug Forecast for Maple Lake it still quite thick with Black Flies and the weather that is forecasted doesn’t seem like it will helps matters much.
Hopefully, July will bring some good news.
Long range weather forecast for the Haliburton area:
Rockport, Ontario, Thousand Islands~ 06.05.08~ Ed Huck Marine Cam
After sitting alone for nine months our cottage will once again be inhabited by mid-day Saturday. Keeping in mind that we’ll need to put in the water and of course, clean a place that sometimes becomes a haven for little creatures, I hope we travel at a fast clip and get there with enough time to get all the kinks worked out before sundown. We have reservations in Ann Arbor, Michigan to stop on the way there as younger son has school on Friday (his final, final exam).
So big excitement. I’m very much in need of letting go of the accelerated pace I’ve been keeping since the Google shake-up last year. When I think about it I’ve been going full-throttle for 6 months–working 12-14 days usually 7-days a week and I cannot wait to make this trip despite not bringing the baby (the Mustang GT) because we need to pack stuff for our next trip–our official vacation starting in July. If the satellite Internet install goes as planned I may drive ahead of son and spouse in July–maybe two weeks before them, and then I will take the Mustang. Woot! (I just need to trust that they can get by without me for two weeks!)
Both guys have commitments here–spouse’s work that you can only take so many weeks-off of and he’s taking 2 long weekends and three weeks at the Lake this year and son–who can only fit Driver’s Ed. into his schedule by taking it during summer school. Three-hundred fifty dollars and a trip to the DMV later and he is ready for the first day of school on June 11th.
The weather forecast has in some ways changed for the better for us. Now we have warmer temps and less rain (see below) but the bug report is looking a bit scary as the temp is forecasted to soar to 30C at Maple Lake on Saturday. Unless Maple Lake is sealed by ice nothing is keeping me out of that Lake on Saturday.
(Above) Maple Lake Sunrise After Storm ~
The long-range Ontario weather forecast has been revised so for the 2.5 days we’ll be in Canada the forecast says now will be mostly no rain and good temperatures. Supposedly the “no-see-ums” count will be at “low,” too. Every good things helps, even a lack of things you can barely see. Hopefully for Maple Lake, Ontario and the Haliburton Highlands area the forecast won’t change too much more between now and Saturday.
Here’s the revised weather and bug forecast for West Guilford (Central Ontario) for the first half of June, 2008.
(Above) Maple Lake sunrise after storms~
Also have your bug report here.
Our spring shall soon yield to summer and from what I can see, this area of Ontario is quite similar to us (Chicago area) in that to be able to enjoy lovely, warm temperatures you have to be willing to “enjoy” the rain as well. And so the long range forecast for the Maple Lake area going through June 13 is a mixed bag of below normal temps, plenty of rainfall, and a few above-average temperature days, two of which we’ll be at the Lake.
I don’t really have a problem with it raining at Maple Lake as long as the temps. are pretty good and as long as it stops periodically to let things dry on the clothesline. However, what I like and what will be is not always quite the same. Read on:
And the bugs:
One would think after viewing the bug report that there is a good chance of getting eaten alive. I have a few strategies to attempt to avoid that.
1. Stay in the Lake –always. Only come up for air.
2. Stay inside. I don’t employ this one too much but then again, I haven’t been at Maple Lake in early June since I was an infant. Read along and learn with me.
3. Wear DEET and wear long sleeves and long pants, shoes and socks.
—-
It’s raining on and off here in Illinois today and it appears to be doing so in areas of Ontario as well. I just took two shots of Wawa on Lake Superior.
Without sounding like I’m snarking, I’d like to again note that there really is no point in Cams Across Ontario, a provincial-sponsored entity, approving a webcam feed that employs a lousy and or dirty lens. All one sees _all the time_ is blur. It’s really just shame– a waste of potential and bandwidth. With that said, I commend the various waterside entities that consistently offer clear, beautiful views of their area. They are truly appreciated.
It’s raining. Still pretty, though.
Our plan for our long car trip to Maple Lake Ontario has changed dates again.
My son’s summer school schedule coupled with an appointment–at the Lake– to put the Internet satellite dish in (first on the Lake–booyah!) is making things shift but it’s probably best.
Now we are going not Memorial Day weekend (May 26) but almost two weeks later–from the last day of high school to getting home just-in-time to start summer school Driver’s Ed. on June 11th. Yay for quick car trips far away!
I still can’t find my key to the cottage!
This is why I’m not sad to wait ’till June to open the cottage:
and then…
The weather–cold! It’s a summer cottage– temps. need to warm up a bit. As my father reminded me, the blackflies are pretty thick in May as well. The graph above spells that out as well.
Warmer is better!
Ontario Bug Reports
As you can see by clicking the above link, we’ll have to wait about one more month before we start getting bug reports from The Weather Network. When they become available, I’ll do a weekly summary for the Haliburton Highlands along with other news–such as weather forecasts–which may affect your outdoor plans.
As an FYI, this website is best viewed with the most current version of Mozilla’s Firefox browser. If you are not familiar with it, I urge you to try it as increasingly websites and blogs are designed to give you the best results using the Firefox browser. It is generally agreed that Mozilla’s Firefox Browser is safer to use that Internet Explorer. See the Firefox browser here.
