Despite the fact that this year’s time spent at Maple lake was unique and precious to me, there were a couple things I want to acknowledge in case anyone is wondering what planet I’m from, though in the states I am actually an alien. Har.
First, the weather. If I hadn’t had the luxury* of the ability to do paid work at the cottage I simply could not have stayed on as I did.
The key reason is that after months of discussion with the two potential internet providers that could serve Maple Lake it became clear that only one– the satellite Internet guys could actually complete the install for this summer.
They did a brilliant job. The service was better than what I have on a day-to-day basis with my American provider, Comcast, and through a bit of good luck I had more online work than I could handle.
It would have been very, very tough to chose between a beautiful day on the Lake and getting my work done but because many days were not beautiful in the traditional sense, I didn’t have to chose. I could find a nice spot only feet from the lapping of the lake and work away as the lake itself was colder than I’d ever experienced during high season.
My first week at Maple Lake was very quiet as I was alone in the cottage. I’d not ever been alone like that at Maple Lake and though a bit eerie the first night or two, it became quite peaceful. I absolutely never recall my dreams at home and here it seemed I woke each day with vivid recollections. I also had a transformative experience at one point when I awoke but I’m not sure blogging about it here is what I want to do right now. It was very, very helpful, I will say that.
I had time to notice a lot of what’s happening on the surface of things at Maple Lake. Even so, I have no illusions that I know much beyond that but here’s what’s not good that happened and that I’m very concerned about for my family both immediate and extended and for other folks on the lake.
Between the time that my spouse and I opened the cottage in early June to the time I returned in the third week of July and than again in the two weeks I was absent in August several acts of property damage and loss occurred.
Even before this happened–and it was a deep shock– I felt that it’s imperative that the residents of Maple Lake both summer and year-round, watch out for one another. This was a wake-up call for me and I’ve taken steps to keep a closer eye on the place and I will return with a stronger security mindset next June.
I am concerned that modern life, though it can seem to be pretty far away when one is at the cottage has indeed been able to creep down our gravel road or perhaps wander the perimeter of the Lake and we need to stop feeling secure that what we’ve been doing is enough when in fact there are many renters on the lake and there is much new development (teardowns, especially). Once you go out and paddle around the Lake’s edge it is very apparent.
We simply cannot know all our neighbours–as many may never return after their vacation. Again, I want to be emphatic: I have no reason to believe anyone we know vandalized our property but I can’t be an ostrich when taking note of the multiple incidents.
I am intensely curious to find out if the crime rate in the Maple Lake area is rising. That would seem to follow as more people equals more activity of many kinds.
Sorry this has been rambling. I hope that what happened to us didn’t happen to anyone else.
Next year I’ll try to be at the cottage even longer than this year–but on a different schedule based on my son’s need to visit potential universities which has yet to be determined.
No one is paying me to say this but having the ability to set up a webcam or two so you can literally keep an eye on your cottage may be worth the investment. It’s my opinion that the guys at the link above may be the best investment I’ve made thus far in our cottage.
The Labour Day weekend was perfect. No one wanted to go home. All my relatives live close enough to come upon the weekends if September continues from it’s fantastic beginning. I’m a bit envious as living too far from here will prevent us from doing so.
Just the same I’m happy to say that I’ve been here this year in the months of June, July, August and September and have gotten reacquainted with Cottage County to the extent that the massive amounts of rain let me.
Alice
We went on a final canoe ride today–all the way to the south side of the lake. Its was perfect. We saw some photo-shy loons and I got some nice snaps of St Peter’s Church.
Now we are packing and closing up for the next nine months. Real life duty such as work, child rearing, and more work call and they take precedence. We leave a bit of our hearts behind here at Maple Lake though.
I’m getting pretty excited and a admittedly a bit anxious about our trip to Maple Lake, Ontario on Friday.
The weather looks fantastic though (!), especially Labour Day–Monday. Finally, the people who really need good weather will have something to enjoy.
I’d like it to be calm enough that we get a last canoe ride in and I’d like the air temperatures to be warm enough so that the quite chilly lake temperature doesn’t force me to keep my swim-time short.
I guess that’s a rather large list but the biggest wish is that my boys, age 25 and 16 as well as our little dog Raven, do just fine here on their own. I’m sure they will but since I’m a mother worry is hard-wired.
Hope to see anyone reading this pop over for a visit to our cottage over Labour Day. If we don’t see you –enjoy!
I was just mulling over how when we go to Maple Lake, we are much more aware of our environment and how we impact it and visa-versa.
For example, cleaning products. At home I live in a condo in a big suburb and really don’t put much thought into what my cleaning products are made of. At the lake it’s a different story entirely. Any waste water that runs off does so just feet from our lake. Being aware of this, we go out of our way to use products that if somehow they do get into the lake won’t do significant harm.
The product I found myself using a lot at the cottage for older stains on ceramic and tile was baking soda. It was gentle but very efficient–even removing stains that I’d scrubbed with harsh cleansers that I’d previously used in desperation.
Another eco-friendly product I brought up to Maple Lake especially to keep at the lake was my sun jar. The cottage gets plenty of sun so the solar cells quickly powered the rechargeable battery which is then used to power the low-energy LED lamps.
My intent was to have another source of light if we were to lose power to the cottage which is quite common with severe weather. It did happen that the power went out one late afternoon, not returning until 11 p.m. and the sun jar was enjoyed greatly not just as a light source but as a object of beauty.
Spouse has been following the Haliburton Highlands weather forecast like a hawk as he is concerned about his grass seed getting enough water.
Our gardens here at home look the worse for his being gone three weeks. Spouse says they are at the end of their life cycles but I think they got both too much water and too much heat.
So Maple Lake looks great this week, like much of the Haliburton Highlands!
Hurrah for a stretch of good weather. I’m still undecided about staying up there longer in September. With his dad working 7 days a week, I’m a tad concerned about leaving Chris essentially on his own at the beginning of Junior year.
Current Forecast: Haliburton Highlands
And the Long Range Weather Forecast for the Haliburton Highlands through the first week in September:
That looks really good until just after Labour Day weekend-then ZMOG! Freezing again!
It’s rather quiet here though we’ve had a brief respite from the storms. I even managed to get myself in a bit of a fix going out on the Lake as a novice canoeist yesterday!
Just the same it’s going to be hard to leave on Saturday but leave we must. Spouse returns to work and school starts for son on his birthday–August 20th!
He chose to take a couple friends to Gameworks the day before and I’m the chaperone so I cannot very well miss it. I am however considering coming back up for a couple weeks in September depending on if the current forecast for “drier than normal” weather pan out. Here’s how the current long-range forecast looks. BTW, bugs are really a non-issue as it’s been so cool.
A hail storm with high winds hit Maple Lake Thursday afternoon leaving many folks without power throughout the evening. As I write this, the power has still not been restored with the hydro repair personnel reporting that they cannot find the source of the outage.
They explained as night fell that they would cease repair attempts at sundown and resume again Friday morning.
The storms came on suddenly with high, gusty winds and hail, blowing deck furniture around and tearing branches from trees.
After the storm passed there was a thin white sheet of ice on the ground with the air temperature having dropped significantly.
See the video I’ve included for a taste of this early August weather event.
Though the sun is shining and I’m grateful, it is in no way warm. The water, after many sub-normal temp weeks simply never warmed up–so swimming has been less than a daily activity. But as they say you take what you get when you come up here–and there is still much here to savour.
A walk in the woods
Lots of nature–any time of the year–any weather!
My spouse, who is a much earlier riser than I, took these out in the back field area.
This is what it’s looked like a lot here at Maple Lake this week past~
I wasn’t unhappy to miss the weekend revelry in favour of getting things set up for spouse, son, and dog’s arrival. They got here around 11 p.m. last night. As always (lol) it took 13 hours out of a start about 25 miles northwest of Chicago. Accidents, construction, the usual–but an easy border crossing which is always appreciated!
The cottage is sinking noticeably this year. I don’t think the rains helped much.:( Filing down the doors just isn’t a long-term or permanent solution. It’s pretty worrying because it needs to be addressed, then the siding!
To the weather and bugs! /EDIT
Black flies are officially out of season here! I wonder if they know that? (See bug report below for the day before.)
…is what the forecast calls for all the way into next week here in the WestGuilford/Maple Lake area. Must be kind of disappointing for anyone who has limited vacation time or has come to the end of their vacation.
My family and I usually hold off coming up to Maple Lake until August because whether it’s a cast iron fact or not a) virtually every time we arrive we are told by the regulars that we brought the good weather with us, that the weather had been not great for some time prior to our getting here. Always is nice to be perceived as a ray of sunshine. b) The weather here is near perfect most every August.
My perspective, having a whole month to chill out here is that I have plenty to do that doesn’t need great weather to be done–so though I’d welcome just a bit more sunshine, I’m willing to wait for the great weather on the way to Maple Lake on Tuesday and Wednesday and possibly beyond.
Spoke with spouse and both sons tonight–all sounds good on the home front. Spouse did tell me that the flowers that I posted were in fact some wildflowers seeds he just sprinkled on the bank before we left last time.
