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.
Downtown Haliburton, Ontario~ 07.03.08~ All webshots taken today July 3, 2008.
(The fake, neon green car way up in the right upper part of the shot is at the very sharp leftward turn in the road as you enter town coming from Maple Lake on Hwy 35.)
I can hear the “bombs bursting in air,” or at least the simulated suburban version of them as the United States begins celebrating Independence Day, 2008.
All I can really think of is: I’d rather be at the cottage. I’m pretty sure our little dog, Raven would rather be there too because the number of “bombs” going off at Maple Lake right now is probably pretty few despite the fact that just two days ago Canadians celebrated “Canada Day.” They have shown that they can be every bit as celebratory as the Americans when conducting fireworks shows whether they be in a backyard or in a town park.
Mountain Trout House, Dorset~
I have felt like up and leaving to go north any number of times, just because why hang around here? I have an appointment next week but I’d really like to clear out of here a day or two later.
Reach Harbour~
The guys can follow me up a week after that. Can’t go any sooner because youngest son’s Driver’s Education class does not finish until the 3rd week of July, plus his monthly blood test monitoring liver function due to taking Accutane and the very small window every thirty days that the blood test can be done.
Anyway. There have been some lovely new additions to the Webcams Across Ontario site and it appears that the Haliburton cam is now working a bit better. I still had to do crazy things with the contrast but at least I was able to do something. Keep up the good work, “Eye in the Sky” folks.
Kincardine Harbour Lighthouse~
Hi there!
The good news is that I’ve recently been able to put a few brand new real (not webcam stills) photographs of Maple Lake, Ontario up for all to see. I’m very much looking forward however to adding many more as we move towards the end of next month–when Illinois obligations ease up.
In the meantime, the “not bad, either” news is that I have brand spanking new webshots that I took from a number of locations around Ontario today. Enjoy!
In case you missed: Web Cam shots going back to Winter, 2008~
Mulligans Bay~ Chapleau River~
Ed Huck Marine~ Rockport, Ontario~
Port Carling Indian River Cam~
Silver Lake Resort~
In case you missed: Web Cam shots going back to Winter, 2008
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 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.
I had a lovely week last week with the privilege of being able to sit outside on our mini-deck 2 mornings in the nicest weather this place has. On day three I went straight to work with my cup of coffee inside with the windows open–fresh air is good. Wish we had it (fresh air) lol. Super lucky to work at home sometimes.
Lake Superior (Nav Beacon), Michipicoten_River I want to walk along this shore right now!
On Friday, I realized that I was way overdue in posting Maple Lake Ontario-picked webshot photos of around the Ontario, CA, region. I try to pick at least one somewhat near Maple Lake Ontario or even the Haliburton Highlands, it’s hit or miss. I found some cool new ones this week. Also, one of the local ones is down–I hope it’s for replacement of the Eye in the Sky webcam, oh please, oh please. The picture was one of the worst on the entire network. Anyway, here are some of the nicest ones plus wishes that Haliburton with it’s gorgeous lake in the center of town, should show the world how truly beautiful it is by, getting at least two webcams. Get one for Minden–by the river, too. please.
“Around Ontario” May 16, 2008, afternoon via Cams Around Ontario~
Hats off to whomever added three Wawa, Ontario webcams with nice images (and labelled, as well–nifty!) this week past. Thank you and please clean the lens periodically.
Kincardine Harbour–do a search on the left there and watch it go from late winter through now..and beyond…
Mulligans Bay, Chapleau River, Ontario
Ontario Webcams
Top: Bala Bay Lake, Muskoka~
Yacht Club, Ottawa~05.06.08
I need to pay for my trip to Maple Lake, Ontario so I’m writing some posts for certain advertisers. It probably won’t last too long as it’s kind of fluky but truly I have absolutely no idea what will happen, when. I’ll explain another time, probably with/in 6 weeks.
Also, there may be seemingly crazy pop-up ads which you can minimize and if you click away and come back/ or look for a 1-second countdown thing and click it it will minimize out of sight. It will be gone for 24 hours. Just thought you should know.
At most, you may see every other post as an advert.
So some lovely pics. Very tired today so I’ll be back to explain the latest in the ongoing but so-far-so-good saga of satellite high-speed Internet service on Maple Lake, Ontario.
Some webcam stills—>
Finally got a decent shot of Barrie~
Hamer Bay~ Lake Joseph~
Mulligan’s Bay, Chapleau River~
Here are a couple more web shots I took at around sunset on the last day of April, 2008.
I’m really starting to pay very close attention to the weather as we will be at Maple Lake to open the cottage in a matter of weeks. <excitement building!>
Spouse will be taking 3 full weeks off in a row later on and to him, time off (plus two long weekends to open and close up) means puttering around with large rock slabs and the like. There’s lots of that up there. I want to swim and go in the canoe and putter a bit. But go checking our surroundings is tops on my list, too. Cannot wait!
We also have the anticipation of what exactly winter brought upon the area and how the continued less-than-great weather will effect things. The long-range weather forecast which is for about 2 weeks, is indicating quite a mix– nothing that seems severely cold but lower than the norm temperatures for the most part, with a continuation of a fair amount of moisture for next weekend.
Silver Lake, Parry Sound~ April 30, 2008
Burlington Ontario Waterfront, April 30, 2008
I caught some lovely still photos as the sun was setting today with the one above taken in Haliburton County on Lake Kawagama on ~ 4.30.08.
I wanted to bring those that have been doing searches for “Internet Haliburton” and “Internet Maple Lake” up to speed on what the most recent developments have been.
Firstly, if you are on Maple Lake or you were depending upon the relay station that would serve it from Carnarvon, according to a recent conversation I had with a W3Connex representative, the news is not good.
Without disclosing too much I’ll just say that there has been as of April, a problem with the location of the relay station in terms of the property it is situated on. The tower must be moved and the W3Connex people do not yet know where they will put it. With this such a question mark, despite the nice man from W3Connex asking me to call back in a month when he could tell me more, I’ve opted to go with something I have a bit more control over, Cottage Country Internet .
Cottage Country Internet will be bringing satellite high speed Internet service to Maple Lake starting with us. I’m very happy about this as I’ll be able to enjoy the pleasure of living on the lake whilst I take care of the necessity of having to work part of the time while I’m there. Other family members will be able to work and play as well so as a longer-term type deal, this should work well for everyone.
By everyone I mean everyone living on Maple Lake because this first installation will allow everyone who wants it to ask for and have service installed.
Chapleau River, Mulligans Bay, Ontario~ 4.30.08
Lake of Bays, Baysville Ontario~ 4.30.08…but where’s the Bay?
Haliburton~ Eye in the Sky Cam~ 4.30.08
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