Ice Huts Dwight Bay Lake of Bays

As I passed Dwight Beach on Lake of Bays  this morning, I noticed that the ice huts are starting to go up on the lake. Ice fishing on Lake of Bays, while very dependent on Mother Nature, seems to run from about the end of January to mid March. When I first moved to Lake of Bays, I just didn’t understand the allure of ice fishing. Wouldn’t it be cold and solitary sitting out in these little ice huts waiting for a fish to bite? I shared my thoughts with an avid fisherman and friend.

“Jay”, he said, “you are coming fishing!”

So, on a VERY cold February day, a few years ago, I followed his advice. I dressed in warm, waterproof-layered clothes, with a warm hat, mitts, mukluks and sunglasses and headed out by snowmobile to the ice hut. I was expecting to stay about an hour and then return frozen to the shore. Oh – did I have a lot to learn! The sun shone and the day was brilliant. Here was beautiful Lake of Bays, which I knew so well in the summer, dressed in her winter whites and looking vast and virginal. The silence was amazing. I was in the moment – meditating, still, peaceful, taking in the stillness of Lake of Bays. After a couple of hours, I became aware that I was cold. Into the warm ice hut I went and sat on a bench near the little stove heater. A piping hot mug of coffee and a treat from the bakery in Dwight and I was warm and toasty. After a bit out into the bright sun, I went and checked my pole for trout. My friend had caught two beautiful big lake trout and now he was live releasing them – as he said,   “You shouldn’t take more than you could eat for dinner.”

More families joined us. The silence was broken by the giggles of children, families that were together enjoying nature in the north. By late afternoon, we packed up and headed to the cottage. We dined that night on fresh, pan-fried Lake of Bays trout, baked potatoes, fresh hot bread and asparagus spears.  After dinner, as I was sitting in front of a roaring fire with friends, I realized that the responsibilities of life – paying the bills, checking the email, worrying about next weeks schedule – never crossed my mind that day.

So, although transcendental mediation promises stress relief…to me Ice Fishing on Lake of Bays is mediation at its best!

Winter Weekend in Lake of Bays

Winter finally decided to visit Lake of Bays. Yesterday, I was at my office in Dwight when the snow started to fall – chunky, thick, heavy, white flakes.  By the time I left the office and started heading home on South Portage Road visibility was poor but as I passed Marina Road and came to the South Portage dock, ten snowmobiles had stopped for a breather. They had come from Deerhurst Resort, across Peninsula Lake  and through the Portage Flyer trail on route to Dorset on the southeast side of Lake of Bays.  Snowmobilers have been anxiously awaiting good conditions with lots of snow for the trails and frozen lakes. This weekend promised perfect circumstances for all outdoor sports – snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. The snow continued through the night and by 4 pm today about 19 cm (or 7.5 inches) of feathery white snow  blankets us. A winter wonderland. So still and lovely – I think of Robert Frost’s poem “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening”… surely he was thinking of Lake of Bays when he wrote that. How lucky we are to live in this beautiful northern region.

This is just a test post to test things on WordPress.  This is a new site that rocks!  You will find tons of information here about Lake of Bays Cottages for sale. Thanks for visiting – the site will be coming together a little bit more every day – it will be worth your wait….

What is a Shore Road Allowance? A Shore Road Allowance (sometimes referred to as the original shore road allowance or SRA) runs parallel to the shoreline of most lakes and rivers. To the best of my knowledge they were put in place when the land was first surveyed. Originally being 66 feet wide, the old measure of a chain. They can be found on old and new plans of survey and some reference plans. They will refer to the original high water mark. Keeping in mind that some lakes have changed in water level due to a variety of circumstances since they were surveyed, the actual distance to the water’s edge may be different.

Some of the reasons the shore road allowance was created include, a road for public and commercial travel, access to the waterways for the public. Remembering before roads were established, a lot of travel was conducted via lakes and rivers. The shore road allowance provided safe haven to travellers in case of storms or to spend the evening. It also provided for loggers when and if they lost a log from their booms. The logs would not become the private property of the land owner, as it would ground on crown land.

Can the Shore Road Allowance be purchased? A SRA when not owned is considered OPEN, The SRA when purchased is considered CLOSED. Most SRA’s have never been used for roads, but this does not change the original purpose or obstruct the right of use by the public. To establish wither a SRA is owned, review the property deed and search for the following wording; save and except that portion of land consisting of a sixty six foot shore road allowance. In most cases the SRA can be purchased (called closed).  Municipalities have been given the authority to sell shore road allowances. The SRA may only be purchased by the property owner directly in front of or adjoining the SRA. The Ministry of Natural Resources has also put forward guidelines concerning wildlife habitat that may effect shore road allowances. Each township has their own policy concerning SRA’s. Most applicants will be required to have a current survey of the SRA and cover the application, administration, legal fees, etc. associated with purchase.

Should one purchase their SRA? There are many factors to consider. I recommend seeking professional advice. Some cottages or boat houses may be built on the SRA and require ownership of the SRA for financing. When building or making additions to present structures, zoning may limit the percentage of lot coverage requiring the purchase of the SRA to increase lot size. Adding a dock or boathouse may require purchasing the SRA.

Our Creative Director and friend Jenn O’Brien was working out of the Dwight office today and she brought handsome Hank. Now Hank is large…no Hank is Huge! The size of a lion & the same coloring but with a face that makes you melt. I have to love a dog that has more wrinkles than me, no Botox here. What a gentle giant he is. A strong but not silent type … When he relaxes & has a snooze the whole office resounds with his snoring. He had us nodding off to sleep just listening to him & when we were discussing projects, we spoke louder over his snoring as he stretched out on the rug at Jenn’s feet and sawed logs. He has amazing human eyes that have boundless expression. He watches every movement of Jenn and his love & trust of her is immense. Maggie was totally put out, she is used to being the office Diva & all of a sudden this big strapping gentle boy is getting all the attention … she will learn to love him on his office days. It was an awesome day. One can’t help but be in awe of this beautiful breed of dog.

Huntsville Festival of the Arts & Jay Richardson, Broker, Royal LePage Lake of Bays office are honoured to sponsor the brilliant works of Beverly Hawksley. The gala  opening was crowded with a who’s who of art patrons &  fans and Beverly’s son – well known musician Hawksley Workman

 Painter Beverley Hawksley and musician Sarah Spring are teaming up to present a multi-media show at The Art Space in Huntsville. Imagining Winnie will include Hawksley’s visual art, paintings, installation and writing, with music by Spring.
“I was moved to do something about my long time interest in Winnie (Trainor) after I read Roy MacGregor’s Northern Light,” said Hawksley, fresh from her show at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. “I began to think about the fact that her life has really only been defined by her connection to Tom Thomson.” Writer Roy MacGregor, grew up in Huntsville, has researched and written about the life and mysterious death of the artist, and has recounted stories about his partner Winnie Trainor. They were engaged when he took his fateful canoe ride in 1917.”Winnie Trainor never married after Tom died. She lived at 3 Minerva and, it was said, kept more than a dozen Tom Thomson originals wrapped in newspaper and stored in a six-quart basket.

Beverley Hawksley has been compelled to delve into Winnie’s story through her own paintings.
“It seems to me, her identity was lost in some mystery for the rest of her life. So, I began to imagine her from a contemporary perspective … creating an atmosphere that I hope will allow some thoughts and imaginings about this woman who lived and loved in a time of secrets … to give space for recognition of some stories that have been put aside for a very long time.”
Hawksley tells stories through her large-scale figurative paintings, describing her work as being in “state” rather than “location.” Emotion is key to her paintings and her best ones seem imbued with either a quiet melancholy or a kicky playfulness. In either case, it is emotional work that evokes a sense of the reality of the human condition in its abstract grace.
Hawksley asked Sarah Spring to create some original compositions to lend a musical dimension to the show and Spring jumped at the chance. “I was inspired because I think Beverley’s brilliant,” she said. “I saw her paintings and got more inspired, about this project in particular. I have spent many summers at Canoe Lake and I’ve always been intrigued by the Tom Thompson, Canoe Lake, Winnie Trainer story.”
She has made some acoustic piano recordings for the show crossing genres from classical to jazz to pop.
Imagining Winnie, a multi-media presentation that creates a space for imagining the heart that loved Tom Thomson. Paintings and installation by Beverley Hawksley with music by Sarah Spring. August 5 to 28, The Art Space Gallery.

Join the fun on Saturday, July 30. Spend the evening at Dwight Beach,  Lake of Bays for the fabulous annual Beach Party and awesome Fireworks set off in the middle of Dwight Bay.   Activities include a BBQ & beach activities beginning at 5 p.m. Dance to the sounds of the Northern Lights Steel Band, see the Lake of Bays Water & Rescue Boat, take a ride on the Police Boat, enjoy  barbecued burgers & sausages, and enjoy all the many sights and sounds of Muskoka’s biggest beach party. Fireworks at dusk. Admission is $5 per person, or $20 per family –  Have a great time and help support the Lake of Bays volunteer firefighters.  See you there.

101 Things to Do in Huntsville & Lake of Bays this Summer

Stop by Huntsville’s Algonguin Theatre and Civic Centre and see the full size bronze statue of renowned group of seven artist Tom Thomson. The statue was done by acclaimed cast bronze artist Brenda Wainman Goulet. It is intricate and very beautiful.

Shutterbug Gallery and Huntsville Festival of the Arts are hosting their 3rd  annual En Plein Air Art Auction, a fun and entertaining event that will ultimately benefit students who are pursing a fine art education.

The first annual event raised three $1000 bursaries for student pursuing a fine arts education, and second year provided four $1000 bursaries.

Renowned local artists such as, Wendy Moses, Col Mitchell, Lynda Lynn and Gerry Lantaigne, will create their masterpieces right in the public eye, utilizing various locations along Main Street and in the parks of beautiful downtown Huntsville. 

The artists only have four short hours to complete their work, so they’ll need lots of encouragement from on-lookers. Artists will be provided with art supplies and an identifying poster that will help patrons of the arts to identify the event, the artist and their work for the upcoming auction.

Once the artists are finished, the original works will be put up for display on the Town Hall steps.  Music will play as passers by can check out the masterpieces that will be auctioned off.

At approximately 3:00pm, a lively and entertaining art auction will be conducted by local auctioneer Gord Mitchell, offering the public at large a chance to bid, with the proceeds benefiting more student fine art bursaries.  This is a wonderful opportunity to watch the creation of a masterpiece, own that original painting and to support emerging young artists.

Art

Farmer’s Market in the Canadian Tire Parking lot every Thursday until Thanksgiving weekend. Fresh produce, meats, jams, jellies, smoked trout, flowers, plants, honey,gluten free products, home made breads,  crafts….and so much more. Get your shopping done before company arrives tomorrow.