Romance on New Years Eve

A couple that's staying with us is having a night to remember. They are taking a horse drawn sleigh ride through the backwoods trails near Beauview.

A very exclusive and unique way to share your love.

http://www.backofbeyondequinecentre.com/sleigh-rides.html

Beauview Cottage Resort, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada http://www.beauview.com 800-363-6047

Holiday Wish Come True

This past week, we had the pleasure of hosting a family from Sarnia who's son has terminal brain cancer. Gord saw an article about the family wishing to visit their family in Muskoka for the holidays in the Sarnia Observer newspaper. (Gord searches for news about "Muskoka" each day and this article turned up. The wonders of the internet. You can get access to news from all over the world. )
The article didn't say where the family lived in Muskoka, so we sent an email to the newspaper reporter. As it turned out, the family they wanted to visit, lives in Baysville, Huntsville and Bracebridge - which is right where we are!

They were able to visit Grandma in Baysville on her birthday, see the luminaries in Baysville, have Christmas dinner and visit with a lot of relatives still in the area.

See the newspaper articles:

Man's Christmas wish
Sarnia Observer
What Upfold would really like to be able to do this Christmas is visit his extended family again in Muskoka. And, he wants to see some snow. ...

Christmas wish comes true for man with brain tumour
Sarnia Observer
Upfold's mother's family is from Muskoka and the 32-year-old man wanted to return there for Christmas and see snow again, but his condition made the trip


Beauview Cottage Resort, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada http://www.beauview.com 800-363-6047

Huntsville Dog Sled Rides

Winter dog sled rides in the Huntsville Muskoka area are available through the North Ridge Ranch. Call Brad 705-788-2828
www.huntsvilledogsled.com

Reservations are a MUST!

Beauview Cottage Resort, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada http://www.beauview.com 800-363-6047

Muskoka Snowmobile Trails are OPEN

Some of the Muskoka Snowmoible trails are starting to open on a limited basis. The Hill and Gully Riders Snowmobile club reports that some trails in the Port Sydney area have opened this week http://www.hgrsnowmobileclub.on.ca/trail-conditions/index.html
and the Happy Wanderer Club reports trails east of Baysville have opened. West of Baysville is largely swampy and will take more time to freeze up solid. http://www.msrsnowtrails.com/conditions.php

Some trails in the Dwight are also Open courtesy of the Algonquin Snowmobile Club.

For sled rentals: Baysville Marina http://www.baysvillemarina.com/ , Redline Snowmobile Rentals http://www.redlinesledrentals.com/ and HSR Ski Doo Rentals: http://www.skidoorentals.com/locations.html

Beauview Cottage Resort, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada http://www.beauview.com 800-363-6047

Our Bay is Frozen. Can we go skating?

Our bay on Lake of Bays froze over more than a week ago. Since then we have had a big snowstorm and then some freezing cold temps. I thought I would check it out to see if it was ready for skating?

>>> Not quite yet! I went out about 20 feet and stopped. No cracks or loud breaking sounds. Dry boots. But I didn't want to get wet even though its only about 2 feet of water there. I used the ice chisel (ice banger for the ice fishermen) to make a hole. It was just 2 inches thick. NOT SAFE!

You need at least 4 inches to walk on ice and 6 inches before you can ride a snowmobile on it

We have some cold nights ahead of us. I'll check again later in the week.

Beauview Cottage Resort, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada http://www.beauview.com 800-363-6047

Rock Ridge Snow Tubing

Rock Ridge Snow Tubing in Huntsville plans to open on Dec 26th Phone 705-788-PARK

Here's a video I took to show you what to expect....



Beauview Cottage Resort, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada http://www.beauview.com 800-363-6047

Hidden Valley Ski, Huntsville Video

Ski Video taken at Hidden Valley Ski Area Huntsville, Ontario on Opening day!



Beauview Cottage Resort, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada http://www.beauview.com 800-363-6047

Bigwin Steamboat Restoration

On Thursday December 10th, the Marine Museum accomplished a major step toward launching the SS Bigwin. The SS Bigwin was reunited with her steam engine. What an exciting moment when after 55 years apart the steam engine was lowered back in place ready to ply the water of Lake of Bays again. Joe Pruyn and Rod Carr were hired by the Marine Museum to install the steam engine, propeller and shaft. Joe and Rod worked together in Marsh Engineering which overhauled steam engines and boilers. We are very fotunate to have found 2 people with this type of experience. They will come back in early January to install the propeller, shaft, and rudder. We will keep you informed of our progress.

Jeff Gabura

http://www.bigwinsteamboat.com/


Beauview Cottage Resort, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada http://www.beauview.com 800-363-6047

Algonquin Wildlife Video

Here's a video I found through my Twitter buddies. Lots of Algonquin park scenes with birds and animals - moose, loons, deer, hawks, rabbits, heron.



From Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Algonquingirl22



Beauview Cottage Resort, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada http://www.beauview.com 800-363-6047

Snow Days

Bracebridge, Huntsville , Muskoka have had a lot of snow dumped on us from streamers across Georgian Bay and Lake Huron.

Overnight there was another foot of snow and more coming down today. The plows are having a hard time keeping up with it!

The folks at Hidden Valley Ski hill and the Rock Ridge Snow tubing park must have big smiles on their faces today!

Here's some pics of what it looks like out our window before I go outside to shovel

Beauview Cottage Resort, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada http://www.beauview.com 800-363-6047

Welcome Winter to Muskoka!

I am excited about having the snow come and stay on the ground for more than just a few hours. I always find that November is a dreary month but as soon as you get into December that all changes!

Here's some photos of our Beauview Lake of Bays waterfront as the sun rises and a look at Fawn lake as it starts to freeze over.

Beauview Cottage Resort, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada http://www.beauview.com 800-363-6047