Lockhart lodge
Lockhart lodge can be seen here nestled between the pines. The picture shows the property, which is over 80 years old, before the renovation began. In the foreground you can see the sandy beach and the dock.
Turkey vulture
Turkey Vulture
Vultures in Canada….who would believe it! Many of us think of the vulture as a bird that circles a dead or dying prey in the deserts of southern and central America or on the African plain. However, there are now vultures breeding in Canada in Georgian Bay and even further north. By 1912 the Turkey Vulture had been seen as far north as New Jersey and since then it has continued its movement northwards.
The Turkey Vulture, along with the Red-tailed Hawk, are the now the most common raptors in southern Ontario and can be seen slowly soaring above the lake and cottages at Honey Harbour. If you are in the area between March and November and occasionally as late as December then all you need to do is look up and see these magnificent birds.
Image courtesy of Free Images-photos.
Gone fishing on a sunny afternoon
Gone fishing on a sunny afternoon
The Georgian Bay area is stocked with fish including largemouth and small mouth bass, brown trout, rainbow trout, northern pike, muskellunge (musky as it is more commonly known), salmon and channel catfish. Fishing is a great way to laze around a dock in the sunshine.
Loon on a lake
Loon
During the evening the haunting call of the Loon on a Canadian lake is enchanting.
Loons which are known as Divers in Europe because of their constant diving under the water for food. The Common Loon is displayed on the Canadian one dollar coin and it is also the Ontario provincial bird.
The ice is late to thaw this year
Snowmobile trail
The ice, which has been three feet thick in parts, has been late to thaw in Honey Harbour this year. This has been great news for the snowmobilers who use trails all over the area and use the iced up lake for access to the islands. Pictured recently, is the snowmobile trail near the cottages with a view through the trees to the frozen lake.
Boating around Honey Harbour
Honey harbour boat floats past the Bide-a-wee channel
The majestic Viola, which is nearly a 100 years old, chugs its way in front of us as we sit on the dock. Behind it can be seen the Bide-a-wee cottage with the narrow channel out towards Honey Harbour itself. There are several marinas in Honey Harbour itself as it is a very popular are for recreational sports and in particular sailing and boating.
What a beautiful day for boating on the lake!
Cottage workshop
Cottage rental tool workshop in Honey Harbour
The cottage workshop is pictured above as it nears completion of its makeover last summer.
Mahoney Cabin during renovation
Smaller cottage rental in Honey Harbour
Pictured on a warm, sunny day is Mahoney Cabin during its renovation last summer. This cabin has a living room with a wood stove, kitchen, washroom & shower, a screened porch area and two bedrooms.
One bedroom has a bunkbed and the other a double bed. Its a lovely old building which has been modernised. It was named after the Mahoney family who originally owned the property over 80 years ago. It will be available for rentals this summer so bring some swimming trunks and a fishing rod!
The boathouse
The Boathouse
All of the buildings on the Honey Harbour cottage site are in the process of being sympathetically renovated to retain the old features and to give an update to the structures.
Here we see the boat house which faces on to the secluded Pratt Bay (this is also known as Duff Bay by some locals after and earlier resident of the area, Colonel Duff). It is pictured partly restored and it appears the work crew have been having some r & r in the form of an old fashioned pair of waterskis found on the site. The boat house was finished last summer and work has gone on through the winter and is due to finish in April 2011 – just in time for the main cottage rentals season.
Honey Harbour sunset
A beautiful Honey Harbour sunset
This beautiful view of Georgian Bay just after a thunderstorm leaving a dramatic sunset . Looking like an oil painting the scene is very picturesque and is often enhanced with the haunting call of the Loons out on the lake.
