Launched

Today, Steve the boat dude, came around to launch our boat and the timing couldn't have been better because it was glorious day.
The sun was shining, the lake bright blue and it was really warm out, 25 oC or so. A perfect Muskoka day!

So off we went.

Just down the way, there was new cottage being built. Snowmobilers had spoken about it and we were anxious to see what they had described as a "glass house".

Lucy was enjoying being out on the lake as much as we were.

First stop, Bird Shit Island.

I spotted only one Blue Heron. Hopefully there are more but I just didn't see them. Last year there were eight. When I was a kid, there were 15 or 20 nests if I recall correctly. Oh, and no Cormorants back then.

Not too far from Eleanor Island (a.k.a. Bird Shit Is) is Taboo (formerly Muskoka Sands). Fire ripped through the kitchen and main entrance last fall but instead of rebuilding, it's being torn down.
It's such a shame. 'Elements' was our most favourite restaurant in Muskoka.
The 'Boathouse' restaurant building will be kept as well as the boat rentals. The rest is making way for new condos.

Last January 20th, I noticed that the sky was bright orange. It turned out to be a cottage that was on fire lighting up the sky.
This isn't a very good photo but there's no mistaking it's a fire.

Anyway, here's where the fire was located. It's not too far from Taboo. It burned right to the ground.

We checked out the crazy shaped tree on Old Woman Island and sure enough, it made it through the winter.

When we got home, Ralph was waiting for us on the dock.
When we left, he was doing the nasty to Muriel, practically drowning her in the process, but she wasn't anywhere to be seen when we pulled in.
Over the past few days, we've noticed that she's been roosting on our neighbours front yard. She might very well be laying her eggs there.