MORNING MIST

With the recent cool weather at nights the mornings bring mist on the lakes, gradually lifting with the emerging sun. As the curtain is raised Edith and Wasan Islands appear, two of several islands that make up the Venetia Group, while between them in the background The Rosseau can be seen perched above the lake on a granite bluff.

BYGONE DAYS

Like a re-enactment from bygone days the Wenonah II, a replica of the twentieth century steamships, waits to collect passengers for a cruise from The Rosseau, a modern resort modelled after the Royal Muskoka Hotel, built over a century ago, which reigned as the most luxurious resort on the lake before it was destroyed by fire in 1952.

1408

When I first started working at The Rosseau I was surprised to learn that, unlike most hotels, we have rooms that include the number 13, to the dismay of the occasional superstitious guest. We also have a room 1408, its collective numbers adding up to 13, and the name of a horror movie about a haunted hotel room written by Stephen King.
[Click on the door to open it to see the movie trailer... but beware!]

A DOUBLE DOSE OF PMS

Tonight my attention was occupied by a double dose of PMS. One was the Property Management System that I utilize in my work at The Rosseau and the other, the Perseid Meteor Showers that kept distracting me during the night. My camera isn't designed for this nature of photography, but did capture the resort under darkness.

DIFFERENT STROKES

Different strokes for different folks. A couple of teams demonstrate different techniques in the no paddles race, one of a pair of amusing challenges, the other being the out and in race: at the sound of the siren at the midway point the paddlers have to jump into the water and change positions before climbing back in to continue the race.

THE MUSKOKA NOVELS

This afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting and listening to Gabriele Wills, author of "The Muskoka Novels" and fellow blogger, who was at The Rosseau conducting a presentation describing her experiences researching the history of the area and era that are detailed so vividly in her two novels, with a third one in the works.
[Visit her website about her novels and blog for her other writing.]

LILY WHITE

While attending the Butson's Boats show held at The Rosseau I was attracted to this idyllic scene at the far end of the docks, a Chestnut canoe floating amongst the lily pads, with the matching colour of the canoe and flower. It was an oasis of tranquility far removed from the centrepiece of the boat show and the bustle from the resort's beach.

THAT'S A WRAP

[Photography prohibited]
That's a wrap for the trio of famous actors who recently stayed with us at The Rosseau over the past two weeks while filming their latest movie in the region. The thriller, starring Ray Liotta, Victor Garber and Stephan McHattie, is called Entitled and should be interesting to see when it's released, as was meeting and talking with these guests.
[Visit imdb.com for a synopsis of this movie and cast of characters.]

CANADA DAY

[Photograph pending]
Happy Canada Day! To end the day of festivities at The Rosseau a fireworks display was launched from the water in front of the resort, a spectacular event watched by hundreds of guests around the hotel and over a hundred boats gathered offshore, their navigation lights a colourful display itself and contributing to the night's performance.

BLACK CARS

One of the many black cars that have been busy whisking delegates between The Rosseau and Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, site of the G8 Summit. Due to the hotel's policy regarding guest confidentiality, I am prohibited from divulging which delegation and dignitaries are staying with us, however rumour and another blogger have it right.

ABORIGINAL DAY

Today marks National Aboriginal Day which also coincides with the summer solstice. Hugh McKenzie, an Ojibwa Native elder, prepares for the beginning of the Sacred Sunrise Ceremony, a traditional Native ceremony to honour Grandfather Sun and the first fire of Creation, offering prayer, thanks and gratitude to the Creator.

WAKEBOARDING

On the ride back to Basecamp, Josh Arviko, one of their instructors, performs an aerial somersault. Staff from The Rosseau were invited to visit their camp facilities for a tour, BBQ and an afternoon on the water wakeboarding. Having never tried it or snowboarding before, it took me several attempts before I was able to stay up... briefly.
[Thanks to Scott Duke and the staff at Basecamp for a wicked day.]

A SUITE VIEW

To commemorate the 10 year anniversary of geocaching, I planted my first cache at this scenic lookout under the same title. Touted as "the sport where you are the search engine" geocaching is a high tech hide and seek treasure hunt that everybody can participate in using a GPS to find hidden caches, often in some interesting places.
[Visit www.geocaching.com to register for free and start searching.]

EARTH DAY

Today marked the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and as people around the world volunteered to clean up their communities, staff pitched in at The Rosseau, cleaning up around the property. While scouring the grounds we found the wreckage of a 1953 Oldsmobile Super 88, a legend in its time and whose history remains a mystery.

MARCH BREAK

Warm weather has melted more snow and the plans of those hoping to snowmobile, ski or dogsled at The Rosseau, prompting the resort to change gears and offer mountain biking instead. Enough snow still remains in the woods for snowshoeing, while plus temperatures have encouraged sap to start flowing and be tapped from the maple trees.

["March Break Melting" news coverage appears from 01:45-04:00 Saturday March 13, 2010 A News at 6 Webcast courtesy of A News.]

EVENING HIKE

Resort staff were invited to join Meredith Wires, a naturalist for The Rosseau, on an interpretive evening hike with snowshoes, to explore the stars and woods. Following an introduction to astronomy, we visited a bear cave and beaver lodge, and throughout the hike impressed us with her wealth of knowledge of the flora and fauna.

MUSHKOKA

On special occasions guests at The Rosseau can experience the thrill and work involved with mushing a team of Siberian Huskies, along a trail that winds through The Rock golf course. I was given the chance to try it firsthand and found it was challenging at times, and jokingly christened the trail the Ididtherock, after the more famous Iditarod.
[Promotional consideration provided by Winterdance Dogsled Tours.]

WINTER GAMES

Those suffering withdrawal symptoms from the Olympics welcomed the start of the Ontario Winter Games. Held at different venues throughout Muskoka, The Rock golf course made a perfect setting for the biathlon while The Rosseau hosted boxing and kickboxing events, as well as was the Athlete's Village for all these participants.

GROUNDHOG DAY

Predictions were unanimous: six more weeks of winter... to enjoy! At The Rosseau, staff participate in a special night of skating at the resort rink. It was thrilling to coach some of the Jamaican staff, who made their debut skating and despite the occasional crash, remained determined to continue on, reminiscent of their first Bobsled Team.