Day 3: Lake Muskoka

5 October 2018

Eke and Brian have planned an amazing outing for us today: a drive further north to the Lake Muskoka area to enjoy the fall colours and other fun activities.

We start with a delicious breakfast of fruit muffins, Brian’s homemade granola, yoghurt (including some Icelandic Skyr), fresh strawberries and a strawberry sauce.

Then we all pile into the car along with lots of warm clothing as the day has started cold (3C) and we are heading further north. Along the way we stop for us to photograph some amazing harvest and Halloween displays (it is Thanksgiving weekend). We are travelling along the Trent-Severn waterway system that joins up all the rivers and lakes in the area, so we see various locks and waterfalls and even a little power station.

To start with there is only a hint of colour change in the leaves but as we head further north the reds, yellows and oranges (and sometimes even purple colours) get stronger and stronger. It is an absolutely stunning drive combining the water with the fall colours. There are also lots of signs for different animals (and other things) we need to look out for on the road: moose, deer, turtles and skidoos.

We reach the little town of Gravenhurst just in time to see one of the steamboats departing on a lake cruise. We are all in need of a drink so we visit the delightful Blue Willow Tea Shop that has a huge range of different teas and delicious goodies all served in/on Blue Willow china ware. Eke, Gill and I have the cranberry butter tart (butter tarts are a big thing in this area) and the others have shortbread.

We head through Bala and then to Johnson’s Cranberry Farm. The cranberries are being harvested (next weekend is a Cranberry Festival in the area) and there are a range of activities at the farm. We start with a wagon ride that takes us around a cranberry patch whilst they explain all sorts of things about growing cranberries.

Cranberries are low growing vines that all tangle together. They are grown on land (usually swampy) and then the fields are flooded at harvest time so that the berries can float to the surface for easy harvesting. The plants are combed for the first pick for berries and then ‘beaten’ for the second harvest which is used for juices and wines etc.

Our next activity is a great deal of fun: Eke, Brian and I are taking the ‘Cranberry Plunge’. This involves getting into chest-high waders and walking into the now rather icy flooded cranberry patch. [It is definitely a preferable option to the Polar Plunge because you have lots of clothing on.] We have great fun tossing the berries around and generally clowning around.

The temperature has dropped considerably over the afternoon and it has started to rain, so we are all getting quite chilled (Brian also had a leak in his waders). We warm up with a mug of mulled wine – there is also a toasty fire to stand around. Even though it is cold, I am very pleased to not be wearing my yellow jacket.

We then take a beautiful scenic route home, thoroughly enjoying the fall colours. We pass through an area where all the barns (and sometimes other buildings) have mysterious geometric symbols on them that we never figure out the significance of. A wrong turn takes us to a tiny little place including a building with a sign for ‘University of Barkway’.

Close to home we stop at a Wild Wing restaurant for dinner. It is insanely over-decorated for Halloween and this is combined with an already insanely over-decorated with quirky things vibe. It is great fun and we share some great hilarity – particularly over a dish called ‘Pickled Willies’.

There are 101 different chicken wing flavour combinations so it is very difficult to choose. Gill gives up and opts for fish and chips. I try the Honey, Garlic and Teriyaki combo with boneless wings (that turned out to be basically chicken nuggets).

Then it was back home for a cup of tea and to share photos and remember a fabulous day.

 

Please join me over the next several posts as I take you on our Journey to the Arctic (and more).

The Joy of Business Class

Copenhagen Stopover Day 1
Copenhagen Stopover Day 2

Arctic Express: Northern Lights
Day 1: Copenhagen to Reykjavik
Day 2: Reykjavik to Constable Point, Greenland
Day 3: Scoresby Sund: Frederiksdal & Flyvefjord
Day 4: Scoresby Sund: Nordvestfjord & Ingmikortilaq
Day 5: Scoresby Sund: Eskimobugt & Immikkeerikajik
Day 6: Scoresby Sund: Danmark Island & Vikingsbugt
Day 7: Scoresby Sund: Cap Hope & Ittoqqortoormiit
Day 8: Scoresby Sund: Steward Island & Constable Point
Day 9: Constable Point back to Reykjavik

Iceland Discovery
Day 1: Reykjavik: Blue Lagoon
Day 2: Golden Circle
Day 3: South Coast
Day 4: Jokulsarlon
Day 5: Eastern Fjords & Moorudalur Valley
Day 6: Moorudalur Valley & Lake Myvatn
Day 7: Akureyri & Trollaskagi Peninsular
Day 8: Grabrok Volcano & Snaefellsnes Peninsular
Day 9: Snaefellsness to Reykjavik

Toronto, Canada
Day 1: Reykjavik to Toronto
Day 2: Toronto to Port Perry
Day 3: Lake Muskoka
Day 4: Millbrook
Day 5: Back to Toronto
Day 6: Toronto
Day 7: Niagara Falls

 

 

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For this and other similar tours see:

Explore Europe with Intrepid Travel (a range of different travel styles – see my post on travel styles)

Peregrine Adventures (Comfort tours)

Geckos Adventures (for 18 to 30s)

Note: After people telling me they had booked an Intrepid Tour on my recommendation, I now have affiliate links with the Intrepid Travel group of companies and may receive a commission if you book a tour online within a couple of months after clicking through to these sites.  So if you are enjoying my tips and stories and finding them useful in choosing your own travel, please click on these links and help me to bring you more .

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