Back in 1997 we bought a beautiful little cottage on a rock on Lake Muskoka, and slowly it wormed its way into our hearts to become our home away from home. Over the years the kids, our extended family and our friends have made so many memories here. Over the years our cottage and the town has gone through lots of changes. The Wharf, new condos, new hotel, all just over the last 10 years or so.

Over the years our family has gone through some big changes, us getting older, children getting older (that was and is a surreal feeling) and grandchildren (4 and even they are getting older ).

Lots of new memories every day. Now that we have given up our boat (still miss it), we are doing more hiking and exploring. Attached to the Marriott is a big rock with a good hiking trail around it with wonderful views of the Segwun and Wenonah and the Wharf. The first time we came here was just after Rachel and Jay got engaged. The next time we came was for a friends funeral. They didn’t have the Path of Memories then, it is a lovely addition.

The Wharf has added a few more attractions this year. It has a lovely boardwalk with a number of eating spots, from pizza to fine dining to an English Teahouse. The rainbow bridge is a lovely addition, for all the pets that have brought us so much love. I bet there are probably just as many dogs walking along this boardwalk as people (maybe a slight exaggeration). A floating sauna, picturing this being a hit with all the bachelor and bachelorette parties being held in Muskoka. There was also a small market here today, bonus for me I bought another birdhouse from the Birdman of Bala. Oops I forget to mention our favourite store – no not the Liquor store (there actually isn’t one here yet) – the ICE CREAM STORE. At least 1 stop is made here every year.

The Wharf to me is the heartbeat of Gravenhurst, sit on one of the many benches overlooking the water. Enjoy a coffee or ice cream and do some people and boat watching and enjoy a nice walk. Let your imagination return to the time when the Segwun used to be the only way for the very rich cottagers to get to their summer homes. The Segwun is one of only 3 ships still designed a Royal Mail Ship. It floats past our cottage with its Canadian flag proudly displayed, usually once a day tooting it’s horn for us all to come and wave to it. No matter what we are doing we run to the railing as it passes by. In our home it will always be known as the Toot Toot Boat.