A Great Canada Vacation

Here it is Friday, and I’m still basking in the afterglow of last week’s vacation at Canonto Lodge near Calabogie, Ontario with my twin 15-year old sons, Ryan and Grant, and long-time friend, George G. What a great trip! The accommodations, the camaraderie, the fishing, the weather -- all were top-notch!!! I first visited Canonto Lodge in 1971 with my father and have fished Norcan Lake with friends numerous times since, but have not been back to the lake since 1987. So much has changed since then. No more spider-laden, foul-smelling outhouses or teeth-clattering baths in the lake. Gone are the days of trying to tune in a faint AM radio station for entertainment. Now there’s electricity, hot & cold running water, washer & dryer, satellite TV, even wi-fi internet access! Now that the road has been paved all the way to hydro dam (shaving off nearly half an hour between the lodge and Calabogie), we can even get pizza delivered! I was concerned that all these "technological" improvements would spoil the experience, but I'm very happy to report that the “magic” of the Near North woods that I experienced there as a teen back in 1971 is still alive and well today. We saw a bald eagle, numerous loons, great blue herons, red-breasted mergansers, wild turkey, beaver, and even witnessed an impressive meteor shower late one evening. This is the first time I recall the present ever surpassing the fond memories of yesteryear. The fishing seemed so much better, the people so much nicer, the environs much more beautiful than I remembered. Maybe I’ve just matured and have grown to appreciate the “little things” more. Maybe I feel this way because my sons were with me and I wanted to share the "magic" with them. Whatever the reason, I’m glad to have been able to share that wonderful week with them and am looking forward to next year. Some more photos