There's something about being up here on a long weekend.
My cottage on Stewart Lake is near a year-round, working town, MacTier. What do I mean by year-round, working town? Well, the people who live in the town are the ones who build your deck, shovel your roof, clean your cottage for the renters you have up for the season. They bail you out when your hot water tank craps out. They provide programs at the library for the kids on a rainy summer day.
I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again. What differentiates this community from others on the Big Lakes™ in Muskoka (Lake Muskoka, Lake Joseph, Lake Rosseau,) is that the townsfolk and the cottagers together make up the community. Every August long weekend – Civic Holiday, or Simcoe Day, take your pick – it is the perfect mash-up. Even in a crazy, rainy, grey, stormy weekend, everyone had a blast. The volleyball tournament and the horseshoe tournament went ahead as planned, as the participants braved the rain. However, the bouncy houses for the kids moved indoors.
A local hero got a park dedicated to her.
A member of Canada's Parliament showed up for the spaghetti dinner.
We even asked him to join the band for a couple of songs.
Though the choppy waves kept a few swimmers away this year, there were four hearty Stewart Lakers who made the mile swim. The famous Mrs. C. hung out with these heroes.
Our favourite volunteers, Clare and Muffy, patrolled the lake to keep the swimmers safe.
So in spite of the rain, the wind, the broken guitar string, the MacTier Big Weekend was another big success. I dare any of the Big Lakes™ to have as much fun as we do up here!