The Coconut Telegraph, Issue 26

There are some things in life that are very difficult to surpass and one of them is summer, specifically, summer in Ontario. It is something that must be experienced to appreciate. After a long winter of hibernation, Canadians are ready to get outdoors. Summer is a celebration. There are so many things to do; from music festivals and cultural events to exploring the thousands of lakes and rivers that make up this great province.

As Jimi Hendrix put it: "are you experienced?" If the answer is "no", I recommend you put that on your 'bucket list'.

Without a doubt, Canadians love their cottages. There are literally thousands of hectares of land bordering lakes and rivers and these are dotted - sometimes clotted - with cottages of all shapes and sizes. From the traditional wood cottage or log cabin to the modern colossus, each lake has a different ambiance. My sister and brother-in-law have a place on a lake 40 minutes from Ottawa on the Quebec side. It is a magical spot. The classic cottage. Since it is the only place on a 20 hectare island, it enjoys unprecedented privacy.

Summer G&T on the dock

Likewise, 'HJ' has a cottage on 41 hectares of reforested land on the shores of a lake roughly 200km southwest of the city. It has a different character, with a greater sense of remoteness and a completely different physical geography. As you will see in the photos, some friends caught up there this summer.

In late August, I had the pleasure of paddling my kayak from Ottawa to Kingston on the Rideau Canal. The complete length of the canal is 202km. I cut off 20kms on each end as they are mostly locks - which can take an very long time - with very few open stretches between. I paddled the first 80km solo to Perth, Ontario, where I visited friends. My friend Cam met me Perth and we paddled southward 89km. Ramblin' on the Rideau was a nice surprise.

Joe remarried this summer. His bride, Jennifer, is an excellent addition to the 'family'. She has many qualities, but the one I like best is that she makes Joe a happy man. It is tradition to have 'stag', so we did. A few close friends gathered on a boat to laugh, drink, eat, drink and laugh some more on a gorgeous June evening.

And Ted resurfaced a few times this summer! It was great to catch up with him and share a few laughs.

Enjoy the last of the warm weather my northern friends ... the days are getting shorter. Please visit The Coconut Telegraph to read this and other tales.