Cottage Hints

Water: The water for the cottage is pumped from the lake. It is pretty clean water, but we don't drink it. We use the lake water for showers, washing the dishes, rinsing vegetables, etc.

We get our drinking water in town, from a tap at the "Tent" produce market on Bowes St. (From swing bridge, Emily to "T" intersection, left at "T", follow to Bowes St., right on Bowes at traffic light. We use three 5 gal. containers to transport and store the drinking water (1 orange, 2 blue). Use town water for any ingesting (e.g., brushing teeth, making ice, etc.).

You will have full water containers when you get to the cottage and will probably not need to get any in town.

There is also a Brita filter dispenser in the refrigerator. This is for filtering Parry Sound town water to the quality of bottled water. We don't worry about this, but this year I decided to do this because any new water upsets my stomach for a few days. When the bottom part is empty, just fill up the top from the water containers.

If you have a problem with the pump (we never have), call our friend (746-6862), two cottages to the right as you look toward the lake, or Jeff (746-4943), one cottage in the same direction.

Drains: The toilet drains into a holding tank (more under Toilet below). All other water drains into the ground, so it eventually ends up in the lake. This is OK for showers and washing, but be mindful of excessive foreign substances. We save and discard bacon grease and other oils. Use the strainer sink plug to keep bits and pieces out of the drain system.

Toilet: The toilet is an RV type that minimizes the amount of water going into the holding tank. You can add water to the bowl with the rinse lever and flush and rinse with the flush lever. It is pretty self explanatory.

Garbage: We use the dump in town (Open MWF 7:30 - 4:30, Sat 8:00 - 4:00, Sun 12:00 - 8:00, Closed Tues & Thurs)(From swing bridge, Emily to McFarlane, just before convenience store, right on McFarlane, to top of hill, to dump). You have to buy dump tickets at the convenience store on the left just past McFarlane. They are $2 Canadian each and it takes 3 tickets per bag ($6 Canadian). We use the white 13 gal, bags for trash at the cottage, then put at least 2 of these in the large black 33 gal. bags and take these to the dump. We keep the full white bag in the refrigerator in the garage until we have a 2nd one full for transport to the dump. Remember, there are BEARS here, so you cannot put garbage outside, or even in your car. Put it in the garage refrigerator and make sure you shut the garage doors.

We cannot take recyclables or hard items to the dump. If you put it in the trash bags they'll take it. If you want to recycle you have to take it home (we usually do, but not always).

Heating/Cooling: There is a baseboard heater in the living room, and one in the kitchen. The switches are knobs on the ends nearest the sliding glass door. They really take the chill off on a cool morning. There are also two portable electric heaters, but you should not need those.

For hot days/nights, there are two small fans we put in windows, a floor stand fan, and a really big floor stand fan in the garage if you need some through-flow.

Woodstove:

The new woodstove is in. It can burn about any kind of wood. With the door closed the stove is capable of burning for up to 8 hours on one load of wood. The most efficient operation is with the door closed, however, on days that are not cool enough to call for normal stove operation you can light a fire in the stove and use the door screen. This lets the stove burn cooler and gives you a nice fire to look at. 

Critters: 

If you open the kitchen/living room windows, close them at night. The first year we were here a raccoon got in (he left as soon as Cindy's Mom went to check on the noise). We close the doors and kitchen windows at night. We always have the bedroom and bathroom windows open. The living room windows don’t have screens, so we don’t use them.

Mosquitoes:

Yes, we have mosquitoes. The mosquitoes are horrible in June and slowly decrease until they are often gone completely in August. Bring bug repellent. The worst place around the cottage is the driveway and the road to the right as you exit the driveway. They mostly disappear when the Sun is out. 

Dock/Canoe/Tube: When the water is low (2001/2/3/7/8), you have to be careful getting in and out of the canoe from the dock. There are often amazingly big waves from boat wakes. When they come in, the canoe can get swept under the lower dock extension (put in because of the low water the past several years). You can always get in the canoe from the dock ladder or beach.

I leave the canoe in the water during the day (tied to a dock ring). At night I pull it up onto the dock and turn it over. I always tie the canoe to a dock ring when it is on the dock so it won't blow away (saved it once because of that). Tie up the tube too. Additional paddles are in the garage. Wear PFDs when you paddle.

There is a large tube in the garage. It is great to tie to the dock and lounge in the lake. There is a foot pump to inflate it. The colorful tube goes inside the canvas cover.

We recommend water shoes/sandals, etc. due to the band of rocks around the dock. There is a nice sandy bottom at the beach and a little further out. There is also a narrow sandy path from the base of the dock ladder to the sand further out.

Hammock:

There is a single point hammock on the top shelf of the Utility closet in the dining area. There is a wooden pole attached, don’t get bonked when you get it down. You can hang the hammock from a 2X4 nailed between two trees next to the path to the dock. It is pretty nice.

Bird Feeders:

Take in the bird feeders (Humming Bird, Finch and Wood Pecker) each night. I had not been doing that and a small bear got both of them. The Humming Bird feeder stick is the one to the left from on the deck. The Finch feeder stick is to the left of the steps. You can put up and take down the Humming Bird feeder with a stick and hook (to right of sliding glass door). Ignore the pulley on the Humming Bird feeder stick.  Use the string to raise and lower the Finch feeder. It’s worth it to have the birds around. Additional nectar mix and bird feed is in a can in the garage (on picnic table there).

Fishing: Get a license at Mitch's (On Sequin St., just past James St., on left going up hill). 7 day licenses, either regular or conservation. Get worms at Diver's Nook on Bowes, right side going out of town.

The fines for fishing without a license are HUGE. Do not do it. Kids under 16 fish free. Check fishing regulations.

If canoe only, try all docks along shore line down to and past Rose Island Channel. Any dock near deeper water is particularly good. Try paddling out to this end of Long's Island.

Should get Bass and maybe the odd Walleye.

Boating: There are lots of fun things to do with a boat. You can get charts at the Parry Sound Marina in town. Remember, the cottage is right across from the Killbear light on Killbear Point.

There is a  free boat ramp at our end of town (behind the Adams convenience store) and one near the town beach. You can also use ramps at any of the marinas for about $5 a whack.

Kilcoursie is a great beach about 1.5 miles to the west and across the channel. At the extreme eastern end of the beach are the "Jumping off rocks." There are several levels and some are pretty scary.

The Pancakes are a pair of islands with a public dock. They are to the west, at the exit of the Parry Sound channel to Georgian Bay. They are about 5 miles away.

The trip to Henry's Fish Camp is very pretty. Another trip in this direction is the trip completely around Parry Island. Both have beautiful narrow channels and lots of nice cottages to see.

As you go around Parry Island on the southern side you will pass Craganmor Resort (loosely speaking). We have come to prefer going here rather than Henry's. It is not as far and they have GREAT pickerel.

Taking the boat to town is also fun. It is about 6 miles. You can park at the Parry Sound Marina for free and walk into town to shop or eat.

There are so many routes and islands you can just go exploring.

Laundry: The washer and dryer are now hooked up. The washer drains into the holding tank to prevent the soap going in the lake. Therefore, do not go crazy doing laundry. There is also a clothesline on the kitchen end of the cottage. 

Laundry can also be done in town at the Laundromat next to the convenience store on the way to town. You can get change from the convenience store (they own the Laundromat).

Grocery Stores:

Sobey's: You will pass it as you come into town via the Bowes Street exit. Note also the Canadian Tire store in this area. It is a hardware/general store.

Farmer's Market: In town. Go to Bowes/Sequin intersection and turn right. Go out Bowes until you see it on your right. Great produce. This is also where you get the water.

IGA: At northern end of town in Mall. Go up Sequin and make turn onto Church Street. Follow Church all the way to Mall.

No Frills: Same shopping center as IGA. Great produce, good prices.

Gouge Binder: We put some brochures, menus, and maps in a red binder on the shelf in the living room. We will continue to add to this.

Restaurants:

Cruises:

Happenings:

Festival of the Sound: Big event in Parry Sound. Mostly Classical music and Jazz, very impressive, much talent. See brochure.

Other:

Parry Sound has a nice town beach. There is a playground next to it. See map for directions.