We got some good news today. After seven years on the market, we have finally sold our family cottage, and we got full asking price for it and the boat.
I have mixed feelings about selling it. My family vacationed there every summer for decades and we and our kids loved the place. It is on the north shore of Georgian Bay in the La Cloche mountains. Yes, Ontario has mountains! In fact they are older than the Rockies!! The tops of the mountains are white quartz. The scenery is spectacular. Our cottage is located in the uppermost bay in this image:
This is Crater Lake. It is about a 15 minute hike from our back door. It is incredibly deep and clear. If you look it up on a map it will be labelled 'Topaz' Lake. Like many other local lakes, the traditional names were ignored when the area was mapped in the 1960s:
The fall colours are spectacular:
Here is the view from the front of the cottage at dusk:
Unfortunately the cottage was a maintenance nightmare because of its age. It was built in 1910 as a temporary office for a lumber company. It was never intended to last for 111 years. Over the years our vacations became more construction and repair projects and less relaxation. It also limited our vacation opportunities because if we didn't go to the camp to maintain it, it was liable to fall down.
We have had our time with the cottage, and the new owners have the resources to fix the place up properly. We wish them all the best!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Bittersweet Dave
That area is just breathtaking from your pictures as my chin hit the floor. I'm sure that it was hard to let go. I'm glad you got your full asking price as it sounds like it went to some good people. Your memories don't go with the Cottage is the brightside Dave
TF
Track fiddlerThat area is just breathtaking from your pictures as my chin hit the floor.
Thanks TF!
We have so many memories, from the numerous close encounters with mother nature including bears (all safe) to the fox that raised two litters under the cottage and brought both sets of kits out for us to see, to the countless other wee beasts that crossed our paths like otters, mink, huge snapping turtles, bald eagles and more. We also met many boaters and hikers who visited the bay. They may have been in canoes or in 70' yachts, but they were all truly pleasurable to meet and socialize with.
The memories will live on as you say!
I had some stuff to share tonight, but Imgur is acting up, so it will all need to wait.
Take care... see everyone tomorrow.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Dave, I'll bet that was hard to do. The memories are great. However, when something becomes nothing but work, it's time to let go.
You'll have to go visit in several years and see what the new owners have changed.
Time for bed.
York1 John
York1You'll have to go visit in several years and see what the new owners have changed.
Hi John,
I don't think that my heart could survive visiting the place again. I am rather bitter that my father did not spend the money to properly repair the place or replace it. He kept his finances to himself. It was only after his death that we realized that he could have easily put a new building on the property. By then the costs had grown to the point that the estate wouldn't have covered them.
The good side is that, once we have the proceeds from the sale in the bank, we will be able to help our son Cole put a sizeable dent in his mortgage.
Good morning all. A bitterly cold day here in the UK. A trip to the hospital for a check-up.
Yes, Dave, sometimes one has to let go and move on. Been there and all that.
Today we are still on the 'Far North Line'.
37 516 and 37 669 on a timber train and 37 419 and 37 402 on the test train on the Far North Line.
45407 The Lancashire Fusilier and 44871 forming a double header with 13 coaches and a Class 47 760. Wick Station is as such the rail head in the north but not the most northernly station in the UK. Thurso is the northmost, then Georgemass Junction and then Wick.
The local service train, 158 727, run by First Scotrail, Thurso to Inverness, departs Thurso Station while a tourer train also waits to depart. Two class 50s named as Hood (50 031) and Benbow (50 012) hauled the multi-livery rolling stock with two named coaches from the Great Briton, Gainsborough and Wordsworth included
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Two short films of Caithness. Sit and relax with a coffee.
Good morning
Got up early this morning and went out on the stoop over coffee to watch the sun come up with the cardinal. It was a bit frosty out there as he started singing as soon as the first glow hit the horizon.
I don't know how I missed the Mary Alice story but it's a cool one Kevin. I hope your wife gets the chance to see her dad's plane she was named after someday.
You can't ever go back as I learned the old saying is true the hard way. I went back to the resort some 10 years later, after it was sold. I realized it was a mistake from the first minute I was there and never went back again. It was just too far away from the same. Too much had changed. I keep all the good memories from there as they can't take those from me. I still miss that place.
The plumbing in the large complex I live in was installed some 50 years ago. The building had been freshly remodeled before I moved in but the copper pipe that was used in the halls is still the subpar thin stuff. They should have used the Blue Label pipe but they used the Red. I'm glad they did.
Job security! I have a few more ceiling repairs to do as it's an ongoing project. I'm getting really good at these popcorn ceiling repairs as you can't even tell where they were when I'm done. I like the little jobs to do around the building in my semi-retirement. MRR funding
Have a great day gentlemen
Good morning, diners. Just black coffee this morning.
It's a frosty morning today. This is the kind of great day when it's cold and crisp in the morning, and by afternoon it's in the 60s. For me, it's the perfect weather.
Today, I wish I lived closer to a large city. I need some small gauge wire and several other things that I could buy in a large city, but isn't available at a small town hardware store. So I have ordered it and will have to wait on it. I will have to find some other projects to work on in the meantime.
David, I'm heading to Italy next year, but your videos are almost making me change my mind -- maybe I should be going to Scotland instead. I can't make both next year because of some family issues, but I sure would like to see Scotland.
Have a good day, everyone.
Good Morning,
I was up early clearing the snow from the places we put bird seed on the ground for the juncos and other ground feeders that are coming through.
We did get about a foot of heavy snow yesterday and it is supposed to keep snowing all day but not too much only 2-5". There is a strong north wind too.
Dave, I understand your bittersweet feelings about selling your cottage. In 2009 we sold the sailboat we had for 25 years. It was in great shape but was 30 years old and my wife could no longer sleep aboard due to severe GERD. I had owned a sailboat for 35 years at that point and it was a big part of my life. I don't regret selling it, it was time. After I turned the keys over June, 2009 I have never gone back to Gimli where I had been a member of the yacht club since 1979.
Well besides knocking snow off evergreens in the yard today might be a good time to get that freight going that has been sitting at the station for 3 days waiting for orders. Surprised the tender hasn't gone dry.
First I need more coffee.
CN Charlie
I got my first covid shot a few minutes ago and the waiting area overlooks the NS ethanol transload here in Alexandria. Quite busy this morning, as they've pulled two strings of tank cars out and just rolled in a few newsprint cars and a couple big Cryo Trans refeers. Don't usually get to see much in the way of switching when I'm out and about.
John. Italy or Scotland? They speak English (sort of) in Scotland.
Inverness Depot & Open Day. Locomotives with a picture of a Highland Stag on them are based at Inverness.
Finally for today. Ex LNER Class K4 2.6.0 steam locomotive 61994 Great Marquess on The Kyle Line.
Tomorrow we head south, still on former Highland Railway metals.
Dave, it sure looks beautiful in cottage country.
There is a lake in Ontario about a 100 miles East of Winnipeg where about 100 years ago my Dad and his two sisters each got lakefront acreage and built cottages. The only way in was by train and the local was called the campers special. I loved that place.
I was born in 1957 and we went there right up to the mid-1970s. The only trouble was we moved to Vancouver in 1959 and it was a long three-day drive back to Winnipeg. where we would then catch the train.
No power and no running water and it was heaven. Across the lake, there was a native family that still lived off the land as their people had done for aeons. They lived in teepees through the summer and had a tiny cabin for the winter. I remember being a very young boy, hopping in the canoe and paddling across the lake to go play with the kids.
Meeting the train was the big event of the day as quite often the campers special had some boxcars attached to it and the train would pull in and everyone pitched in to unload all the lumber and supplies for the lake. Piles of lumber would be carried down to the lake and some would lash it together and tow it to their property behind their boats and others would pile it so high on top of the boat the waterline would be at the gunnels.
My grandmother lived in Winnipeg and went to the lake every year until she died at 86. The year she died someone took a photo of her pounding another log into the crib of the dock as the water had risen a lot that year. She is shown chest-deep in the lake swinging the sledge. She lived there on her own May through September. Hardy stock she was. The family immigrated to the Swan River Valley in the 1790s.
We would walk the tracks to the next lake on the line sometimes and catch the train back. We wouldn't have a ticket and the conductor would say with a wink NO TICKET???? I am throwing you off at the next stop, which was fine with us as that was where we started from.
Board games were big in the evenings and coal oil lamps were the light. My Dad as a young kid wanted a Monopoly game so bad but could not afford one so he made one. He went around to several paint stores in Winnipeg on his bike and got paint chips, bought a bottle of India Ink, carved out the houses, hotels and pieces and typed up all the cards. The only thing he bought was the money and it was a big expense for him to do that. I still have it and it is my most cherished possession as a new one can never be purchased.
I plan to have the Ottermere Station on the layout.
https://www.ottermere.com/station
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Imgur is working again, so I can post some pictures.
My 10 inch miter saw broke yesterday. I had to go buy another one. Lowes had this compound miter Craftsman saw on sale for $99.00, so I bought one. It seems pretty good. I am just a homeowner, and I think it will be good enough for what I need.
I have been installing the slate stacked stone ledger panels on the front of the house. This is tiring hard work. I think I am about 25% done with the stone wall sections.
I found a porcelain tile that looks like slate for the new wheelchair ramp that matches the ledger stone panels quite well. I am happy with how they look together.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
Kevin, better you than me with the stone/tile projects. I do it when I have to, but would rather sub it out. I'm not really a fan of tile.
Your stone looks nice on your style of house, our house is brick, with wood siding on the roof gables.
That saw will be fine for you, I would wear it out in six months.
My miter saw of choice is a 12" double compond belt drive Dewalt for about $350, and the $200 portable stand, way more than you need.
I have been making progress on my bathroom project, and my bookcase in my office for the train library.
And clearing out more space to begin the first section of the layout.
Sheldon
Track fiddlerI don't know how I missed the Mary Alice story but it's a cool one Kevin. I hope your wife gets the chance to see her dad's plane she was named after someday.
There is a book called B17 Fortress At War by Roger Freeman that has a chapter on the saga if the Mary Alice and the 30th mission it flew. My father in law was badly injured on that mission, and he did not even need to be there. It was his 32nd mission, and he could have gone home.
The plane bounced off the English Channel while he was trapped in the turret. The captain managed to land the plane, but not all the crew survived.
The book has pictures of my father in law, and battle damage to the Mary Alice.
This signed print hangs in my living room of the Mary Alice's 30th mission. I ordered it from the museum in Duxford.
I also have a 1/144 scale model of the Mary Alice I use what playing Flames Of War. Everyone shudders in fear when my wife makes a bombing run! (I know B17s were not actually used for tactical bombing runs)
ATLANTIC CENTRALYour stone looks nice on your style of house, our house is brick, with wood siding on the roof gables.
Thanks Sheldon. I don't know how much of my remodel work you have been following. I usually just post it in the diner.
My house when built, had three of these weird 1980s angled wing-walls.
I squared all three of them off so I could install the slate stone ledgers.
The house has been painted antique white now, it is finally not pink!
I think I got the Sherwin Williams paint you have suggested to others.
ATLANTIC CENTRALThat saw will be fine for you, I would wear it out in six months.
I had an ancient 7 1/4" Craftsman radial arm saw for almost 30 years, then a few years ago a piece of wood exploded out of the saw and nearly took my finger off. Then I found out how dangerous radial arm saws are.
A good friend gave me his old Delta 10 inch miter saw that was about 20 years old. I have been using it for a lot of the house work.
Then a couple of days ago the little plastic tabs that hold the plastic blade guard centered to the blade broke off, and the guard would not retract as the blade went down. The saw still works fine, but I had to remove the guard, and that is just not safe.
I was glad to get the Craftsman compound miter saw on sale.
Good morning all. When someone mentions housework I didn't know it meant building it. Coming along well, Kevin.
As mentioned last night, today we head south from Inverness to Perth
A short film of locomotives and trains at Glasgow Eastfield, Inverness and Perth.
“I think it's wrong that only one company makes the game Monopoly.”-Steven Wright.
Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them. Kia Kaha.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Bear. My pleasure and thank you.
At Perth Station
and again.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
Make yourself a coffee (or better still pour a glass of whisky). Settle down, relax and take a journey ------
Good morning to all.
David, nice job hosting the diner this month. The videos are great!
Kevin, I think your saw will be great for what you are doing. I find having a miter saw, with a decent stand, is a very handy tool.
Your stone work, does that product come in panels? or is it individual stones ?
It looks nice.
Dave, too bad you had to sell, but I certainly understand.
We picked up a pontoon boat for up north late last fall, gotta a great deal. Looking forward to this year. I gave up on the old fishing boat, it was getting too hard to get in and out of. I'll keep it around for the kids to use, when they come up.
Now we can step off the pier, and onto the pontoon. Perfect!.
Have a great day !
Mike.
My You Tube
Good morning. Bacon, eggs, and coffee, please.
That's a neat Monopoly board, Brent. He did a better job as a youngster than I could do now.
Kevin, the work looks great. The stone will change the whole character of the house.
David, more great videos. I'm glad you have the time to find all these and post them. I've said before that the UK seems to take great care of their railroad heritage.
Another day with not a lot to do. I think I will give my backyard shed a cleaning. It gets a little messy during the winter. In the cold, I will go out there to get something, but it's so cold I don't always put things where they're supposed to be. Now's the time to get everything back in place.
I'm still waiting on some things for the layout, and that stops a lot of progress. I really should clean the layout a little, but I don't like that job so I delay it as much as possible.
About 20 miles from me, a group of railroad enthusiasts has built an outdoor 1/12 scale railroad, with live steam models pulling a variety of cars. These guys are farmers and workers who love trains. This is about two miles off Interstate 80, so if you are ever driving through flyover country, it's worth the stop.
https://the-chippewa.org/
JaBearKevin, the heavy bombers of both the RAF Bomber Command and the USAAF 8th Air Force did fly tactical missions prior to, and after D Day. Unfortunately, in the tactical close support role, for which they were both unsuited, several own goals were scored!
That is why I was careful not to use the word "never" in my post. The role of air-to-ground close support was much more effectively handled by Thunderbolts or Typhoons.
mbinsewiKevin, I think your saw will be great for what you are doing. I find having a miter saw, with a decent stand, is a very handy tool. Your stone work, does that product come in panels? or is it individual stones ? It looks nice.
The stone comes in "ledger panels" that are nominally 6 inches by 24 inches in size. I am doing a lot of cuts at the seems and filling in with longer stones to avoid the "staircase" look where the ledger panels join. I am excited to see what the finished walls will look like.
York1Kevin, the work looks great. The stone will change the whole character of the house.
Thank you. I think the 1980s is finally being fully expelled from my house. I grew up in the 80s, and loved it, but even back then I hated 80s styling.
York1 About 20 miles from me, a group of railroad enthusiasts has built an outdoor 1/12 scale railroad, with live steam models pulling a variety of cars. These guys are farmers and workers who love trains. This is about two miles off Interstate 80, so if you are ever driving through flyover country, it's worth the stop.
I love this picture. I started a USRA 2-8-2 in 7 1/2" gauge, 1 1/2" scale over a decade ago. It is waiting for me to have time to dedicate to finishing it...someday I hope.
I joined the Florida Live Steamers in 1984 when I was in high school, and actually bought the first parts of this project with money from my first job stocking shelves at Winn Dixie.
What a long, slow-moving project. Maybe one for the record books.
Good morning ....
David (UK) .... You are keeping the Diner supplied with many intersting videos. Thanks for doing so.
Dave (Critter) .... The scenery in Ontario you showed is beautiful. I can see how it would be hard selling family proeprty in that location.
Brent ... Thanks for telling of your experiences and also howing the picture of the homemade Monopoly game. It certainly is a treasure.
Kevin .... Your work with slate is excellent.
Ken, Lion, Rob ...... I miss seeing you here, and I hope you are okay.
John York 1 ....... I like seing your picture of live steam trains. My Dad was active with live steam and built a couple of locomotives. I prefer HO trains indoors.
This photo is of my Dad on the locomotive he built. Sadly, he passed away about 30 years ago.
Everybody...... Have a good day.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Morning
I didn't like that slant corner in front of your house either Kevin. Great job on square forming that off. Copper Rust Slate is one of my favorite tiles with all the colors. It certainly appears you did a great job with it.
I love laying tile and have done a lot of it in my life. I just hate grouting. I usually got someone else to do that. My old house in Prior Lake was full of tile as part of the reason I think it's sold so quickly.
You were wise on getting a synthetic copper rust porcelain tile for the walkway. The natural slate comes in such an indifferent thickness. The height indifference looks great Jagged on the walls. But it takes three times as long to lay it correctly on the floor so you don't trip on the stuff. People don't understand the extra expense on labor, so I only laid the real stuff a couple of times.
That Craftsman miter saw will suit you just fine. There ain't nothing wrong with Craftsman tools if you're not using them heavily everyday.
I enjoyed reading the lake story when you are a kid Brent. I remember you talking to me a few years ago about the native family that lived off the land across the lake. My memory can't be all that bad yet.
Your dad's Monopoly game he made is rather impressive. That fine piece of work he did definitely gives boardgames a brand new meaning.
I've been known to miss things sometimes David. I went back in past pages of the Diner to look at some of the things I may have missed the few days I wasn't very attentive here.
NorthBrit A bird's eye view of some of Scotland' landmarks and mountains captured by drone. In order of appearance :- Stac Pollaidh, Forth Rail Bridge, Sgurr na Stri (Skye), Ardvreck Castle, An Teallach, Stac Pollaidh, The Fiddler, Stac Pollaidh, Forth Rail Bridge, Suilven, Old Man O Storr, An Teallach, Dunnator Castle, Hebridean Princess off Skye, Suilven, The Fiddler, Eilean Donan Castle, Sgurr nan Gillian (Skye), Neist Point, Suilven, New Forth Road Bridge, Neist Point, Suilven, Neist Point, The Quirang (Skye) and finally Stac Pollaidh.
A bird's eye view of some of Scotland' landmarks and mountains captured by drone. In order of appearance :- Stac Pollaidh, Forth Rail Bridge, Sgurr na Stri (Skye), Ardvreck Castle, An Teallach, Stac Pollaidh, The Fiddler, Stac Pollaidh, Forth Rail Bridge, Suilven, Old Man O Storr, An Teallach, Dunnator Castle, Hebridean Princess off Skye, Suilven, The Fiddler, Eilean Donan Castle, Sgurr nan Gillian (Skye), Neist Point, Suilven, New Forth Road Bridge, Neist Point, Suilven, Neist Point, The Quirang (Skye) and finally Stac Pollaidh.
The Scots cat is out of the bag. Whether you know it or not you unraveled the riddle to the fiddle on how I picked my name here.
From the start I have planned to have a Fiddler rock formation on the back of my layout. The ore Shay will run through the eye of the needle. I don't have the room to duplicate it perfectly but the idea will be there.
Post Hog!
I'm having a rather difficult foam day. I've been beating my head against the wall all morning I'm still working on the removable foam mountains on both of the back corners of my layout. One side has three tunnel portals to be installed at a later time coming through in a rather tight cluster. I hate to admit I don't even know what to do with it yet. It is extremely confusing so I switched to the other side.
I have to finish these two mountain formations before I can tie the two together for my horseshoe ore line.
I like the steamer locomotive your dad made Garry. That thing is sweet! Now I know where you get your talent from.
Losing a father was tough. I lost mine when I was very young and only had my marine sergeant stepfather left.
Have a great rest of your morning gentleman
Good evening all.
TF You spotted The Fiddler.
Thanks guys for your comments. Glad you like the films. We are now in Perth.
Perth and the land of the former Caledonian Railway
https://www.crassoc.org.uk/web/node/9
Parisienne Chicken tonite.
Stay Safe Everyone.
Track fiddlerI didn't like that slant corner in front of your house either Kevin. Great job on square forming that off. Copper Rust Slate is one of my favorite tiles with all the colors. It certainly appears you did a great job with it.
Thanks for all the kind comments. It is really looking much better.
Track fiddler I just hate grouting.
Grouting is my favorite part of installing tile.
I finished my dining room today. I put the last of the trim around the sliding door, and sealed everything.
I know it is not much to look at, but it is what you can't see that counts. The three big holes I had to cut into the ceiling, the drywall I replaced because of mold, and all the new trim are pretty much undetectable. It looks as good as it ever did.
Kevin,
The slate and tile are looking good!