“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers” – L.M. Montgomery

Welcome to the re-launch of The Adventures of the Vagabond Photographer! Since moving back to Toronto two years ago my career in publishing has (thankfully) kept me very busy, leaving little time or headspace for writing about my weekend photography adventures. That is ok! But now that I am settling in to my new old life back home, the itch to take photos and write stories about them has crept up on me. It is time to take up the pen and camera again, and there is no better time than Thanksgiving to share my first post in my new home.

A week ago I hopped in my car and pointed it’s nose north to the always gorgeous Muskoka’s with a plan to explore The Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour. It has been about 10 years since I last visited the talented artists that dot the tree-lined back roads and stunning lakes in the north. I knew I was in for a treat when my road north through Bala to Port Carling looked like the photo above. I actually spent most of my Friday drive gasping at the vibrant fall colours and then pulling over to take photos.

While the studio tour was the main reason for heading north, I also knew that I would be driving roads that would bring back wonderful memories of Thanksgiving weekends spent with my Mum and Dad. Growing up on the farm, we didn’t take many vacations; we were just too tied to the land. I’m not complaining! It was a wonderful way to grow up. My sister Jen and I were blessed with an idyllic childhood where we were well-loved. So when I finally started making enough money to take vacations, I returned the favour to Mum and Dad and took them on well-deserved trips up to the Muskoka’s for Thanksgiving. Just we three and their giant purple van. Mum and Dad would surprise me with unexpected clapping when a particularly brilliant scene would appear around a corner. I even took to researching what roads would be most “clap-worthy”…tree-lined, near lakes, with lots of bends. Here’s Mum and Dad on one of our first trips. You can tell they were enjoying themselves!

With these fond memories accompanying me on my drive, I felt a surge of gratitude for our time together, so well spent. On this new adventure I knew I would be surrounded by brilliant fall colours and a great deal of love. I was not driving alone!

Not unlike our time on the farm, I woke up early on Saturday morning, ready for adventure, or at least a good breakfast! I had spent the night at an Air BnB in Huntsville, and the early morning greeted me with a deep, early frost! I hopped in my car (after scraping the windows for the first time in a long while), and headed down to the Huntsville dock where I knew I might find a stunning sunrise over the river. Steam rose to greet the rising sun.

After a hearty breakfast at Main Street Local Kitchen, I started out for my first studio of the day, painter Mark Kulas. Mark’s studio is about 20 minutes north-east of Huntsville, perched on gorgeous Bella Lake. In my next post I will write more about my visit with Mark, but for today, here’s a sneak preview of the drive up to Bella Lake, which surely acts as an inspiration for his colourful work!

I stopped next at Marni Martin Fibre Studio and thoroughly enjoyed visiting with Marni, her husband Ian and Ian’s Mum, Marion. I actually have the pleasure of working with Marion’s daughter, Sandra, and so this visit felt like a reunion! I will write more about Marni’s work in my next post dedicated to the studio tour, but for now, how about a snap from the road leading up to Marni’s gorgeous studio?

I spent my Saturday afternoon slowly making my way west, to Lake Rosseau and Windermere. The views were gorgeous around every turn, with a very expressive blue sky!

I stayed the night at fun and funky The Baldwin’s, a series of cottages set back from Lake Rosseau, tucked in behind historic Windermere House. Once settled, I went for an invigourating hike down to the Windermere Dock and wandered out to the very edge to get this shot of a wonderful fall-like sunset. I admit here to feeling a deep sense of awe in this place. The lake was quiet on this night and all I could hear was the wind rustling in the leaves. A truly magical spot!

Sunday morning dawned early but a bit rainy. I looked forward to spending my day driving slowly south towards home. After a fun stop at Red Barn Antiques, I followed 118 West, taking a series of back roads that led back in to glorious Lake Muskoka. Small villages like Milford Bay and Beaumaris offered up more fall trees and winding roads…

By lunchtime, I was ready to explore the always-stunning Bracebridge Falls. The falls are spectacular at night as the bridge is brightly lit with Christmas lights. On this day, the fall foliage gave this view some colour.

My last stretch of beautiful Muskoka road before heading home was Muskoka Beach Road, winding between Bracebridge and Gravenhurst along Lake Muskoka. The sun finally broke out, warming up the day, setting the roadside leaves a-flame. If I wasn’t driving, I would have clapped around every turn!

Glorious Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst was my last stop before turning my car south for home. As I pulled up, I heard the loud call of a Muskoka steamship setting sail for Lake Muskoka. Luckily for me, it was not the RMS Segwun, the oldest operating steamship in North America. On my nostalgic trip down memory lane, I wanted to catch a glimpse of this historic vessel as it reminds me of one of my favourite trips with Mum and Dad. One Thanksgiving we decided to have Thanksgiving dinner on the Segwun as it sailed the lakes. What a fantastic idea! We loved it! It did happen to snow that day, but the stark white flakes only served to bring out the colour in the rugged rocks and stunning trees lining the route. We actually had our dinner in the Captain’s Quarters at the very front of the ship. Just us and our silly, happy grins. Somehow we knew this would be an experience we wouldn’t soon forget!

Thank you for coming along with me on the maiden voyage of the New Adventures of the Vagabond Photographer! I would like to take this chance to thank my colleague Pierce Chester for his thoughtful, creative work in renovating my site so I can tell a few more stories! Thanks Pierce! In my next post I will share more from The Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour. Until then, here is a map of my Muskoka drive if you feel the urge to hop in your car and explore. We really do have so much to be thankful for! Happy Thanksgiving Weekend from your Vagabond Photographer!