It was time to take the hostages for another outing and we all agreed that canoeing may be fun. We decided to go to Canal Lake, a small lake in the Kawartha Lakes area. The lake is only an hour away from us; a perfect short canoeing/picnic lunch outing.
As our tradition is to find interesting things to see on the way, no matter how long or short the drive may be, we stopped at the Old Stone Church near Beaverton.
The Old Stone Church is a national historic site designated in 1991 because it is a particularly gracious example of the few early stone vernacular churches surviving in Canada.
Constructed between 1840 and 1853 by the stonemason John Morrison, the church, known as St. Andrew’s, has changed little since.
The large, arched windows are part of the key elements that add to the heritage value of the church. Other key features contributing to the heritage value of this site include: a balanced fenestration on both end and side facades; the end-gable entrance with a central door flanked by two large multi-pane windows; surviving original interior furnishings and fittings and a minimalist design, craftsmanship and finishes, particularly its plasterwork. Unfortunately, the church is not open to the public due to the pandemic.
Anyway, the hostages were eager to get to the lake, so we moved on!
Canal Lake
The boat launch wasn’t too busy and we were all on the water in no time. The hostages got the canoe,
While we took out the inflatable kayak.
We had the most glorious day with perfect temperatures and lighting!
Paddling on a clear lake is one of the most peaceful activities one can participate in.
We spent a couple of hours exploring the lake and its creatures.
I love the colours on this beauty that stayed on my knee for part of the boat ride.
There were lots of turtles lounging on rocks, but we couldn’t get close enough to any of them before they plunged into the water. This is the best I could do.
We had lunch on the shore by the lake. This is the only proof I have that food was involved so I will treat you to rare viewing of moi. Eating.
Tony couldn’t resist a dip in the lake
And then we were off. Perfect day!
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What a lovely lake. It looked like you had it all to yourselves.
There were very few people around, which made the day even more enjoyable!
Wow and Wow again. That church was beautiful. The lake was gorgeous and I can see why you had such a wonderful day. What a great trip this had to be. Wish I was there.
Thanks for coming along with us virtually! I am sure there is some place near you that is just as beautiful, but maybe one day you can visit here 🙂
😊
How nice to have such a wonderful place so close by. The church was amazing. I’ve been thinking about getting a kayak or canoe soon. I’m also curious about your inflatable kayak. (I think this is the same craft that was mentioned on the recent video tour of your vehicle. Could you talk about the pros and cons of these different crafts? Which is your preferred one?
Thanks, Pete! We really like the inflatable kayak (and yes, it is the same one mentioned in the video). I am planning a post about the kayak, but comparing it to the canoe is a great idea so I might do that! In a nutshell, the best virtue of the kayak is that it fits in the van. We are a bit partial to canoeing, but mostly because we are very used to the canoe. After using the kayak several times, I am starting to lean a bit more towards kayaking, but Tony is still adjusting. I’ll try and get that post out soon…
It cracks me up that you have “hostages.” Though they didn’t appear to be suffering at all. It looks like you had a beautiful day. 🙂
Haha, they are very lucky hostages indeed 🙂
that looks like a wonderful way to spend the day. I’m guessing the water was kind of cold… 🙂
It was wonderful and the water were actually warm. We were all just lazy…
lazy days are good… 🙂
What a peaceful spot for a paddle. The church is so cute. We don’t have many old buildings like that in the west. Looks like a great day!
It was awesome and a much needed break for the hostages. Thanks for coming along!
On a summer’s day by the lake, it is one of Canada’s great chances to have so many lakes, even if not all of them are so easily accessible.
Yes. We are so very lucky to have this!
Wow, look at all of those lily pads. Such a stunning lake, and I appreciate you sharing this gem on your blog. 🙂
So glad you enjoyed it!
Looks beautiful. I love paddling through smaller lakes and ponds, especially ones with lily pads.
I know, right? This time of the year in Ontario is magical!