It can't be the long weekend all ready!!!

Well I've been scolded enough so it is time to update again. So Rob L "this blogs for you".

I can't believe that the summer is almost over and the long weekend is here. It seems that summer just started last week. Most people have stopped waiting for good weather to head north and are just coming anyway. I sure am glad I don't camp.

The good thing about the rain is that no one is complaining about the trails being dusty. The bad thing about the rain is that it happens every day. It is breeding a HUGE CROP OF MOSQUITOES. I've never seem them this bad. But there aren't very many dragon flies this year and they eat lots of mosquitoes.

If there is any breaking news or gossip I've missed it or can't remember it. The sun is finally out today and it is a great day. A perfect start to the long weekend.

The band will be in this weekend on Saturday and Sunday night with a licensed area outside for overflow and a reprieve for the smokers. It should be a good time if the weather holds. Mark and Greg Thompson of T N T will be playing. It's always a good time with them here.

Our fall Mud Run will be held on October 3rd. Hope you can come on out a join us. Same format as before. $30.00 entry gets you your ride, chance for cash and prizes and dinner.

We have started selling propane now with the tank exchange program. It's going well. Don't forget to get your ice and ice cream treats here too.

Well that's it for today.

Hope you can drop in if you are around this weekend.

Cheers
Nancy

If it's daylight till 9:30 it must be June.

The longer days are great to see, but I'm getting tired of looking at them through the rain.

Just to let you know the black flies are happy now because the mosquitoes have also arrived so the have more company. I can hardly wait for the deer flies. Then the days will be complete.

On the upside the dragon flies are out now so the buffet is officially opened. Do your stuff guys, eat those bugs "til you can't eat no more". I want to see them all big and fat by the end of June.

It's still pretty quiet around the diner except for last Sunday when a group of 14 showed up for breakfast early and poor Pat B was on all by herself because the server wasn't in yet and neither was I. It was lucky that the other cook was in just having a coffee. She got roped in to helping out. But they both got a standing "O" from the crowd upon completion of their duties. It was a group of dirt bikers that had been camping out in the woods and riding for the weekend. They all lived in Toronto but were from Argentina. So for most of them there was a language problem. We will never know if they actually got what they ordered for breakfast but they went away happy and can't wait to come back again.

Here's hoping for some hot summer weather soon with lots of ATVer's, cottagers and tourists to enjoy it. The grey days are enough to drive me to drink and it's getting to be a short trip!!!

Have a great weekend and drop in if you are nearby. We are still doing the music on Saturday evenings from 6 to 9.

Cheers
Nancy

Black Fly Report

Well it's hard to comment on the black flies. They don't come out so much in the rain. They just stay home and breed! So we should have a new crop by Tuesday or Wednesday.

It's been pretty crappy for the last couple of days but things are supposed to look up for the weekend. It will be nice to see the sun after a few days of rain and cold.

I have some very amusing ATV pictures of some diners from the long weekend among other things. The are safely stored in the computer and I don't know how to get them out and into the blog site. So sorry guys you don't get your 15 minutes of fame this month. One guy found an old life jacket on the trail and was wearing it. In view of all of the rain that weekend it was quite appropriate. The other group behind them were from Barrie and Bancroft and just wanted their pictures taken not to be left out.

Not too much has happened for a while (if you don't include the dump on fire). It's been pretty slow the last couple of weeks. So if some one wants to come up and do something crazy I would welcome the excitment.

The diner keeps me busy but it's just a little quiet.

We are still continuing with the music on Saturday nights from 6 - 9 now. It seems we can all stay up later when the days are longer.

Hope we see you soon.

Cheers
Nancy

Long Weekend Happinings

What a cold and nasty long weekend. Nice to see lots of people back for the season. Lots left early and why not.

I have been asked to update for the next while with a black fly report. Well I was outside today with a contractor and I have a report.

They say "Send more ATVer's the last ones were delicious!!!!"

No kidding the bugs are hungry and plentiful. Unless you are out in the wind you're lunch.

This really hot weather will bring the little buggers out big time. So maybe if it keeps up it will kill them off too.

I went leek picking this week and got loads. A big batch of leek a potato soup has gone over really well this week at the diner. Now if you eat enough leeks the flies will stay away from you but then so will every one else.

Not much happening this weekend so the weather should be great.

I will update with the fly report for Rob from Peterborough.

That's it for now.
Cheers
Nancy

The long weekend all ready?

Well for a quiet time of year the weeks are sure passing quickly.

With ATV Mud Runs three weeks in a row plus our annual paddle your fanny down the creek there always seems to be something going on.

I could barley walk after the High Country ATV run but it was fun. I would have been nicer if it hadn't rained at the end. Same thing with the diner run. Thanks to all that came out. We had a good day even though the turnout was small. But it was fun after all.

Our annual canoe trip down the Papeneau Creek this year was a great success. A record number of canoes this year and the rain had to spoil an otherwise great day. It is so nice to see so many young people hang out with all of us oldies and have a great day. This is the first year that I did not flip my canoe and it wouldn't have mattered. We were so wet from the rain who would have noticed. The water in the creek was warmer than the air so a flip would have warmed me up. It was kind of Jimmy B and Dwight to have a roaring fire at the last stop for us.

The long weekend is fast approching. I'm looking forward to seeing all of the familiar faces back for the first time this season. The flies are just starting to get hungry. They haven't been too bad up until now, but I can see them licking their lips through the window every time I look out.

We have a good music this weekend so if you are around on Saturday evening drop into the diner and stay for a while.

Nothing too serious to whine about this time. As long as the sun is shining it's all good.

Have a great long weekend.

Cheers
Nancy

Will it ever stop snowing????

It's hard to believe that it's going to be 25 on Saturday when it's snowing on Thursday. Enough all ready. This week if it's not snowing it's raining. Oh well it keeps the black flies away I guess.

It's pretty quiet around the old diner these days. I can't believe that April is almost over. The nice temps on the weekend may bring out some ATVer's. I hope to go on the High Country Mud Run this weekend. I have to be good though because I have to work on Saturday evening. No sweat I always behave as far as I can remember.

Other than some guy living under a canoe on the side of the rail bed there's not much new to report. Last week he upgraded his living quarters to a truck cap. There isn't a door on it but I suppose it's more shelter than the canoe.

Don't forget the diner mud run on May 2. It should be a fun day. Do you think I could get lucky enough for it to be 25 and sunny two weekends in a row. I think not.

For more information on the run or accommodations call us at 613-338-3043.

Have a great weekend and if you are in the area drop in. We still have entertainment on Saturdays from 5-8. We are old and can't stay up too late so we have to play early in the day.

Cheers
Nancy

If It's Easter It Must Be Spring Soon

The good news is at least it didn't snow this weekend.

Even though it is freezing cold with the sun shining all day it is a great weekend.

It's nice to see some of the cottagers back. There were a few ATV's out this weekend, not nearly as many as I saw head up the highway on trailers.

The rail bed is drying up nicely. There is still a fair amount of snow in the bush but it is still rideable.

We got about 6-8 inches of snow last Monday and sure enough two brand new machines were seen unloading at Birds Creek for the last ride of the season. Go figure!!

The lake is still frozen but trying to thaw around the edges and creeks. If it would go above freezing for a few days that would be a start. Little green things are trying to peek out of the garden but they are not getting to far.

I'm even starting to look forward to the black flies!!! But wait until they are out for a day or two and then I'll start whining about them.

Well better days ahead. It should be about 85 by August.

Keep in mind about the ATV run on May 2nd. It should be a great ride. If you are coming and need more info or accommodation call the restaurant and we will get you some numbers. 613-338-3043

I hope you all had a nice long weekend.

Back soon with anything worth sharing.

Cheers
Nancy

Spring is here

Ode To Spring

Spring has sprung,

The grass has riz.

I wonder where

the birdies is?

Well the grass hasn't riz!! at all because it is still mostly snow covered. However the birds are currently cleaning up a winters worth of bird seed at the side of the building.

It's that crappy time of year when most of the snow is dirty or if it's melted there are puddles everywhere.

But better days ahead. The ATVer's have started coming out a little. Brian from Haliburton Lake road over Tuesday and said the trails were great. There was still lots of snow and it was quite frozen. That made the riding easier because it wasn't slushy yet.

Sleds were still running the ripples on Baptiste Lake last weekend. A huge crowd was there the weekend before watching the carry on. Lots of sleds didn't make it but no problem getting them out.

There are mud runs 3 weeks in a row starting April 25 at Highcountry Lodge, May 2 at the FABULOUS Porterville Diner, May 9 in Maynooth starting at the ANAF, a fund raiser for the Mud Dawgs September event.

Well that's it for today. Back next week.

Cheers

Nancy

It's all over but the crying

Sledding's Done (Sung to the tune of taps)

Sledding's done.

Here's the sun,

O'er the lakes, o'er the hills, o'er the trails.

All is well

Packed away

Sledding's done :-(

The weather is so great it's hard to feel sad about the end of the snowmobile season. However if it rains today it will make it easier to be sad.

I few folks that I spoke to this week have packed the sleds away. I had one couple in yesterday but they thought that that would be their last ride.

I'm sure there is more snow in our future up here but it would probably be too late.

So onward and upward-Get those ATV's out!!!!!

Porterville ATV Mud Run is May 2.

I will update regularly for a little bit more just in case the mother lode of snow hits, then only about once per week just for my weekly whine about the latest crisis.

It's been fun and thanks for all of the positive feed back on the reports and sympathy for my plights.

If you only tune in for sledding have a great summer and I'll see you next winter.

Cheers

Nancy

Oh what to say!!!!

Well Mother Nature didn't have the promised hot flash yesterday but she did have a hissy fit.

First it rained, then snow, then wind, then wind, then snow, then wind. Did I say wind? Then it just got darn cold.

Did we get much snow? NO!!! It all blew away. It is cold but really sunny today. A very nice day. There is now snow coming to speak of. Three guys parked a big trailer in the lot today and two more are up at the store. They will be back too late to get a first hand report but if it's good I'll update tomorrow.

The story is sledding is good in the bush but it's just getting there. The road crossings are bare. Most of the parking lot at the diner is down to the dirt. The temperature has been too cold for the snow to melt.

So it hard to say what to do. The sunny days are great. I love it. But more snow would be nice.

I guess the bottom line is if it won't cost you much to get here or you don't want to ride too far it would be worth the trip. Now having said that we sure would like to see you up here for some of the "northern hospitalty".

My day yesterday consisted of serving eight coffees, one BLT, one chicken fingers, one bowl of chili and three beers. Not bad for a 12 hour shift, glad I didn't have any staff in. So you can see why I would like company. It's getting lonely.

Have a great St. Paddy's weekend it you are taking part.

OPPS-Hold on the guys in the parking lot just came back. They headed for Haliburton through the Hydro line. Most of the trail was okay but some not so good. MLSS trails are groomed and good. Where the sun shines on the snow all day is a little bare but the rest is good. They came across two guys that had done 120 kms today and were not at their destination yet but were not unhappy.

Their opinion was for this late in the season things were not too bad. So there you go another definate maybe.

Cheers
Nancy