asdve23rveavwa Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 A year can feel like an eternity when you are waiting to return to a place that is special in your heart. For me this place is Lake Windermere. Last year in a thread titled "My Dreams" I (along with Juli's photos) told the story of our family camping vacation up at Happy Day in the Chapleau area of Ontario. During the drive home we, as a family, decided to return in 2012. I contacted Bob and Sondra a few days later and this time we booked a cabin. Thus began the long wait that finally came to an end as we began our journey north on Friday August 24th. The lake is long with many bays and islands, and holds many deep holes. Fishing pressure is limited to camp guests and a handful of private cottages. I truly believe that many spots see virtually no fisherman throughout the season. The fish may not be the largest in that area of the north, but, make no mistake about it there are walleye over 30", pike over 40" and bass over 20" to be had. The Zimmerman family is working closely with the MNR and have instilled mandatory maximum "keeper" size for all three of these game fish. By releasing ALL walleye over 18", pike over 26" and smallmouth bass over 15" they hope to turn the lake into the true trophy producing water it has the potential to become. Our trip began with a drive up to Tobermory and a journey across the waters of Georgian Bay aboard the Chi Cheemaun ferry. A thrill for all five of us, as, Juli and I hadn't done it since childhood, and, the boys have never been on it. After a drive up Manitoulin island we stopped just north of Espanola for the night. Since check in isn't until 3 PM on Saturday, we had a liesurely wake up with breakfast at Canada's most popular coffee shop. This was followed by another five hours, give or take, of driving. We arrived at our home for the next six nights just prior to 3 PM. The log cabin was beautiful, and, also is the only one in camp with a loft. The loft turned into the boys personal space, they loved it! We unloaded the truck, launched the boat, tied her up to our personal dock, and, fired up the bbq for some steak. As usual everything tastes better in the north, and, those sirloins didn't disappoint! After supper the boys went to hang out with Dylan (Bob's son that they had befriended the year prior) which gave Juli and I a chance to scoot out for a quick couple hours of fishing. The next five and a half days were filled with relaxation, campfires, kayaking and, oh yeah, FISHING!!!!!! As many of you already know Juli loves taking pictures as much (well nearly as much) as catching fish. Happy to say that the twins finally caught their first ever walleyes too! What follows is a small sample of some of our photos taken during the week. Suffice to say that we are re-booked for next season, and, are once again looking forward to another week up in paradise. Once again "My Dreams" have come true for a week. Until next time I know they will again be filled with the song of the loon, the gentle lapping of waves, the rumble and whistle of the train that still travels past the camp and that tap-tap-tap of a hungry golden walleye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kickingfrog Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Family fun, unplugged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradMc76 Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Looks like a great weekend. You have a beautiful family, as well. Keep up those outings, those memories last forever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercman Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 What a report ! you guys look like you had great fun. Thanks for sharing Frank and Juli !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 looks like a really great time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spincast Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Looks like you all had a great get away and the weather agreed with you this year:good: . Glad it all worked out after the long wait. Nice looking spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdve23rveavwa Posted September 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Family fun, unplugged. Looks like a great weekend. You have a beautiful family, as well. Keep up those outings, those memories last forever! Thanks, Rob and Brad. It was actually pretty much a week Brad, and, the memories are priceless What a report ! you guys look like you had great fun. Thanks for sharing Frank and Juli !!! Our pleasure Paul. It was tough picking only 50 pics out of around 900, plus, I didn't want to just post pic after pic of walleyes. looks like a really great time Terry, it was just what the doctor ordered. We were overdue for a vacation. Looks like you all had a great get away and the weather agreed with you this year:good: . Glad it all worked out after the long wait. Nice looking spot. Rick, buddy, the weather was tremendous again. Just like last year we only had one rain that lasted about five hours. Other than that we had a couple spits in the evening twice. Campfires every night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bob Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 GREAT PICTURES......Looks like everyone had a GREAT time. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunkerbasshunter Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 GREAT PICTURES......Looks like everyone had a GREAT time. Bob Wow what a great report! looks like a great family adventure! Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FisherJuli Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 It was a fabulous week of fishing and relaxing... And a well overdue holiday for us all!! The loons, the lake, the cabin, the gorgeous northern scenery- I can't wait to get back already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solopaddler Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Outstanding! I know how much you were anticipating this trip, very glad to see it went so well. Looks as though you won the weather lottery as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakerguy Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Nice That looked like alot of fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenboater Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Great photos and it looks like everyone had a stellar week of downtime ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeytier Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Awesome! Good idea on taking the Chi-Cheemaun on the way up, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 A beautiful holiday Frankie, Juli and family. Certainly heartwarming souvenirs for you guys. Thanks for sharing. Old and young alike are envious I'm sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Caster Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 your family is ALL smiles Even with walleye-spine cuts on their hands. Sounds like this place is a family tradition in the making. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdve23rveavwa Posted September 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 GREAT PICTURES......Looks like everyone had a GREAT time. Bob Wow what a great report! looks like a great family adventure! Cheers! Thanks for the compliments guys! It was a fabulous week of fishing and relaxing... And a well overdue holiday for us all!! The loons, the lake, the cabin, the gorgeous northern scenery- I can't wait to get back already! You know it "hun", We could have stayed another week for sure!! Outstanding! I know how much you were anticipating this trip, very glad to see it went so well. Looks as though you won the weather lottery as well! Thanks, Mike, anticipation for sure. Nothing beats the north!! Nice That looked like alot of fun Great photos and it looks like everyone had a stellar week of downtime ! Awesome! Good idea on taking the Chi-Cheemaun on the way up, too. The Chi Cheemaun trip was a gift from Juli's mom...yeah, it was a fun twist to trip. A beautiful holiday Frankie, Juli and family. Certainly heartwarming souvenirs for you guys. Thanks for sharing. Old and young alike are envious I'm sure. Roy, it truly was a week of great memories. your family is ALL smiles Even with walleye-spine cuts on their hands. Sounds like this place is a family tradition in the making. Thanks for sharing. LOL You noticed the pic of Juli's "war wounds" Chad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Handlebarz Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 Awesome trip frank great to see you guys getting away to enjoy a week. Thanks for taking the time making the thread. Awesome pictures juli. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manitoubass2 Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 I'm a family man as well, so I can totally understand this report! Amazing, def. nothing short of paradise. Wicked sweet family/nature photos as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gino Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 WOW!!! You guys had a great week up there. Chapleau area looks like million dollars. Awesome report and family time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wormdunker Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 Thanx for a nice report. Awesome pix. I loved the fish pix but the chipmunks R cool! Worlds most famous coffee shop, would that be the Watershed Restaurant? Loved that place been there many times. Best breakfast place I've been to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moosebunk Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 Incredible man! Paradise is right. Those pics are all outstanding, every one of them. What a great family getaway, you should be a proud papa for a good long while now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_Daniels Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 This report truly put a smile on my face! Thanks for posting, it reminds me of trips up north with my two brothers, Mom and Dad. You will remember this for a lifetime! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adempsey Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 Thanks for sharing your family vacation with us. Was nice to read. Some day I might actually make it up to Lake Windermere! Place is always booked up!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvette1 Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 awesome trip frankie congrats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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