The many (non-motorized) watercraft of Lac Bitobi

When we were negotiating the purchase of the cottage Mr. Bond wanted to sell us his motor boat, and for two reasons we asked to have that excluded from the deal..one, to save money, and two, because the most experience we'd had boating to that point was on the Sea Spirit II

Our very first Lac Bitobi watercraft.  Although fun for short jaunts, we were quite excited to learn that the cottage did come, at no extra cost, with a wooden row boat. 

Where did Mike get that cap??!!

This let us travel a little further, but unfortunately we had to  christen that boat "The Sunken Dorey", as she was forever leaking and we were constantly needing to patch her up.

So we decided our safest bet was to buy something made completely of fibre glass, and we opted for the bright yellow paddle boat. 

Bianca

This was a perfect craft for the many wee ones we had up to the cottage over the years... and I must say some of the best times I had were getting to know my little nieces and friend's kids on long leisurely rides on lake, always listing a little bit to one side because their feet couldn't quite reach the pedals.

Alysha and Brandon

Ella MacDonald

The paddle boat has since been retired as there aren't many tiny folks coming up anymore.. so we have graduated to canoes and kayaks


My favorite canoe story is the weekend my co-workers from CIS all came up for the weekend and decided what our camp needed was a motor boat, so Tom and Denis and 2 24's of beer launched the motor boat at Big Lake Bitobi and promptly got lost for 3 or 4 hours (long enough to consume most of the beer).  Back on Little Lake, Sheila and Heather were becoming a little concerned about the where abouts of their husbands (especially since they were saddled with a couple of very tiny babys) so Marg's husband Ross decided he and Mike should take the canoe out for a search and rescue.

Ross and Mike to the rescue

Poor unsuspecting Mike hops into the canoe and is flung into overdrive as Ross - the ex-olympic canoeist, takes off at warp speed.  Never saw the canoe move as fast as that day.  End of story is that they heard the very loud and by that point quite tipsy lost boaters floundering on the the Big Lake and steered then home.  

The rescued Dads,. slightly fried and pickled, but happy

Not a lot of motor boating took place that day (husbands were immediately given kiddie duty), but it was the one time we had a motorized boat moored at our dock!

Despite losing the canoe a few time due to rising water levels, storms etc. we always found "No. 6" and although minus one seat now, she continues to be a sturdy steed.

I love our kayaks, they are much more stable than the canoe, and much speedier than the paddle boat.We have had many a lovely, calm, trip through the canal that separates Big from Little Lake Bitobi, and on to the Gatineau River (and some poor unsuspecting friends have been taken quite a bit farther than that, yes McCann, you know of what I speak).

Kids love the kayaks too and a few of our 

friends have brought up their own to join us on our little excursions.

In the end though I have to admit that my favorite watercraft has been and continues to be the Unsinkable Molly Brown.. simply my floating mattress, which is my all time best thing to do on the lake.. I think most of you have seen me here:

 That's it for this week.. bye for now: