Morning on the Opinicon

3 June 2009, 0830 hours, Opinicon Resort, Chaffey’s Lock 37

Opinicon Lake is like a mirror, with the rising sun reflected across still waters. As the sun warms the day, the pockets of morning mist vanish.

We hear the cry of a loon, repeated, ever so forlornly, it seems, two more times. Two huge swans drift into view. Over there, we spot an otter feeding. In the distance, an osprey dives into the lake but comes up empty.

What a beautiful way to begin the day, sipping a cappuccino and marvelling at nature’s ways.





The 700-foot-long dock at Opinicon Resort is empty save for one 24-foot powercat.







Our arrival last evening at famed Opinicon Resort, however, was a total disappointment. The only delight was the water moccasin that greeted us, and two turtles sunning on a log.

Even though the resort advertises that it’s open from May till October, on June 3 the showers are not working, the laundry facilities are not available either, and there is no hot water in the washroom. At the docks, rusty brown water flows from the tap.

During registration, we pick up a brochure. The sample menu is four years old.

But we do have power on the dock, so we pass on trying the resort dining room and enjoy pasta with pesto and a great view aboard At Last!

The only saving grace: Lance, the manager on duty when we depart, waives our dock fees.

There are so many fish in Rideau waters, we've made a note to have fishing gear aboard when we return in the fall.

We've also made a note to make sure we have a long lens for one of our two cameras as there is so much of nature to photograph.