You could say summer came in with a vengeance this May long weekend. The May long weekend is always considered the “official” start of summer. For many cottage owners in Ontario including lakes in Peterborough County the May 24th weekend is one of getting work done and opening the cottage from it’s winter sleep. Putting the docks in or towing them around from a hidden bay, putting furniture out and opening the windows to let some warm air in to add a freshness to the building is a priority, however this weekend Mother Nature made cleaning up fallen trees and hydro lines a priority when a massive storm ripped through early afternoon on May 21, 2022.
When people consider buying a waterfront property, I always like to remind them that maintenance is at a whole other level than it is in the city. The elements play a huge factor in maintenance, between the wind, storms and extreme cold you can expect to pay extra which is something that always needs to be budgeted for. You never know when high winds are going to damage a roof, or a limb breaks off and smashes a window. Your dock needs to be highly secured with super heavy weights to anchor it. Even then high winds can drag it or break the ropes and chains. Purchasing a property on an island provides an abundance of privacy, however the logists of bringing everything by boat including; lumber, tools, furniture and basic supplies, adds to the basic planning.
This past weekend Mother Nature took things to the extreme. The damage and destruction is something most of us have never seen, nor do we ever want to see it again. The storm seemed to come up from nowhere and for many of us there was no warning. The day turned from hot and humid where people were out on the water enjoying the lake in a variety of ways to a chilling cold storm in what seemed like seconds. Boats were flipped and starting to sink. Some were blown up on shore, smashing off the rocks. Docks were torn away from shore only to be found later by someone else on the lake. Some were lifted right out of the water and blown onto the shoreline. Furniture mangled and damaged or blown away. Roofs were caved in by extremely large trees or blown away by the wind.
The one thing that did happen though, is communities rallied together as often happens after devastation. After spending the last two years distancing and longing for social interaction, Mother Nature had a way this past weekend of bringing people together to help one another. I saw photos of people stranded on an island where trees had damaged their cottage, sunk their boat and a neighbour who they had not met yet went out to rescue them. Others gathered to cut down the trees that were blocking the roads. Sharing generators and gasoline to keep them running so people wouldn’t lose the food they had in their refrigerator. Checking in on neighbours to see if they were okay or how they could get them to safety as their vehicles had been crushed by a tree. Devastating as it was, many of the photos showed people smiling and helping each other, trying to make the best of it and looking at the positive. No person left alone. It makes me wonder, why can’t we be like this without the tragedies? I believe we can. Once everything is cleaned up and goes back to normal, keep checking in on your neighbours. You never know, many friendships can last a lifetime, and this will definitely be a story to look back on.
Lake Life with Tan – Cottaging…. IT’S IN MY BLOOD!
This blog is based on my own experiences.
Photo Credit: Martha Lee. Martha would also like to thank Dave Anderson and Sons for coming to the rescue.
Photo Credit: JT Mann. Thankfully no one was in this car.
@lakelifewithtan