TVO’S TRIPPING SERIES TAKES YOU ON THREE-HOUR JOURNEY OF LEGENDARY MUSKOKA LAKES
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
MUSKOKA — Insomniacs — and anyone without Netflix — knows the countless hours of joy TRIPPING through Ontario with TVO.
Journeying through the province’s stunning scenery and historically rich environments in their collection of 10 slow documentaries can be if not tedious informative and tranquil in the middle of a cold winter’s night.
From the historic Rideau Canal to the mighty waters of the Niagara River, and from the picturesque waters of the Bruce Peninsula shoreline to a particularly unforgettable journey aboard Northern Ontario’s Train 185, the TVO Original series features mesmerizing boat rides, bird’s-eye views and train journeys with great local stops and stories.
Now Muskoka — a focus of every camera’s lens — is the latest exciting edition.
And it’s most appealing and revealing for Muskokans.
‘Tripping The Muskoka Lakes’ is a three-hour boat journey through the Muskoka Lakes.
“It’s a beautiful and fascinating mixture of dynamic, bustling cottage life combined with slices of pristine wilderness, and a rich historic background,” brags a release.
Watch the new TVO Original TRIPPING The Muskoka Lakes at 9 pm ET on April 20 on TVO; and stream anytime starting at 9 a.m. ET April 20 on TVO.org, YouTube and TVO streaming services.
The executive producer is documentary filmmaker Mitch Azaria.
Board a mahogany runabout
Riding aboard a locally-built mahogany runabout, viewers accompany two Muskoka locals as they visit the well-known and the hidden wonders that make the Muskoka Lakes so intriguing. Along the way we see “Millionaires’ Row”, historic resorts, stately steamships, an eerie shipwreck, “Billionaires Row” and a quaint church only accessible by boat. Even for those familiar with Muskoka, the documentary uncovers some of the history and lore that makes this area so unique.
It begins in Gravenhurst, the Gateway to Muskoka.
The program captures some of the curious history of the district including an early tuberculous treatment center, unique boathouses and a tiny but very active bird sanctuary. As the journey heads north, the majestic steamship Wenonah II comes along our starboard side.
Follow her through Lighthouse Narrows, before turning toward the elegant cottages that make up “Millionaires Row.”
Then, suddenly a storm rises on the horizon. In an instant, we are cast back to 1934 and we are witnessing the fatal storm that struck the steamship Waome and caused her to sink. As she drops below the water’s surface, we follow her to see her haunting remains on the lakebed.
Further along the lakes, they go through the charming self-serve lock system at Port Carling. In Lake Rosseau it’s a tiny coal-burning steamship that is taking a slow tour of the lake. Up the lake, learn the tale of two resorts. A glorious new four-season resort side by side with an abandoned century-old resort that was once a shining example of glorious summer retreats but now awaits redevelopment.
On Lake Joseph there is “Billionaires Row” contrasting against the primitive granite of the Canadian Shield. The journey ends at Sherwood Inn, a historic resort that harks back to another era.
Animated sequences bring to life some unique periods of time along the route. In addition to the sinking of the Waome viewers are taken back in time to see the grand dame of Muskoka resorts, the Royal Muskoka Hotel, that was destroyed by fire in 1952.
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