What a lovely little houseboat!

I just wanted to share these photos of a gift we were given this summer.

Milt and Gisele Patey were very creative and made a houseboat Kleenex holder for us out of plastic cross stitch. They finished it while houseboating and took these pictures on the front deck of their houseboat.

It looks just about ready to head off on an adventure on Lake Temagami!

Thank you Milt and Gisele! It is sitting on a shelf in our office and we've had quite a few comments and compliments on it.

Our German friends

About ten years ago a young man and woman with backpacks walked into our yard wondering if we had a houseboat for rent. The young man's name was Andreas Fraissl. We did have a houseboat available and helped them get everything they needed for their trip and for their return to Toronto to catch their flight back to Germany. Little did we know that man would later become a tour consultant. He called us last year to say he was interested in houseboating again ... only this time he wanted to put together a package that he could advertise and sell as a tour consultant.

He found five people to come with him to test out the package last September. They traveled by train from Toronto to Temagami where we picked them up and helped them get all of the groceries and fishing supplies they needed. Because they needed transportation and arrived on a slower day we got to spend some extra time with them. It was nice to get to know them a bit.

Here is a video that Andreas made of their 2009 trip and posted to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1d-UHvvclM

Andreas is back again this year. Almost all the members of the group enjoyed themselves so much they came back for a second trip. They were excited to see some new areas of the lake, relax and especially do some fishing! We were even brought a gift of a bound book telling the story of last year's trip. Thank you Priska and Axel!

While the weather was not quite as nice for them as it was last year they all had a great time again and caught lots of fish.

Mike went out to visit with them their last night here and was treated to some uniquely prepared fish, even trout caviar! It was nice to see them again and we hope they will return next year!