If you go
Directions to Island Spirits
are at islandspiritsricelake.ca.
Rice Lake is part of TrentSevern Waterway National
Historic Site of Canada,
operated by Parks Canada. Its
locks, dams and connected
lakes extend from Georgian
Bay to Lake Ontario. At
northumberlandtourism.com
there’s more about
Northumberland County,
home to outdoorsy
destinations such as
Presqu’ile Island and its circa
1930s Clarke Denson Cottage.
It’s rustic at Island Spirits.
Browse the website ando
note the hot links at the
bottom of the page. Even if
you stay in a cabin like we did
(it’s $225 a night for two
people), you bring your own
bed linens, towels, food,
cutlery, Coleman or other
cookstove and more. T.J.’s
rustic retreat offers a wide
range of shelter (including
aboard a floating deck!), but
essentially you’ll be camping.
So it’s a wonderful spot to
learn more about being in
nature before you head out
on a weekend or weeklong
truly “out there” campground
experience.
If you have questions,
contact T.J. She welcomes
questions because she wants
to ensure you have an
absolutely grand time.
12 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
Catch the eco-spirit of
Grasshopper Island
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY’S ISLAND SPIRITS RETREAT
INVITES GENTLE EXPLORATION OF NATURE
by Katharine Fletcher (photos Eric Fletcher)
“SO HOW’RE YOU DOIN’? Are you ready to relax,
enjoy nature, and meet my composters?” asks
Captain T.J. Chernuck as Eric and I climbed aboard
Spirit of the Loon, her passenger ferry. While she
transports us to her 25-acre eco-retreat, Island
Spirits, we realize we’re in the capable hands of an
entrepreneur possessing a quirky wit.
We’re absolutely prepared to fully enjoy nature
on Grasshopper Island, but composters …?
“Oh,” she laughs, “I get everyone’s attention
saying that. They’re pigs!” The composters, that is.
Upon arrival, we soon meet them. The pigs are
penned up in the shaded forest an easy stroll away
from any cabin, platform tent, or teepee. Like
everyone on-island, we offer them all our organic
kitchen waste. And as each family’s vegetable
trimmings are tossed to the pigs, the cacophony of
squealing is astonishing – well matched by our
laughter. Each piggy scurries about investigating
which manna from heaven is the choicest – before
squabbling over who’ll get the preferred item (yes,
pigs have their own pecking order).
Back at our cottage, we settle into cabin number
1, called Sunset. Here, T.J. explains what makes
Spirit Island an eco-retreat. “We don’t allow any
cars on-island, mowing is done by alpacas and a few
sheep, our chickens manage some of the bugs, rain
barrels collect water, and we have solar showers in
the woods. Solar panels provide power in the
cabins, too.”
After settling in, we’re eager to explore, so we
hiked walking trails, figuring out the lay of the land,
how to get to the water, the best swimming spots,
and other island lodgings. In a clearing we were
startled by movement. Was it a bear? But the big
dark brown shape turned proved to be an alpaca.
Although they chose not to approach us, they
emerged into the sunshine, grazed about, then
drifted away. They’re cute … as are the sheep, which
similarly wander at will, unlike those four-legged
composters.
Perhaps you’ll meet a jogger, enjoying the island
breezes as you roam about. For us, however,
binoculars and looking for wildlife is more our thing.
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca