Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ)
about
BBL's Cottage Rental
|
| Table of Contents
Cottage Life
Magazine's Recommended Standard Questions
Is Black's Bay Lodge right for me ?
Traveling to &
From Black's Bay Lodge
Cottage Facilities
Safety_at_the_Cottage
Water, Waterfront, Beach
Town of Providence Bay &
Surrounding Area
Activities Available at
Black's Bay
BBay's Policy for Pets,
Multi-Family, Extended Family, or Group Rentals
Rental
Contracts, Rates, Costs, Restrictions
Example on Calculating Your Rental Fee |
|
The following standard questions were extracted from page 71 of
Cottage Life magazine, March 2005. These questions are
recommended to be asked before renting any cottage, so as to avoid
disappointment. BBay's answers to each of these questions is
provided. |
|
Question |
Answer |
| What amenities
are included (eg. bedding & towels, dishes and cutlery, toaster and
barbeque, TV and board games)? |
Foam mattress and pillow is on each bed. You are
expected to bring your own sleeping bag, or sheets and blankets, towels,
face cloths, and pillow case. BBay has some towels in the Porcupine
cupboard in case of emergencies, and you'd be expected to launder and
replace them before you leave if emergency strikes. The kitchen is fully
equipped with a service for approx. 12, plus all pots, pans, bowels, etc.
We don't have the fancy equipment (ie. no blender, soufle pan, etc.).
There is a microwave, toaster, bread machine, propane barbeque (outdoors
beside deck).
There is no TV, but there is a AM/FM/shortwave radio, and a CD player
boom box. There are numerous books, board games, Scrabble, cards,
chess, etc. |
| How many beds
are available and what sizes are they? |
There are 5 bedrooms, each with a double bed. The
waterfront bedroom has a bunk bed (double bed on top and bottom).
There is therefore room to sleep 12 people on the beds. The living
room couch pulls out into a double bed. The nearby trailer has
another 2 double beds to sleep 4 more adults.
Pictures of cottage bedrooms |
| Does the
rental include a boat or other water toys? |
There is a 16' canoe
(plus paddles, life jackets, bailer, etc.) available for your use.
The outdoor shed has a number of plastic beach toys (ie. pail shovel,
etc.) for the under 3 yr. old set. |
| Is the water
potable? |
A new well was drilled in 2003 (we used to drink from
Lake Huron directly). Water to cottage is filtered through NSF approved
filters for 60µ, 30µ with activated charcoal,
and 10µ. Each spring, the well and all the cottage piping is shock
chlorinated to fully sanitize, done by
Owner (Glenn Black). Neither I nor
anyone I know of has ever become sick from drinking the water at BBay's
cottage.
Based on the above, I believe it is
potable water. |
| Is there hydro
and phone service? |
The cottage is
Green Powered, meaning that we generate all our own electricity from
solar and wind. There is an 4000 watt emergency backup generator
powered by a gasoline engine. All you have to do to use it is turn on the
switch, just like normal, even though the design, installation, &
efficiency is totally different from what you may be used to in big
cities. There is a cell phone high gain antenna on
the roof of the cottage with the connection cable in the kitchen. If
you have the patch cable, you can connect your cell phone to the antenna
cable in the kitchen for excellent reception. Otherwise, there are 2
pay phones in town (2 km. away). |
| Are pets
allowed? |
We follow the policies recommended by the Humane Society.
Animals susceptible to fleas must be treated for fleas (ie. flea collar,
spray, pill, etc.) at least 2 weeks before they arrive, and be flea-free
on arrival. There is a significant flea population in all wooded
areas from wild animals, so your flea treatment must continue during your
rental period; especially if the animal goes into or woods, or walks along
road or paths.
Those pets susceptible to rabies must be vaccinated at least 1 week
before they arrive, and must have been vaccinated within 18 months before
the end of your rental period. This ensures they have built-up
antibodies from vaccination before they arrive & during their stay.
Dogs and cats are acceptable inside the cottage, provided
they are house broken, do not damage the cottage or contents (ie. chewing,
scratching, spraying, etc.), and you clean up after them (shedding, paw
prints, etc.). If there is damage (eg. chew, flea infestation,
odours, etc.), you will be paying to correct the situation.
Other pets will be considered (please contact me and discuss in
advance).
Dogs that are on the wild side (ie. they chase squirrels, chipmunks,
porcupine, skunks, or deer; won't come when called, bite, etc.) should not
be allowed to run free. It is against the law to harass the
wildlife, and the wild animals may bite back if cornered or sufficiently
harassed. Owner or guardian is solely responsible for pet's actions.
Pet waste in & around the cottage, on the road or paths, etc. needs to
be cleaned up. In the woods, it can stay where it falls, composting
over time.
We are 0.5 km from nearest neighbour, but continuous barking travels a
long way in the quiet woods. Consider thy neighbour. |
| Is smoking
permitted? |
Inside the cottage is a no smoking area. The woods
is a no smoking area (forest fire risk, against the law to smoke while
walking in the woods). While on property, butts must be placed in
butt cans or your pockets, not dropped on the ground (especially not in
the woods, on trails, on the road, etc.). Absolutely no smoking in
bed whatsoever (extremely dangerous on foam mattress). |
| Is there a
restriction on how many guests can be invited? |
You may invite all those who are listed on your rental
application. You are not allowed any visitors or guests (neither
over night nor daytime) except those pre-approved on your rental
application. We have hosted weddings and receptions with 25 people
sleeping over and 50 partying for wedding reception. Property is big
enough for party your 200 closest friends, but we would have to have some
very special arrangements before we would agree to this.
Rental rates are based on a family of up to five persons (children
under 5 are free). Extra people are charged extra (above the minimum
rental fee). |
| Are the lake
and shoreline suitable for swimming and/or fishing? |
The shore at BBay slopes out very slowly, and is
therefore ideal for young children. The shallows are ideal for
tadpole and crayfish hunts. At the point, the water is deeper and
rocky, and therefore very clean; ideal for swimming. Out deeper (ie.
from canoe) fishing is excellent for
salmon, lake trout, walleye, and whitefish. Inland lakes and streams
are fantastic fishing sites (over 110 lakes on Manitoulin, all within 1
hr. of the cottage). |
| Are there any
safety issues for small children or elderly visitors? |
The cottage is not child proofed. This is a 113
acre forested site where unsupervised children could wander off into the
woods and become disorientated. The grounds, trails, beach are
uneven ground and difficult for elderly to navigate easily.
Similar risks are mentioned elsewhere
in the FAQ, as well as in the BBay
Operating Manual. We have attempted to do full disclosure on all
of these risks, as forewarned is forearmed. |
| Are there
special instructions for operating the heat, water, etc.? |
Yes. While you may not need it, it's there just in
case. There is a very comprehensive
operating manual, posted on this web site, with a copy in the cottage
(colour photos and full descriptions). The manual is fully indexed
by keywords so that it is very easy to find whatever you are looking for. |
| Who should be
contacted in the event of a plumbing malfunction or other emergency? |
Armed with the comprehensive operating manual, you are
asked to be the first line of defense during your stay (self-reliant).
If it is beyond the scope of the operating manual or your capabilities,
there is a local housekeeper in Providence Bay (2 km. away) who could
assist or co-ordinate the assistance of others (ie. plumber, electrician,
etc.). The Owner (Glenn Black) who built all of these cottage
systems is available by phone 24 hrs. per day (daytime work number, home
number, and cell number); all of which are posted in the Operating Manual
inside the cottage. |
| Directions to
local stores and medical facilities? |
There is a hardware, grocery store, gas station,
restaurant, motel, snack bar, and library (with public Internet access) in
the Town of Providence Bay (2 km. away). The hospital and doctor's
office is in Mindemoya, 15 km. away. The Providence Bay Firehall is
at the end of Firehall Rd., 1.5 km. away (volunteer fire department).
Ambulances are dispatched from Mindemoya Hospital , 15 km. away.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has an office in Mindemoya(15 km. away)
and Gore Bay (30 km. away). The nearest pharmacy is in Mindemoya (15
km. away). All of this is described in the
Operating Manual |
Is Black's Bay Lodge right for me?
|
Question
|
Answer
|
Is Black's Bay Lodge "right" for me & my group?
|
That depends on what you are looking for.
If you just look at the picture on the main page of our web site, and jump
to the conclusion that BBay is what you've been looking for, you may be
pleasantly surprised or bitterly disappointed. Please be sure to look at
everything on the website, especially where we compare
BBay's Facilities to a standard
home in an urban sub-division. We have tried very hard to do "full
disclosure" of who we are, & what we have to offer. You are responsible
for reading & deciding.
People say, "A change is as good as a rest". In your normal
life, you are probably plugged into society more than enough. BBay is
about "unplugging"; getting away from all of this. BBay is about a
different pace, & different priorities.
BBay is not the Holiday Inn, nor an all-inclusive vacation resort. BBay
is less "roughing" than a wilderness canoe trip into a remote lake in
Algonquin Park. BBay is more "roughing" than your home in the city.
While we are just 2 km. from the town of Providence Bay, we are a
remote, self-reliant cottage in a 113 acre forest.
By self-reliant, I mean:
- The cottage is "Off the Grid". We generate our own electricity and
pump our own water. There is a radio for news, weather, music, etc. We
haul in our own fuel supply via propane tanks, and cut our own firewood
from our forest. Nobody delivers fuel to us through a pipe, nor
electricity over miles of poles & wires to the switch on our wall. We
do this for ourselves. Also, there is no handyman on site to run
everything for you. The owner lives 6 hrs. away by car. You are
expected to be self-reliant.
- To help you achieve self-reliance,
- There is an Operating Manual &
Renter's Guide in the cottage. Most people are able to get along
fine without referencing this manual. It describes most systems,
how they work, troubleshooting, operation, etc.. You can see the
index to the manual on this website. If you wish, you can look at the
entire manual to know exactly what is expected & how things work.
- There is a mini-manual, 15 pages in total, one page for each of
the major systems. This is enough for most people.
- The owner, designer, builder, & technical expert of BBay will be
available 24 hrs. per day by phone for any questions or concerns you
may have (live, immediate response; or leave a message & I will call
you back).
By remote, I mean you will be the only people in a 113 acre forest.
This property is part of a 5,000 acre forest on the South Shore of
Manitoulin. There is no connection to the outside world except the road
through the forest. The nearest neighbours are 1 km. away. If you want to
be with other people, you will have to go to town, or go visit the
neighbours (very friendly people). Remember, there are more white tail
deer on Manitoulin Island than people. Except for the few towns &
villages, Manitoulin is not urban, it's countryside as it was 100 years
ago.
|
|
Is it necessary to delve into your cottage manual in order to stay there?
Especially if the stay is
short, this is not my idea of curling up with a good book. |
If we know when you are coming, we will have
all the systems turned on & going before you arrive. In this case
there is no need to read anything. There is a 15 page short manual, one
page for each system (ie. solar/wind power, electrical generator, water
supply, stove, fridge, propane supply, hot water tank, cottage electrical
panels, well pump, etc.) just in case you need it. This should be
enough for most people, especially if everything is set up before you
arrive.
The big manual (all 150 pages) has everything I know about the cottage &
all of its systems, in case I get hit by a truck. The big manual is fully
indexed so you can find anything in 30 seconds or less. If you don't
want to read it, that's OK with me. You probably don't need to do
so. However, it's probably a comfort knowing it's there if you need
it.
A copy of both the mini- and full manual are in the cottage just in
case. Also, I'm available by phone 24 hrs a day if you prefer that
method of solving any problems. Most people do quite fine without either
of these solutions. |
|
I'm not a hunter or fisher and hope there are few, if any, noisy power
boats and ATVs around. |
If an ATV goes down the Concession Rd., you
will have great difficulty hearing it, even if you're outside on the
cottage deck. The traffic on the Concession Rd. is minimal (ie. approx. 10
cars per week and 1 ATV per week during the busy summer season). The
commercial fishing boat goes by 2 to 3 times per week on the lake, about 1
mile out, has a loud engine, and can be faintly heard from the cottage
deck, but not inside the cottage. The occasional Seadoo goes by in
mid-summer, about 1 or 2 times per week. There are other boats that can be
seen about 1 to 5 miles away on the horizon, but not heard.
You have over 0.5 km of private beach on BBay's property. The neighbour's
beaches are similarly deserted 99.9% of the time. I see someone on the
beach (or foot prints from other times) 1 to 3 times per year.
There are many nature trails to enjoy on our property as well as the
~5000 acres of private lands in the area.
Neighbours do hunt, but it doesn't sound like a "war zone". However
deer hunting season (3rd week in November) does have significant amounts
of gunfire that can be heard when you are outside the cottage (you're not
able to hear it inside the cottage). At worst case during other times of
the year, you may hear a .22 or shotgun go off once per week, if at all. |
| I
enjoy walking and hiking in the woods. Are those wolves and bears (and
humans with rifles) dangerous to the unarmed in the fall? |
If you do not leave food out, there is only a
extremely small chance of seeing a bear. If you leave honey,
doughnuts, deep fat frying grease, bacon grease etc. out on a picnic table
for 2 to 3 days, you may get to see bears up close & personal.
Obviously, this would be un-wise, not recommended, & you could be charged
under the wildlife act by a Conservation Officer. There are many nature trails to enjoy on our
property as well as the ~5000 acres of private lands in the area.
For 51
weeks of the year, you can walk in the woods everywhere with relative
safety.
I would not suggest walking in the woods during deer hunting season for
rifles (3rd week in November). If you insist on walking in woods
during this week, I would strongly recommend a hunting orange vest and hat
for each person to virtually eliminate the added risk.
Wolves and bears are generally not a problem for adults. Small children
need to be within arms length of adults at all times while they're in the
woods, or off the deck of the cottage; regardless of the wild animals. This is mainly precaution of them
wandering off, and getting lost in the woods (more likely), as well as
protection from the wild animals (unlikely).
Instructions for bear proofing yourselves are in the full manual. |
Traveling to & From
Manitoulin
|
Question
|
Answer
|
How far is it to get to Black's Bay Lodge ?
|
There is an
Ontario Road Map in Adobe Acrobat format (pdf) that shows the area
around Manitoulin Island. Approximate driving distances are shown in the
following table:
| |
Via Tobermory & ferry
(May to Oct) |
Via Hwy. 17
(Sault St. Marie or Sudbury) , then Espanola, & swing bridge at
Little Current |
| Buffalo, NY |
330 mi. |
460 mi. |
| Chicago, IL |
585 mi. |
660 mi. |
| Cincinnati, OH |
570 mi. |
820 mi. |
| Cleveland, OH via Buffalo |
520 mi. |
650 mi. |
| Cleveland, OH via Detroit |
475 mi. |
725 mi. |
| Detroit, MI |
300 mi. |
550 mi. |
| Ottawa, ON via North Bay, Sudbury, Espanola |
850 km. |
650 km., 410 mi. |
| Toronto, ON |
400 km.,
250 mi. |
570 km.
355 mi. |
|
| How do I get to Manitoulin from Toronto,
length of drive, etc? |
Map for driving from Toronto to Tobermory,
then ferry to Manitoulin:
It's a 3.5 hr drive from Toronto. For the scenic route, take Hwy 401, 410, 10, 24, 89,
and finally Hwy. 6. As you have breakfast, lunch, or supper on the
ferry, you continue to travel to your destination. After the 1.75 hr
crossing, it's 30 a minute drive through Manitoulin countryside to reach
Black's Bay Lodge in Providence Bay.
For the "fast" route, go North on Hwy. 400, then cut West along Hwy
89 to Aliston, then up Hwy 6 to Tobermory
Take the Chi-Chemaun ferry to Manitoulin Island. See maps on website for
trip on Island side.
It takes between 3 to 4 hrs. to get from TO to Tobermory (non-rush hr. traffic) |
How do I get to Black's Bay Lodge from Michigan,
USA?
|
You have two options. You can go North in
Michigan using I-75 till you get to Sault St. Marie, then cross into
Canada. Turning East, you follow the Trans-Canada Highway back to
Espanola, then go South to Manitoulin Island and the town of Little
Current. Once you have crossed the swing bridge to Little Current, you go
West to West Bay (M'Cheeg), and then South to Mindemoya, then South-west
to Providence Bay. See maps for details.
The second option is to go to Port Huron at the South end of Lake Huron,
crossing over to Canada into Sarnia. You can then drive North along Hwy.
21 (along the eastern shore of Lake Huron) until just after South Hampton,
then go North on Hwy. 6, up the Bruce Peninsula to Wiarton, & finally
Tobermory . You can then go across on the Chi-Cheemaun ferry (runs from
approx. May 17 to Oct. 17). The ferry costs about $45 for a car & driver,
about $65 for a carload under the family rate. Trailers and excess height
vehicles are extra. See ferry website for details Manitoulin
ferry information Reservations are recommended. You must
arrive 1 hour before sail or your reservations are canceled. Car and
driver is about $38 CAD one way, adult passengers are $12 one way.
|
How do I get to Black's Bay Lodge from Toronto?
|
|
Cottage Facilities
|
Question
|
Answer
|
What are the sleeping accommodations at BBay?
|
 Bedroom
#1 12' x 12', large window looking out over waterfront, French doors onto
2nd. floor deck overlooking waterfront. Has double bed with 5" foam
mattress that will sleep 2 adults comfortably.
 Bedroom
#2 16' x 10', 2 large windows looking out over waterfront, door out onto
2nd. floor deck overlooking waterfront. Has bunk beds with 5" foam
mattress that will sleep 2+2=4 adults comfortably
 Bedroom
# 3 8' x 18' Has bunk bed with 5" foam mattress that will
sleep 2+2=4 adults comfortably. Has small windows looking out over woods.
 Bedroom
# 4 8' x 18' Has bunk bed with 5" foam mattress that will
sleep 2+2=4 adults comfortably. Room has window looking out over woods.
 Bedroom
# 5 8' x 14' Has dresser drawers and access to
attic loft. One double bed is currently set up in this bedroom.
Room has window looking out over 2nd. floor deck.
 Living
room has pull-out couch that will sleep 2 adults (in semi comfort
?). Has 2 large picture windows (4' x 16') looking out to waterfront.
Travel Trailer: 14' x 7' trailer has 2 bunks which
sleeps 2+2= 4 adults on 3" foam mattresses, has icebox, propane stove,
dining table (converts to one bed), propane light, electricity from camp
generator, located 100 ft. from main cottage, 14' x 14' deck with swing
seats, private location surrounded by trees.
Total Maximum sleeping capacity: 16 adults in beds and as many
kids in sleeping bags on the floor as you are sane enough to permit.
|
Could small tents be set up around the house for
kids? How many?
|
Yes. There are large flat areas on the
beach, but you will need air mattresses as the rock is as hard as it is
flat. There are large clearings (grassy meadows) between the cottage
& the orchard that could hold an entire scout jamboree. These areas
are approx. 100 yards from the cottage down a path through the woods.
There is another clearing by the trailer on the path to the water.
|
What do we do for drinking water?
|
The water system currently at BBay is
described in full on the
BBay Facilities pages Water is available through two different
systems (water well, and Lake Huron). There is drinking water available
at the kitchen sink, and the tap at the bathroom sink on the main floor .
|
What are the toilet
facilities at BBay?
|
There is an indoor flush toilet (composting,
not septic tank) in the main floor bathroom of the cottage. This is part
of the 4 pc. bathroom on the main floor of the cottage.
There is also a single hole outhouse located about 20 yards from the
cottage.
|
What is available for baths and showers?
|
There are three options for bathing at BBay.
- There is an indoor full size tub, and shower in the main bathroom
with a propane fired 50 US gallon hot water heater for piping hot water.
You can run the generator (to run the well water pump), or use the
small DC water pump.
- There is one of the world's biggest bathtubs available at BBay (Lake
Huron). We suggest using Ivory bar soap; as it always floats and you
don't lose it. In addition, it is very environmentally friendly
compared to soaps with oils included (ie. Ponds, Dove, etc.)
- There is an outdoor shower with solar water heater. For those
who are impatient (or need a shower on a cloudy & cold day), there is an
auxiliary electric water heater (requires generator). See
BBay's Auxiliary Cottage Facilities
for more info and pictures.
|
Please describe the outdoor facilities in more detail
|
 There
is a outdoor shower with heated water at the beach. The renters who have
used it said it was FANTASTIC! I agree.
There is a 1 seater outhouse about 20 yards from the cottage. See
above.
There is a hand pump for lake water, dish pan, mirror, soap dish, and
clothes line about 20 yards from the cottage. We find this is very useful
for getting kids & adults washed up before meals so that there isn't a
huge line up at the kitchen sink while meals are being prepared.
|
Is there an electric coffee pot?
|
There is a percolator coffee pot for use on
the gas stove. There are basket filter papers & it uses regular ground
coffee. I like it just as well as the fancy machine we have in our
regular home. Put the coffee in, fill with water, set on stove, & turn
burner on high. Once it starts percolating (about 4 minutes) it will
quickly turn brown. Leave percolating for about 1 minute, turn off the
burner, and let sit for about 2 minutes to drain. Remove the basket of
grounds & enjoy. After the first cup, we usually turn the burner back on
(very low) to keep the pot warm. After 2 hrs. of warming, it's no longer
a joy to drink.
As we are not connected to Ontario Hydro, most things work on propane. As
our primary electrical supply, we have a solar/wind power generating &
storage system. As a backup, we have a large 4,000 watt generator ,
but you probably don't want to be running it continuously.
There is a microwave oven, bread making machine, toaster oven (as well
as for the gas stove), full set of pots, pans, cooking, & eating dishes,
glasses, utensils, etc.
The Operating Manual has a full listing of what's in the cottage, and what
you should bring with you.
|
|
Is it ok to jerry-rig curtains of some kind (or do you already do this)? I
actually prefer to do my sleeping in the dark, and the darker, the better
(city boy). |
Manitoulin, and especially this area of
Manitoulin around Providence Bay, is "dark Sky" region. After the sun goes
down, it's pitch black unless there is a full moon.
The cottage is nestled in a bank of trees, so even this is dark during
a full moon; similar to having a nightlight on in your bedroom.
Mornings get bright when the sun comes up around 7:30 AM in late
October. If you want blackout curtains, feel free to bring your own.
Currently, none of BBay's windows have any window coverings whatsoever. |
|
Is the generator noisy?
I would likely use the
lights of an evening.
What's the difference
between the generator and the solar or wind generator?
|
The cottage is equipped with 470 watts of PV
solar panels, 400 watt wind generator, 12,000 watt-hr of battery power
storage, and a 1500 watt inverter (changes the DC power in the storage
batteries to 110 Volts AC, standard household current).
This system supplies approximately 3100 watt-hrs. of power each day;
sufficient for most people so they never have to run the generator.
Most people use a maximum instantaneous power draw rate of 200 watts in
the average day. The wind/solar system has a continuous power
capacity of 1500 watts, and can supply up to 2000 watts for 10 minutes.
Therefore, most people only use 13% of the system's maximum power rate
capacity.
Most renters use a total of 1700 watt-hrs of solar-wind electricity per
day. This represents 55% of the total power generated by the system on a
typical day.
If it's cloudy and no wind, you will generate less power. This is
when the batteries will supply sufficient power. At 1700 watt-hrs
used per day, and assuming no wind and no sun whatsoever, there is 3.5
days of power available by taking the batteries from 100% full charge to
50% full.
During normal days of wind and/or sun, and normal rates of power usage
by the renters, you can go forever without running the generator.
Even though the solar/wind power is more than adequate for most people,
you are expected to use the solar/wind power reasonably (consume no more
than what you generate (so there is battery power for the next renters
after you leave). It can take up to 6 days to recharge the batteries
if you run them down completely).
If you do run the generator, it's inside its own building, but can be
heard as a soft noise (about 60 dBA) inside the cottage even with the
windows closed. It never bothered me before we got the wind/solar power
system, but I notice the generator running now when I'm working & need the
generator for my power tools. |
|
|
Question
|
Answer
|
There will be three small children who are under 4. Are there any dangers
that we would have to consider for them?
|
Yes. I don't want to scare you, but I also
don't want to make light of the risks.
The risks can be managed. Just like in the city, you will have to
watch small children like a hawk. This is what we did with our own
children when they were little.
The cottage has not been "child-proofed". There are no child gates on
the various stairs. There are no child locks on the cupboards, etc.
Our Operating Manual covers the major risks and our suggestions to
avoid or protect. Once your application has been approved, I will send
you a copy of the Operating Manual to review with everyone. Kids have a
fantastic time with the freedom, the outdoors, and all the neat things to
do. However, the cottage has all the risks that a city home has, plus the
risks of rural living, plus the risks associated with a forest in Northern
Canada.
I first brought my two children to Manitoulin Island when they were 4
weeks old. They are now 19 and 16 yrs old; having survived many summers on
Manitoulin.
The waterfront is very shallow close to shore and slopes out to deeper
water very, very slowly. At the Point (way out at the tip of Black's
Bay), the water is approximately 1.5 ft deep at the shore. This is where
I usually go swimming. Also, Lake Huron is a BIG lake. Boats, canoes,
kayaks, dinghies, inner tubes, etc. should only be used with life
preservers and close supervision by adults able to rescue. Hypothermia is
an issue, even in the hottest part of summer.
|
When are the black flies & mosquitoes at their worst?
|
At the cottage & on the beach, we don't tend
to get black flies. The breeze off the water tends to keep them in the
woods & away from the camp. There is the occasional one, but they are not
in swarms. I usually get bit once or twice a year over a 6 week period in
the outdoors.
They are in the woods. If you walk into the woods, they will soon find
you. With repellant applied, I've only been really bothered by them
sometime about 1989. I know it was warm when they were bad, I think
sometime in July or August. So I'm not really sure the answer to that
question. My guess is May/June is the worst.
Mosquitoes are ever present at dusk and 2 hrs. after the sun goes down.
Netting (mosquito suit) or repellent is highly recommended at those times
|
I
can see from the web site that there is hunting done in the area. Are
there any traps on the property?
|
There are no traps. Traps are illegal except
for someone who has a trapping license and has an approved trap line on
government land or with landowner's permission. There are no animal traps
on our property. You will be unable to tell there was any hunting
occurring on the property.
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Question
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Answer
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How far to the waters edge? Last year (at another cottage we rented), we
had to walk down three roads and over a bridge, but the website had said
200 meters to the water. We found out too late that it was 200 meters "as
the crow flies".
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We believe in "full disclosure". See
BBay Facilities where we compare BBay to a typical single family
dwelling, in a typical subdivision, in a typical Canadian suburban
centre (ie. our house in London, ON). Hopefully, you can get full answers
to all your questions, as well as the questions you "should" have asked
(ie. you currently assume to be the same as at your house, &/or you forget
to ask).
Attached are pictures from the main deck of the cottage, looking towards
the water (normal view & close-up view). I estimate it to be 200 yards
(by crow and foot) from the cottage door to wet feet at the water's edge
of Lake Huron.
You have about 1500 ft. of private shoreline available to explore on our
property, can walk all the way to Providence Bay (about 2 km) by way of
shore, or go all the way around the entire island of Manitoulin if you'd
like (approx. 600 km in total).
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We have been to a beach near Providence Bay and it was always cold there
with the wind coming off the water, has it been like this in the last few
years?
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Water in N. Canada tends to be colder.
However, the bay at Black's Bay is very shallow, so in the summer it
tends to heat up after a few good days of sunshine. The further out you
go, the deeper it gets and the colder. However, I swim in it all the time
during the summer.
The Mindemoya River that empties into Providence Bay (at the sand beach in
town) tends to be much warmer & most small kids play in the water at the
mouth of the river (where it meets Providence Bay) for hours on end
& find it nice.
When the wind is out of the South to South-West, it blows in over Lake
Huron. This tends to take about 5° off the temperature from other wind
directions. I find this very cooling during a hot summer.
If you want to bake your body, go inland about 200 yards, surrounded by
trees in a clearing, and spread out your beach blanket in the sun. The
reduced wind will heat you very quickly in the summer sun. There is a
nice clearing right beside the orchard (about 300 yards from the cottage)
for doing this. |
Town of Providence Bay & Surrounding Area
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Question
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Answer
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Is there any horseback riding in the area?
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There are horses & mules (small, medium, &
large) on the Government Rd (just 5 km. from Black's Bay at Kicking Mule
Ranch. They have programs for kids, trail rides, approx. 200 acres
to ride on, & country music jamboree hoe-downs on Friday or Saturday
nights each week.
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Where can we buy groceries?
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There is a grocery store inside the hardware
store at Providence Bay (2 km. away). They have more than a corner
variety store, but less selection than a major chain (ie. Loblaws, A&P,
etc.).
In Mindemoya (15 km. away), there is a full grocery store. This is a
store for a local chain of stores. Its buying power means the prices here
are about 10¢ to 50¢ cheaper than in Providence Bay.
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Should we bring our food with us, or buy it locally once we arrive?
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All grocery prices in the North will be
higher than the South (lower volume & more transportation costs).
Therefore, it is recommended you bring as much with you as you can
reasonably manage, then buy replacement (ie. milk, bread, eggs, etc.) as
you consume what you brought.
Lettuce, eggs, etc. tend not to travel as well as a jar of peanut butter.
You may choose to buy these more fragile items locally as you need them.
Remember, the cottage only has a small fridge. At most, you will be able
to fit 2 Coleman coolers (or a little less) of food into the fridge.
We have 8 different salad dressings in our fridge at home. Isn't variety
nice? I suggest you bring only your one favorite salad dressing, and
leave the other 7 types at home. This saves a lot of space in the fridge &
pack/unpack.
If you bring more than what will fit into the fridge, you'll have to be
constantly running to town to get ice to keep it all cool. You will soon
tire of this. |
Activities Available at Black's Bay
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Question
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Answer
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I would also like some
information about getting a proper fishing license for American's
visiting into Canada, also with their own boats, if at all possible.
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Non-Ontario residents (including Americans)
are able to purchase a non-resident fishing license. These give you the
same rights to fish as an Ontario resident, but are more expensive to
purchase. Also, each year there is one weekend designated as Family
Fishing Weekend when everybody can fish without a license. The licenses
can be purchased just about everywhere (ie. hardware stores, fishing &
sporting goods shops, Ministry of Natural Resources government offices,
etc.). See the Ministry of Natural Resources website
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/index.html for the
latest on prices and fishing regulations, open seasons, etc.
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Can American's visiting into Canada bring and use their own fishing boat ?
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As with anything, you will have to declare
the boat at the US border before you enter Canada (so the US Customs have
a record that it was originally in the USA). It has to be properly
registered in the USA, and it has to be clean on the hull, inside the
boat, wet well etc. (to prevent the spreading of zebra mussels, foreign
plants, & micro-organisms from foreign lakes & rivers. There are new
regulations in Canada requiring captains of vessels to be certified
operators and that each boat must have a minimum set of safety gear. This
includes Jet skis and other personal water craft. See Canadian Coast
Guard website for details http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/main_e.htm
Boating regulations, drinking while boating, safe operation of water
craft are also enforced by the Ontario Provincial Police
http://www.gov.on.ca/opp/welcome/english/
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Is there a boat at BBay, or are there boats available for rent nearby? I
want to be able to take my kids fishing.
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BBay has a canoe (see below), as well a a
small day sailor sailboat (16 ft. Albacore). The sailboat is not
currently rigged, ready for use at present. The canoe is ready to go.
There are 10 ft. aluminum boats with or without an 10 hp outboard motor
for family fishing fun, available on Lake Mindemoya, as well as Lake
Kagawon; starting around $25.00 for 4 hrs to rent.
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I
want to bring my own boat. Is there a dock at BBay so I can keep it right
at the cottage?
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On Lake Huron, there are no docks unless you
have a million dollar breakwater. Anything else is readily removed by the
first storm. Therefore, we have no dock. There is a government wharf in
town (Providence Bay), just 5 km. away from BBay (10 minutes by car, door
to door). Be sure to look how a 40 ft. section of this reinforced concrete
wharf was wiped out by a Lake Huron storm, in spite of a million dollar
breakwater.
The Providence Bay dock has many finger docks you can rent for the
duration of your vacation. There is also a boat launch ramp, parking,
fish cleaning station, ice, freezers to store fish, etc. There is a
Dockmaster during the day & video surveillance at night for security.
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What activities are available right on Black's Bay ?
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- Rock collections. This area has a collection of sedimentary,
igneous, and metamorphic rocks of all shapes & sizes. Did you know that
gold freezes out in igneous rock right next to quartz (the bright white
or clear crystalline rock)
- Fossils. The sedimentary flat rock at the beach is dolomite
formed on the bottom of a vast ocean millions of years ago. There are
millions of fossils in this rock; plants, animals, insects, fish, etc.
Looking for 5 minutes is bound to find a fossil. Look longer, and you
will find some important discoveries.
- Nature Trail The property has numerous trails, meadows,
swamps, forests, and grasslands. There is a different ecosystem in
each. Look for the birds, insects, mammals, flowers, garter snakes,
frogs, fungus (mushrooms), trees, and bushes in each of these areas.
There are numerous guide books in the cottage. Take a very slow walk
in the woods. Stop occasionally, then stand very still for 5 minutes
(laying down on the ground is even better). After 5 minutes as a
statue, the woods will resume normal activity, and you will experience
it first hand. Some things you will only hear; others are completely
noise free but you can see what's going on. Every trip will be
different.
- Stars & Planets Manitoulin Island is recognized
as one of the darkest skies in Ontario, almost as good as Algonquin
Park. There are star charts in the cottage. Wait 20 minutes to get
your night vision & find your stars by bare eye observations, or with
one of the 3 pairs of binoculars.
- Satellite Watching If you lay flat on your back,
look straight up, and stare; watching for something moving, you will see
a satellite traveling across the sky about every 30 minutes. You don't
need binoculars; in fact, I've never been able to find a satellite with
binoculars, even after I spotted one with my bare eyes.. They are very
small (ie. a grain of sand at 1 ft. from your eye), sparkle slightly
from the sun reflecting off of them, usually traveling from North-east
to South-west (they really go due South, but the earth's simultaneously
rotation makes it look different). No where else will you be able to
see a real satellite in flight.
- Deer Watching The deer move first thing in the
morning (approx. 30 minutes after sunrise for about an hour), and last
thing at night (1 hr. before sundown). To increase your odds of seeing
a deer, place a cup of corn/oats mixture (there is a full bin in the Mud
Room) on the ground for aa day or two, watching who shows up. If only
the corn is eaten, it was a rabbit or a bird. Only the deer (and bears)
eat both the corn and the oats. Only a cup at a time isn't worth while
for a bear, but the deer will certainly participate once they find it.
It takes 12 to 24 hrs. for the smell of the corn/oats to travel
sufficiently for the deer to reliably find it. Bring your camp stools
and your camera. Sitting in the car keeps the noise and human odor to a
minimum, increasing your chances.
- Art Contest Crayons, pencils, watercolours, or
oils; it's all the same. Do one of the local scenes, or use your
imagination.
- Bonfire & Weenie Roast Sharpen a stick and stick
your favorite sausage in the fire to a golden brown. Serve with flaming
marshmallows. There is a shaking pan for making popcorn over the open
fire
- Fire Building Skills Give everyone 15 minutes to
find their own tinder (no man-made materials allowed) and 3 matches.
Who can get the first fire to burn? Who can get the cup of water
to boil first?
- Card & Board Games For the Phase 10 card game, luck, skill,
pattern recognition, memory, and probability calculations (combinations
and permutations) all help win this game. There are many other board
games (Scrabble, Monopoly, Uno, etc.) available as well.
- Waterfront The shallow, warm water in the bay is
the home of newly born fish. They are very small and well camouflaged
to protect them from being eaten by the birds and bigger fish. If you
use a net or stay very still by the water (they are scared by the
slightest vibration in the ground or moving shadows over the water) you
will be able to watch them. There are also thousand of crayfish in the
bay. Families of raccoons come down ever night to catch the crayfish by
moon or starlight. You can catch them too. Build a rock cairn to mark
your stay.
- Woodcrafts There are numerous wood tools in the
work room. There are many branches, cut trees, birch bark, and other
raw materials. Feel free to make yourself something. Take a rock and
all kinds of different seeds, pine cones, dried flowers, etc. arrange
them to look like something familiar (ie. an animal), then glue them on
the rock as a decoration & souvenir of your vacation at Black's Bay
(much better than a plastic souvenir made in China).
- Water Sports Swimming, swimming races, longest
holding of the breath under water contests, snorkeling, throw a rock &
dive for it, water skiing (requires boat or powerful swimmer pulling
you),
- Canoeing There is a 16 ft.
plastic walled canoe (Kawartha brand), adequate for 750 lbs. of people &
gear, but weighs only 69 lbs. (my wife can lift it by herself). It
comes complete with 2 paddles, safety equipment, & buoyancy vests.
Length: 15'6"
Width: 35"
Weight: 65 lb.
Capacity 750 lb
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The Kawartha is the perfect family
canoe. At home on the lakes or in the rivers, this versatile canoe
can take all the abuse you can dish out. The hull is constructed
with a three layer linear polyethylene sandwich. This creates an
exceptionally stiff canoe with reasonable weight. Our standard trim
includes 2 webbed wood seats (ash), a carry yoke (poplar), a thwart
(ash), and 4 carry handles (2 plastic tube & rope, 2 wood) .
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- Sunsets On a clear evening, start 1 hr. before
sunset, walking along the beach to the West. Wear a good pair of boots
with ankle support & bring 2 or more flashlights (in case 1 fails or is
dropped). Bring a camera. When you reach the point between Black's Bay
and Dean's Bay, sit down on the rocks and admire the sunset. You can
return by continuing to walk West and then join the Concession Road
(check it out from the road side first so you don't get lost in the
woods at night), or walk back along the beach by starlight &/or
moonlight (it's amazing how much you can see after you get your night
vision), or use your flashlights.
An even better sunset trip is to drive out to the lighthouse at Meldrum
Bay (far West end of Manitoulin Island), a 100 km. drive each way. Be
sure to start out at least 2 hrs. before sunset (I recommend 3 hrs
minimum, or leaving after lunch is optimum) so you have time to explore
the town, the lighthouse, the quarry, etc., topped off by the sunset at
the end of the day. Take a picnic lunch, binoculars, camera, coats (it
gets cool at sundown with the wind off the water), & sturdy shoes/boots.
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| What is there
to do in town, and on Manitoulin? Are we stranded in the woods,
miles from nowhere? |
There is lots to do on Manitoulin. Horseback riding, museums,
waterfalls, hiking, swimming, boating, fishing are just a few. See
BBay's more detailed list of
Manitoulin tourism activities. You are not stranded in the woods. |
What is there to do if we have bad weather?
|
I like to think it never rains during
the daytime on Manitoulin Island. However, there are some days with
low flying clouds or very high humidity. In the cottage, there are a
number of board games for the kids, playing cards, kids activity books,
and a reasonable library. After the rain is over, get on your boots and
go see the stream on the East part of the bay. The water flows through
the woods can be very interesting.
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Rental Contracts, Rates, Costs, Restrictions
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Question
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Answer
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Are pets allowed?
Are there any special rules
about pets?
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We have dogs ourselves, and therefore permit
dogs & cats to come. Other pets, in reason, are welcome. Of course, if
they aren't house-broken, they should be kept outside or controlled so
they don't damage or make a mess. Even when cleaned up immediately, urine
will stain, & smells on wood floors forever. In all cases, you are
responsible for all damages caused by your pets.
If your pets have a habit of wandering or chasing wild animals, you may
want to keep them caged or chained, especially if you intend to leave them
out at night unsupervised. City pets have poor defenses as compared to
wild animals. For example, dogs could chase a porcupine that wanders by
at night. Not knowing any better can cause a painful lesson if Fido tries
to get too close.
When you leave camp & don't want to take your dogs with you, there are two
hitching points & chains to tie up Fido at the trees just South of the
cottage, next to the big waterfront deck.
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I
would like some information mailed out to myself about renting the
cottage.
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All we have in the way of brochures is a one
page flyer we post here & there for advertising. It contains 3 pictures
taken from the website, and some brief text taken from the website.
Everything else is on the website http://www.blacksbay.com
If you are unable to access this or print it out for some reason, give me
a call at +1 (705)-377-4039 leaving your information where I can get in
touch with you by phone. We will make other arrangements.
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Can anyone rent the cottage ?
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All responsible adults are welcome.
Our insurance policy does not cover any damages done by people who rent
the cottage. Therefore we have established a policy of only renting to
"responsible" adults (ie. people who meet our risk management
requirements). Families or mature adults are readily welcome.
For our protection , you will be asked to complete a rental application
form, sign a waiver and indemnification agreement, and pay a damage
deposit (usually 50% of the rental fee). If you damage or destroy
something, you will be expected to pay to put it right. So far, everyone
has treated our place with great respect, and there has been no monies
forfeited by any renters to pay for damages.
After your rental period, the place will be inspected. If there is no
damage, you will be refunded your damage deposit promptly thereafter.
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Is there a caretaker, or somebody going to be there to show us around or
help us if we need it?
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We have tried to keep it simple and easy to
settle in.
If we know exactly when you will be arriving, BBay's staff will have
the place ready for you. The unit will have been checked & confirmed
clean by the previous renters, or they will make it right. The water
tank in the attic will be filled & chlorinated, ready to go. The
stove pilot lights will be lit, the fridge will be on and cold when you
arrive, and the hot water heater will be on & full of hot water ready for
your first shower.
Beyond that, you are expected to be self-reliant. To help you in this,
there is a hard copy of the manual in a 3-ring binder inside the cottage,
awaiting your arrival. The Table of
Contents for the Operating Manual is available on the BBay Website.
There is also a short 15 page version that is adequate for most people.
While you are at BBay during your rental period, I will be available by
phone ( 24 hrs. a day) for any emergencies you may have.
There is a "handyman" in town (15 km from BBay) who is somewhat familiar
with BBay's facilities. You can contact him and arrange for any
additional assistance you think you may require (at your own cost).
Before you arrive, we will sent you an electronic version of the BBay
Operating Manual. It is very comprehensive (with over 50 colour photos
showing what is being described in the text) so that most capable people
can flourish on their own. There is a Table of Contents and a detailed
index in the back so you can quickly look up any question or problem and
find what page in the manual it is discussed.
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How do we pay for the rental?
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We confirm registrations once we receive your
deposit. We cannot "hold" it until we receive your deposit and
application.
We accept US or CDN funds via cheque, money order, credit card payment
on the Internet through PayPal (a subsidiary of E-Bay), or direct deposit
to our bank account. For cheques, you must allow 2 weeks to clear for a
CDN cheque, 3 wks. for a US cheque, and 1 month for an International
cheque.
If payment must be made faster, we can provide banking information so that
you can direct deposit or wire the funds to our bank account.
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How do we get the keys for the cottage?
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Once your rental application has been
accepted, and just before you leave for your rental period, we will send
you the information on obtaining the keys
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We are considering your cottage for 3 families
all together. Is there any extra charges for this?
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Our posted rental fees are on a per person
basis, with a minimum charge per week. Children under 5 years of age are
free.
If you want to add on grandchildren, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins
twice removed, in-laws, and out-laws; we don't have a problem with this.
If you have more than 5 people over the age of 5 years in your group, or
you want to bring the in-law, etc. it will be more than the minimum
charge. See BBay's rates for the current rates.
The reason for charging on a per person basis is that we want to be fairly
compensated for our risk, the wear and tear on the facilities, and the
value you receive. All of these are proportional to the number of people
attending with you.
However, if you are a teenager who wants to have your entire high school
over for a party (a few hundred of your closest friends), you need not
make an application.
For the risk side, we will ask at least one adult at each of the
households attending to sign a waiver & indemnification agreement.
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| I
am a "starving artist," so I'm not in the executive price bracket. I do
have to consider there are some humbler alternatives I know of that
are $250 - $300 in the fall |
Off-season rates are $12.14 per person per
night (based on occupancy of 5 adults). No 14 ft. x 12 ft. motel room can
compete with this price, nor the full house size that you get (1,800 sq.
ft.).
Pricing is set up to cover the cost of our time to do applications,
cleanup & security check after the guests leave, property taxes, wear &
tear, insurance for renters, capital cost & depreciation to build the
place, residual risk, and fair market value.
I agree there are sites much cheaper, but they are not waterfront
property, and/or have neighbours (often rowdy ones) less than 10 ft. away
from you.
At BBay, the nearest neighbour is 0.5 km away, and are not often there,
so it's really 2 km. from the nearest neighbours in town. We therefore
feel our off-season rates are more than reasonable.
We would be disappointed to lose you over a few dollars difference. We
believe the feeling of peace and rested tranquility you will feel after
your stay is priceless.
The pricing is set so that 3.5 days of daily rental is the same as 1 week
of rental. If you are planning on
more than 3 days, it's cheaper by the week. The choice is yours. |
What would the rates be if I
decided to rent the cottage for a week in July or August. There
would likely be 3 families (2 adults, 2 children) (2 adults) (2 adults, 2
children) all families are related sisters?
|
July and August are Prime Time, and are
charged at the Prime Time rate.
There are 10 people in your group. Assuming all the children are 5 yrs.
of age or older (children under 5 are free), then you will be paying for
10 persons. If all the children were under 5, you'd only be paying for 6
adults.
Follow the link for how rental rates
are calculated
Calculate how our rates compare to a motel room with 2 double beds.
Instead of a 12' x 14' room, you get an entire house for less money.
You have 113 acres of forested privacy instead of a 4' x 8' balcony or
patio.
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Any charges for fuels, or anything, for that matter, in addition to the
basic rent? |
With the 2006 rental rates, the cost of fuels
is now included in the basic rental rates. |
Are we
responsible for cleaning the cottage upon vacancy?
I don't mean a cursory cleaning but a thorough proper cleaning?
The idea of cleaning on my vacation is not so appealing!! (Neither
is occupying space that has not been properly cleaned by the last
occupants.)
|
We have BBay staff check the cottage
in-between renters, and confirm it is ready. If not, they will do
what is necessary before the next family arrives. We do not have a
cleaning staff to clean up after you. My mother taught me to clean up
after myself & leave everything the same or better condition than what we
received it in.
However, this is a cottage, not a surgical operating room. If you leave
the cottage in a condition that is disappointing to the next family (or to
us), this is a problem. If, out of fear, you spend all week worrying about
cleaning standards, and how the cottage will be received by the next
family, this is also a problem. We need balance & reasonableness.
The cleaning & closing jobs expected from you include:
- Cleaning up any extra-ordinary messes, or "family projects"
- Putting everything back in its standard storage location
- Doing all the dishes, drying, & putting them back in the cupboards
- Wiping out the kitchen sinks, sink strainers, and the dish pans
- Wiping down all the kitchen counters, appliances, dining room table,
and top surface of the wood stove
- Straightening up the coffee table and the books in the living room
- Emptying out the fridge, defrosting it, and wiping out the inside
- Sweeping or vacuuming the floors (whichever you prefer, not
necessary to do both)
- Collecting the garbage & recyclables & putting them out at the road
(beside the gas barbeque)
- Ensure the fuel (propane & gasoline) and electrical system are safe
before you leave.
- Cleaning the bathroom sink, tub, shower, and toilet
- Locking up the cottage, all out buildings, and the chains at the
security gate
BBay Staff will also do some minor duties to ensure everything is in
good condition for the next family (ie. remove the garbage and Blue Box
contents, wash the windows once per month, clean the oven, rotate the
central toilet composting drum, etc.). If there is anything missing,
damaged, or excessive cleaning required to get ready for the next renters,
BBay Staff will document it, try to remedy the situation, and report back
to us on the situation. We will then discuss the situation with you, and
determine the most appropriate adjustment to the damage deposit under the
circumstances.
If you wish to pay an extra $100, I will arrange for a housekeeper to come
prepared after you leave to do all the cleaning for you during the 3 hr.
window between renters (11:00 AM till 2:00 PM).
While there are many interpretations of what "suitably clean" means, I
think the Golden Rule goes a long way. Hopefully the "cleaning
perfectionist" rents prior to the rustic "good enough" cleaner comes to
rent; not visa versa.
My wife, in spite of years of my smiling & shaking of my head in
disbelief, will always clean the house in preparation for the arrival of
our cleaning lady. She also washes the dishes before putting them in the
dishwasher. Why? I'll never understand, excepts she doesn't
feel right doing otherwise.
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|
Why do you have an Application Form and a Waiver for people renting? At
other places I've rented, I paid them cash and they handed me a key, no
paperwork required. |
Traditionally, people rent their cottages to
friends & family, and friends of friends. While some friends &
family rent from us, we have taken the approach of also renting to
complete strangers via the internet. The application form is our only
hope in assessing our risk We are trying to be careful with something
that is very precious to us. We will only rent to people whom we are
convinced are responsible adults.
As for the Waiver, there are two risks we are trying to protect against.
- A renter does something to themselves (e.g.. swan dives into 2 ft.
deep water & becomes paraplegic), but wants to blame everybody else,
especially us, for their problem, & sues everybody in sight. As an
example, there was a recent case where a homeowner was sued, losing his
house & everything they owned (in spite of their house insurance) when
a neighbour climbed up onto the roof of their garage to jump into their
pool (breaking his neck in the process). The owners & everybody else
present (including the victim's wife) repeatedly told him not to do it
& come down via the ladder he had taken out of their garage without
permission. In our case, we face losing our cottage, our life
savings, our home, our car, etc. (with or without insurance) because of
what somebody else does to themselves.
- A renter destroys our cottage (e.g.. smoking in bed, burns down
cottage & starts forest fire). We lose what has taken 25 years of hard
work & financial sacrifice to build. Who was responsible and did the
right thing when they explained the risk of fire & prohibiting smoking
in the cottage, especially smoking in bed? Who was irresponsible &
should be held accountable?
Either way, we lose big time.
Whether or not you sign a waiver, the risks exist. We have tried to be
honest, upfront, and depend on informed consent. What have the other
people who rent their cottage done? With others, each side assumes (or
hides) the fact that they believe the other party will be fully
responsible if something happens. If something happens, these conflicting
assumptions then take many lawyers & millions of dollars in fees to
settle. Everybody loses except the lawyers. Our way, we minimize losses,
and cut out the lawyers from being the only winners.
If someone borrows a neighbours lawnmower, but hits a rock while cutting
their lawn and breaks the mower, should the neighbour receive their
lawnmower back in a broken condition? Is it right to expect the person
who borrowed the mower to repair or replace the mower so it is as good as
before it was borrowed?
The waiver tries to explain the risks so you can make a responsible
decision. We have tried to do what is right and reasonable, but you have
to take BBay as it is. This is reality. Our web site is designed with
the goal of full disclosure in mind, so you have no surprises. We expect
a person to be careful & responsible for themselves. If this is too great
a burden, then they should find something else more to their liking. If
what we have to offer seems too risky to you, or you're not prepared to be
responsible for yourself & your actions, we'll understand your decision to
go elsewhere. After all, our policy is to only rent to responsible
adults.
In our opinion, you carry unknown risks and unknown expectations with
other places who don't disclose all. Also, most of those people who rent
their cottage are in the neighborhood & can watch over their place, or
have a decade of experience renting to the same friends & family. We are
located 6 hrs. travel from our place, and only in our 2nd year of renting.
We can't watch over each day of the rental. We have to carefully screen
who rents, then trust.
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| Original Date: Oct. 26, 2002 |
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