Eliguk Outpost

As dawn broke, painting the horizon in soft shades of lavender and gold, the morning songbirds filled the air with their cheerful chorus, while a rooster proudly announced the arrival of another ordinary day with its crow, much like a herald of old. I was the first to rise, slipping out from the cocoon of blankets like a toddler trying to walk for the first time. Each step felt like a clumsy gamble, my feet creaking and cracking like a vintage loaf of bread, not yet awake enough to distinguish between the noises of the creaking floor and my own bones. I adjusted my gait, only to bump my knee…

Full May Moon Rising As children, we tremble at the thought of the dark, our imaginations conjuring phantoms and shadows that lurk in the crevices of our tender imaginations. Yet, fast forward a half-century, and what was once a specter of dread has transformed into an elusive muse that beckons me deeper into the heart of the wilderness, where the human footprint is a rarity, and the whispers of nature reign supreme. The long-awaited migration, having endured an extended period of frozen lakefront silence, is finally here. The loons I speak of so often are the final piece to the massive puzzle that eases tension in my soul. Stoking the…

A trip into town for supplies is always a bit of an adventure, but this time it also meant visiting the specialist at the Obstetrics and Gynecology office, who promised to unveil their medical miracles. I don't often reveal a “personal medical issue” during conversation. I tend to take a back seat and find it mostly irrelevant in a blog depicting life with Mountain Man – almost like discussing the weather in a deep-sea diving class. But it turns out that living this remote lifestyle makes these health hurdles loom larger than a Sasquatch sighting in the forest. It’s crucial to share that there are indeed difficulties when you’re as…

  Tundra & Turkey Tails on a rotting Aspen stump Spring has officially sprung at our resort, along with the songbirds—there’s also a small army of robins working the grounds, plucking worms from between the mud and patches of green grass like they were at an all-you-can-eat pasta buffet. I'm surprised the swallows aren't here yet, but relieved because once they arrive, the mosquitoes will also. The ice has finally decided to recede from its icy reign along the shoreline, allowing our dogs to frolic like deranged otters in the shallows whenever the temperature ventures above a balmy 12°C (54°F). Before the ice was deemed unsafe, we embarked on our…

Reflection - Part Three: The Mysterious Dance of Fate Fate is like an enchanting dance, a rhythmic interplay of events that beautifully converge at the right moment. The essence of this mysterious dance lies in the belief that certain people are meant to cross paths for a reason. These encounters can invoke a feeling of familiarity, understanding, and an inexplicable connection that hints at a shared past or a deeper bond. Divine timing is the concept that everything happens in its own time, often in ways we cannot foresee. In the realm of soulmate connections, divine timing suggests that the universe has a plan for when and how these encounters…

Reflection - Part Two: The Lee Valley Settlers Long before he earned the nickname 'Mountain Man' (the last decade here at Eliguk), Aron Toland was shaped by the untamed beauty of a 300-acre farm deep in the backcountry of Northern Ontario. Born in 1963, growing up the youngest of three older sisters, the farming burdens fell upon him. He was the last child at home with much older parents, and his father was fifty years old when Aron was born. The eldest daughter had already moved out of the farmhouse and was married before Aron was born - needless to say, it was an unexpected pregnancy for his mother, who…

Reflection: For the Lack of Anything Except Ordinary. Looking back on our experiences and evaluating them. Gaining insights that lead to personal growth. Introspective thinking and contemplation to understand thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and experiences. Seeing our own reflection as gateways to our inner selves. Today I'm contemplating the beauty of life's routine moments. As I cozy up in my log cabin this Sunday afternoon, the delicate dance of snowflakes outside reminds me of the beauty in life’s fleeting moments. Winter might be trying to hold its grip, but inside, I’ve stoked the wood stove twice, whipped up breakfast and lunch, tackled the dishes, and even tamed Mountain Man's sawdust glitter…

My Lumberjack I have found over the years, that celebrating iconic dates that the rest of the world holds as significant, doesn't rub off unless you are part of that bigger society. The vibrant festivities that once adorned our calendars now seem to fade into the background, eclipsed by the everyday demands of a simplified lifestyle. St. Patrick's Day nearly slipped unnoticed this year, with the flag raised only after breakfast, a gentle reminder of cherished tradition fading into the background. Yet, as we approach Mountain Man's 62nd birthday on the first day of spring, I feel a spark of creativity rekindling. Whether a plan comes together or not, all…

My son turns 36 today, and I can’t help but reflect on what a remarkable age it is. It’s a time when one possesses a profound understanding of life, paired with the energy and time to chase dreams. Yet, as I ponder this milestone, I realize we’re not in the same world that existed even a few decades ago. The whirlwinds of change have swept through our lives, and we often find ourselves living outside the grasp of mainstream culture. This is why I chose to venture into the wilderness—to escape the relentless tide erasing the traditions and values I hold dear. Out here, among the trees and the whispers…

It was relaxing to organize all my seedlings and watch with excitement as they started to sprout. The feeling of getting down to your last few prized heirloom tomato seeds you acquired from halfway around the world - all because you somehow missed collecting that variety of seed from last year, can be daunting! Needless to say, when that tomato seed finally germinates - I feel more at ease. However the stress of it making the journey from seedling to full blown fruit producing tomato plant, is a challenge I don't mind taking on - I think that's half the excitement of gardening! I know some of you think planting…