I recently spent a week at Matt and Penny’s cottage at Healey Lake and the consensus opinion was 12 thumbs up and six big, if exhausted, grins. Every cottage is unique and has its own merits, but, as I reflect on our time there, what stuck out most to me was the authentic and genuine kindness, helpfulness, courtesy and consideration offered by Matt and Penny. They make a concerted effort to ensure you get the most out of your time there. By no means intrusive, they make it clear that they’re always available when needed – and to me, that matters.
Two notable items to be aware of. First, if constant internet access is necessary, as it is for some, be prepared to use your own cellular connectivity. The cottage does have internet, but its sporadic, and the provided connectivity is metered. Not an unreasonable safeguard given the recent explosion in data usage. Second, provision wisely, as Parry Sound is 90 minutes roundtrip. There are a couple of marinas nearby that have some basic items, including liquor, but little more.
Pictures really don’t do this cottage justice, and when you step inside the great room for the first time and look around, you begin to appreciate the effort that went into building it, finishing it, and furnishing it. A well thought out blend of rustic and modern design concepts that really define its character. Matt has some great stories about the build and I encourage anyone interested, as I was, to ask him about it. The living room is expansive and open, centered around the fireplace, but there’s also a breakfast/work nook adjacent to the kitchen which is great for quieter endeavors.
The dock is well made, has plenty of seating, and a breathtaking view. A provided 2 person kayak served as our primary mode of transportation for fishing and general exploration efforts, but the show stealer – according to my 5 year old nephew – was the epic water trampoline just to the right of the dock. If you think its just for kids, think again. As for fishing, you wont be disappointed. From the dock, I pulled in plenty of small
and large mouth bass and about a dozen walleye. From the kayak things get more interesting. I landed a few sub-trophy walleye jigging in and around the many coves and landed a beautiful pike trolling with a spinnerbait & chaser.
There’s so much more to write, but I’m out of characters, so I’ll close by simply thanking Penny and Matt for opening their cottage to us, and being generous and gracious hosts.
Cheers.