Wagon Wheel – CLRM Staff Review

In August 2021, I visited one of our Eastern Ontario area properties – Wagon Wheel!

Joined for the week by my husband, mom, brother, and 3-year-old son, Wagon Wheel offered the perfect traditional cottage setting for our summer vacation!

While we experienced a bit of a thunderstorm shortly after arrival, the rest of the week’s weather was perfect for cottaging – hot, humid and sunny!

With the cottage being atop a small hill, shaded by trees, inside never felt too hot or stuffy. But, down on the dock and in the lake, sunscreen was being reapplied hourly!

The Lake

Robinson Lake is a small, but gorgeous lake just 20 minutes or so outside Madoc.

Situated on a point, at the edge of wetlands, one side of the dock, down two steps, offers shallow entry with a sandy bottom. My son loved splashing around in this area and called the odd stone or shell he came across a “sea creature!”

The other side of the dock was where we spent the bulk of the week. Climbing into the lake using the swim ladder, the water felt warm and refreshing. Hours were spent with the family in floaties, every day, all week long!

My brother and I even re-created memories from our childhoods – when we swam out to the swim raft to jump in the lake!

Dock & Lawn

When we weren’t in the lake, we weren’t far away, our time was spent on the dock!

From morning coffee with the loons to Golden Hour with a glass of wine and appetizers – the dock was The Spot for the week!

But, when we needed a brief sun break, we would head up to the lawn for a game of Washer Toss or Bocce Ball. Although there isn’t a huge flat grassy area, it’s more than big enough to play a game of catch.

Deck

The deck was such an unexpected benefit of the cottage! Every evening when we headed back up from the lake, we would spend some time sitting on the Muskoka chairs to watch the sunset.

The outdoor fridge and countertop right by the BBQ, under the covered portion of the deck, offered the perfect spot to store extra food and beverages. While we didn’t experience much rain at the cottage, I’m certain this area of the deck would have been one of the spots to “hang out” in not-so-perfect weather.

Inside the Cottage

While outside is full of spectacular views and fun in the sun, the inside did not disappoint! Every detail has been thought of inside too – from entertainment to kitchen essentials & even bedroom configurations.

Since my son went to bed well before the rest of our family, I wanted to make sure he could sleep in peace and quiet while we stayed up playing cards. He slept in the bunk room, off the lower living room area, and he was never disturbed by our overly enthusiastic Euchre playing!

My husband and I took over the first bedroom, while my mom had the second, off the kitchen area. My brother stayed in the Bunkie, which he mentioned was a great size and very comfortable for sleeping. The cottage could very comfortably accommodate three couples and two children without feeling like we were living on top of one another.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have any dogs join us at the cottage this time. However, reading through the guest book, it was clear that dogs love this property just as much as their people! I’m already looking forward to bringing our newest furry family member, Mylah, along next time!