The air was cool and crisp as we made our way down the trail. The fallen leaves had formed a thin blanket over the terrain, hiding all the rough features and giving the illusion of a plush surface. It was calm and peaceful as we rode our machines through the bush, as if the noise of the busy summer had finally been laid to rest. The brightly coloured orange, red, and yellow leaves danced all around us, and you could smell their aroma as the leaves were stirred up with excitement from our ATVs. Fall was exactly what I needed.

Gotta love the colours when out on the trails this time of year

We stopped for a trailside lunch on the rocky shores of Lake Crotch, and a more picturesque location could not have been found! Art had a small fire going in no time while the ladies unloaded all the food. On the menu there was roasted sausages, potato salad, and squares for dessert. We huddled close to the fire, soaking in as much heat as we could to warm our cold hands.

Lunch pit stop with a full high-def view of mother nature!

Back on the quads with full bellies, we headed toward the small City of Elliot Lake. With a population of nearly 11,000, Elliot Lake is large enough to attract most of the amenities you find in a larger city but small enough to have that "small town" feeling to it. Elliot Lake burst onto the map in 1955 with the discovery of uranium and at one point was dubbed the "uranium capital of the world." We entered Elliot Lake through a trail that led us directly into the back of a Tim Horton's parking lot—time for a coffee to warm up!

Welcome to Elliot Lake

Much to our surprise, the clouds cleared up and the warm rays of sun lit up the afternoon sky. Back onto the machines, we turned north and made our way back to the lodge for the final stretch of our ATV. The bright colours of the leaves radiated against the deep blue sky. Riding an ATV offers much more freedom compared to a SxS and I was enjoying being able to stand up and move around on the machine. I must admit I felt a bit naked without my five-point harness and roll cage, but riding a quad felt much more freeing and offered more of a connection with my surroundings. 

Soaking in the sun and the last of the journey

Rest & Relaxation

We rolled back into Dunlop Lake Lodge just in time to head down to the water and take in a beautiful sunset. After snapping a few photos, we went inside for our supper.

The closing of an adventure to remember

I ended up ordering the fish and chips and let me tell you... easily the best I've ever had! Hand battered and deep fried fish along with handmade French fries. And then to top things off, out came all the homemade desserts—simply amazing!

You've got to try the fish and chips

After we finished supper, the ladies headed back to the cabin for some well-deserved pampering. Massages and pedicures were on the agenda for the night, along with some snacks and a calming fire in the wood stove. Art and I stayed back in the lodge, chit chatting about the great ATV ride and looking over the pictures and videos we captured from the day.

Time to really unwind

To me, fall has always represented a season of slowing down, reflection, and a chance to get out into nature to enjoy the beauty. It was nice to have a getaway weekend with a slower pace than the usual hustle and bustle of the busy summer months. Our huge thanks go out to Mukwa Adventures and Dunlop Lake Lodge for a fantastic fall weekend!