Bob Bates and Barry “Baz” Payne are taking the trip to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first flight around the world. The two departed in a single-engine monoplane from Papua New Guinea on June 1. So far, their excursion has taken them through Japan, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, a handful of islands in the North Atlantic and into Canada. They took off from Happy Valley-Goose Bay in central Labrador on the morning of Aug. 30 and landed at the Muskoka Airport midafternoon.

“The flight to Muskoka was one of the best flights that we have [had] so far,” they said on their blog. “There were no clouds and it was a very smooth flight. It was 900 miles to the south west of Goose Bay and we arrived on schedule at 2:15 p.m.” 

The Muskoka landing was orchestrated with Bruce Hodge, a local cottage owner and a longtime friend of Bates. Hodge founded a Toronto-based travel company called Goway Travel and works with Bates to offer tours in Papua New Guinea.

After doing some interviews with local media, the pilots went with Hodge and his wife Claire to their cottage on Lake Rosseau. They all went out for dinner at Windermere House before settling in at the cottage for the night.

“They met us on the apron as we exited the aircraft after landing at Muskoka, and, gave us the best rooms in their cottage,” they said. “They fed us well and gave us many cups of tea. It was really a relaxing couple of days for us, we needed it, and for this we will be eternally grateful to the Hodges.”

Saturday was a no-fly day for them, so they spent the morning catching up on emails and updating their website. After that, they spent the afternoon on Lake Rosseau with the Hodges, exploring the area on a pontoon boat. 

Bates and Payne said the Hodges were the perfect hosts for their two-night stay in Muskoka. On Sunday, the two men set out for Plattsburgh, New York on their way across the US to Seattle.

“From there, we will pickup the 1924 route through Alaska, along the Aleutian Islands chain to Kamchatka and complete a full circle back at Kagoshima,” they said. “We aim to arrive back in Mount Hagen on 28th September, the same day the two Douglas Air Cruisers landed back at Seattle in 1924.”

Four Douglas Air Cruisers operated by the US Army Air Service left Seattle on April 6, 1924. Two of the airplanes crashed, leaving one crew to brave the elements in Alaska for six days before finding an abandoned cabin. The other crew was picked up by the US Navy after their plane went down in the North Atlantic. 

A cheering crowd greeted the remaining crews in Seattle 175 days after their journey began. Bates and Payne aren’t flying the exact route of the first world-traversing flight, but they are retracing parts of the original flight path. 

They also have handcrafted monkeys made by Paynes’ wife Sandra to keep as mascots – a nod to the stuffed spider monkeys carried by the original crews. They each have one with their names on the back, and Bates’ monkey companion can be identified by its bushy eyebrows.

The combined age of the pilots is 161 years, amounting to 105 years of pilot experience. Bates and Payne are both members of the United Flying Octogenarians (UFO), a US-based organization with over 1,800 members. Meeting other pilots like them is part of what drove them to hit the skies for 100 days.

“[Four] of its members are over 100 years old,” they said on their blog. “We hope to meet fellow UFO’s at a number of towns during our flight and encourage pilots to keep their ratings current no matter how old they are.”

To learn more about their journey, visit Bob & Baz’s Flight Blog.

The post Octogenarian Pilots Visit Muskoka During 100-Day Trip Around The World appeared first on Muskoka411.

The property was purchased on April 15, 2023, by a group of investors and will be managed by the B Hospitality group based in Cambridge, Ontario, which also manages two other hotels.

Windermere House will continue to operate as a 58-suite hotel and resort with a wide range of amenities, including an on-site restaurant and pub with live entertainment. Where it previously operated on a seasonal basis, its owners plan for it to be open year-round.

“Our intention is to uphold Windermere House’s vibrant history, restoring its lustre and improving on its operations,” said Joe Hall, Vice President of Sales at B Hospitality.

“We are excited to offer guests an exceptional experience at the property with luxury suites and amenities, and expertly crafted food. We are also community-minded and intend to build partnerships with local businesses and organizations wherever we can.”

Each member of Windermere House’s new ownership group belongs to the senior leadership team (some are co-founders) at Skyline Group of Companies, an $8.2 billion firm based in Guelph, Ontario. Skyline Group of Companies purchases, manages, develops, and offers investments in various real estate portfolios (multi-residential, industrial, and retail) and clean energy assets.

As part of that firm, the owners have more than 30 years of experience in property management, redevelopment, and rejuvenation. This includes the restoration of downtown Guelph’s historical Gummer Building, circa 1870, after it was destroyed by fire from a neighbouring building, as well as a circa-1910 convent-turned-apartment complex in Haileybury, Ontario. Both properties received awards for their redevelopment.

“It’s the people and the teamwork that allow us to take on a venture and see it excel,” said Martin Castellan, Co-Founder & Chief Administrative Officer, Skyline Group of Companies.

“The B Hospitality team is fully engaged and excited about the opportunities to create amazing guest experiences at Windermere House, using the lessons they have learned in their 16-plus years in hospitality. Our goal is that this hotel and resort remains beloved and one of those special places to go: be it for a pint on the patio, dinner on the terrace, a weekend wedding, or a corporate retreat. Whatever the occasion, the setting is something special.”

The property evokes a deep sense of nostalgia for residents and cottage owners on Lake Rosseau and the surrounding township.

“The building’s ownership group all have small-town roots themselves and understand the nostalgia and pride that this property brings to people who live and vacation here,” said Hall.

“Windermere House is a Muskoka icon, and it will be treated as such. They are passionate about preserving the integrity of its historical features and intend to breathe new life into the property.”

“On behalf of Council, I am thrilled to welcome the new ownership group and B Hospitality to Muskoka Lakes,” said Mayor Peter Kelley.

“Windermere House is a renowned historic gem in our Township, and I am pleased to hear the new owners plan to foster relationships within the business community to enhance the overall well-being of the community.”

The “Lady of the Lake,” as the Victorian-style property is nicknamed, first operated in 1870 as a boarding house. It was almost entirely destroyed by fire in 1996 while it was being used as a set for the Hollywood film The Long Kiss Goodnight. It was immediately rebuilt with the original design replicated, and opened the following year.

“The question I get the most frequently is ‘When will the pub re-open?’” said Hall.

The hotel and restaurant officially re-opened on May 25, and the pub will follow on June 3.

The rest of the grounds will officially re-open on June 19.

The public is invited to attend the property’s grand opening ceremony on June 21 starting at 3:00 PM in the Islandview Room.

Windermere House is accepting hotel and event reservations and job applications for the 2023 season. For more information, visit WindermereHouse.com.

The post New Owners Of Windermere House Plan To “Breathe New Life” Into Property appeared first on Muskoka411.