Kawartha Rivers Also Deliver an Authentic Waterfront Experience
Date: 09/16/2015
Some cottage buyers are becoming much more value conscious, and looking to rivers and smaller and more affordable lakes.
Rivers also deliver the soothing aesthetics of cottage country. Like lakefront, a riverside property can also fulfil your yearning for a slower pace.
And there’s no reason lakes should have a monopoly on waterfront fun. As rivers provide access to water, they are also conduits for water sports and recreational activities.
Nonetheless, it’s important to have a firm sense of your recreational needs to help you determine whether a riverside setting can meet them. In other words, you should know which water sports you and your family will want to enjoy before you start looking at riverfront properties.
If you enjoy travel on a large boat, a river may not be the best fit. Some rivers are too small to accommodate the hefty pleasure boats you’ll find on a large body of water like Balsam Lake. In fact, a river may not be able to handle anything more substantial than a canoe or a small outboard.
And if you love the idea of travelling from one body of water to another, a river may not be ideal. Some rivers aren’t passageways to other water bodies but a final destination on their own.
However, other rivers are navigable by larger vessels and connect boaters with nearby lakes. In this way, a river can be a bona fide water highway that provides access to well-known lakes.
A river-side cottage may not be your cup of tea if you adore sailing and sailing is infeasible. And if you’re an avid swimmer, make sure swimming isn’t restricted, and conditions are conducive to swimming in the stretch of the river where you plan to buy.
Currents and seasonal fluctuations in water levels can limit your use of a river or make it more attractive. For example, if you’re a white water enthusiast, certain swathes of the Gull River near Minden may be ideal for you.
Rivers deliver benefits
The “water is always fresh-flowing clean,” says a cottage owner on the Gull River
The constant water movement ensures there are virtually no weeds or algae
The speed limit is about ten kilometres per hour, a plus for those who dislike fast boats and the safety concerns they generate for swimmers
The current provides natural resistance, which delivers a swimming experience similar to a lap pool
Rivers often boast a lovely rocky bottom rather than a muddy one, and swimmers almost always prefer the former
Rivers are often far away from the bustle of boats, which offers a quiet and serene cottage setting
Depending on the size of the river, you may never witness mammoth, flashy boats – just canoes and small outboards, which may suit you just fine
Sheltered and peaceful rivers, like the Burnt River, are perfect waterways for novice canoeists
Given the strong market demand for lakefront cottages, you can purchase a riverside cottage at a significantly lower price point
The relentless flow ensures this waterway is always changing. Indeed, you never know what’s coming next. There could be a swimmer or a kayaker on the way
Rivers are exciting, and they always promise adventure
On some rivers, the water levels are consistently high and don’t fluctuate the way they can on feeder lakes
Rivers are inherently aesthetic. People love to watch the water flow or sit on their deck and visually follow a boat meandering down the river
They give you the chance to listen to the gentle sounds of water running or to take in the hypnotic sounds of the dancing rapids
They help you get to know your neighbours since it’s usually a short jaunt across the river
Well-known rivers in the Kawarthas
The Burnt River and the Gull River are popular recreational destinations. Many cottages dot the banks of these rivers.
We know many people with riverside cottages who relish every moment spent in their retreat. They are thrilled to own a cottage alongside a river and wouldn’t trade their setting for anything else.
In sum, rivers carry benefits. You just need to do your homework before you start looking to ensure a riverside property complements your recreational interests.
Quotes we like about rivers
“In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time.”
Leonardo da Vinci
“It is pleasant to have been to a place the way the river went.”
Henry David Thoreau
“'The River,' corrected the Rat. . . 'It's my world, and I don't want any other. What it hasn't got is not worth having, and what it doesn't know is not worth knowing. Lord! The times we've had together! '”
Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”
Winnie the Pooh
Photo courtesy of Padraic No Alterations Made - Creative Commons
