Diaries of a Lodge Owner 

Hi folks and welcome to week 7 of Diaries of a Lodge Owner, this diary is really what is keeping me in tune with how fast time is flying by, it excites me and scares me all in one big rush! 

The Next 5 months proved to be a rollercoaster of emotion, there were times were I was unsure of what I was doing.  Early on in the process I involved a good friend of mine by the name of Mike Scace, he is an extremely smart individual and is involved with a large down town real estate firm.  If there was anyone that knew the value when it came to things like this it was Mike and he would tell me what he thought no matter what.  So with Mike acting as my agent, Andrew Gee another friend of mine and I we set off to see Chaudiere. 

We all met at a small bar in Mactier Ontario, it was a Saturday and we were going up for one night only, I had just fished a bass tournament over on Lake of Bays and had my boat in tow.  Well I can honestly say that for most of the drive including picking up the guys it rained harder than I had seen in a long time, but once we hit highway 64 things cleared right up.  We ended up being about an hour late and couldn’t find the boat launch and had Jerry Noel the owner waiting for us for who knows how long.  I had full intentions on dropping my boat into the water and had it backed down the ramp and almost off the trailer, when a harsh voice yelled “Hey, you’re not going to put that boat in the water are you?” I looked up to find it was someone from the lodge boat, I said “well ya, I kinda had planned to” the same harsh voice replied “I guess you don’t like that stainless prop too much then!” at that point I thought, I do like this stainless prop… a lot and replied “I have my GPS with the nav chip I should be fine” he replied back “No you won’t you should park it and come with me in this boat”  in no mood to argue and a little spooked by the thought of smashing my prop, I parked it and left all of my gear (Thousands) unlocked in the boat on his assurance that it was fine and jumped in the boat with him. 

The first thing I noticed was the boat we were in, it was a fairly new boston whaler it was a really nice boat, we talked a little but I really didn’t get a good feel for the man, I like everyone but things just weren’t starting off the right way. When we got to the lodge my first impression was a little mixed the docks were very nice the lodge had a nice cozy feel but I really didn’t love it.  Jerry offered us a beverage and he grabbed himself one as well, we talked but to be totally honest with you I was so tired I couldn’t keep my eyes open for the conversation!  Finally he showed us to our cottage and we turned in for the night.  But before we went to sleep we had a couple of drinks and I really got a good idea of what Mike and Andrew thought of the place.  They were really imprested, felt that it showed better than what they were expecting, and at that moment I remember looking around the cottage and thinking, what a nice cottage I could easily bring Mel and the kids here to stay a week, and that is saying something!  I think it was then that I realized it was the feeling from Jerry that was turning me off and not the lodge at all.  The next day we again talked with Jerry and after walking the property and looking in all of the buildings and cottages we run out of time to do anything else, we had lunch and headed out. But I have to admit that lunch of macaroni salad and a chicken wrap really was the best salad and wrap I ever had, memorable. 

We hoped into the Boston whaler once again and Jerry took us to the boat launch.  When we left neither one of us really knew how to read each other but it was what it was.  For me it was worth the trip to Chaudiere, I had a long chat with the boys on my way home and really felt that there was potential there, but a ton more work would need to be done. 

After about a week had passed, Mike called me he said that he had been in touch with the real estate agent representing Jerry.  He had been dealing him a lot and he felt that he was a very intelligent guy that knew the business well.  At that point Mike did something that I didn’t expect, he suggest that I take him on as my agent as well.  Again I was a little taken back with the thought and to this day if you asked Mike I’m sure he will remember the conversation and me being a little off for a split second.  A few thoughts went through my mind at lightning speed… Does Mike not want to represent me? Does he not have the time? Can I trust someone else to do this for me? How can this guy represent me and Jerry? And then I took a deep breath and re-focused and realized that Mike always has my best interest at heart, if he felt that this move would be in my best interest, than it is, in my best interest.  After all I trust and love the guy, so I asked him the name of the man who was going to be representing me and he said Brian Dykstra. 

Enter Brian Dykstra……….. 

Written by:

Steve Niedzwiecki

Chaudiere Lodge. 

Find a new installment every Monday evening. 

Ontario Fishing Lodge