A Nice Day in North Bay

Bridge across Duchesnay Falls

North Bay was named based on its position vis a vis Lake Nipissing.  Boasting a population of just over 50,000 and an OHL hockey club, it has become far more popular as a place to live due to COVID as people were untethered from the need to be proximate to their workplace.   It also benefits from the price escalation in Muskoka pushing people further north for affordability.

Duchesnay Falls

Duchesnay Falls runs red with iron in the water.  Given its northern location, North Bay has lots of rock and forests.  Duchesnay is just one of those sites.  It boasts an easy hiking trail up the falls and back down.  You can stand on a rock in the middle of the falls and watch them cascade down around you on either side.  It is peaceful and beautiful.  You can hike for as little as 18 minutes or as long as an hour and a half.

In addition to hiking, the eating was good.  Marigold Restaurant offered up excellent Indian and Nepalese food.  My business partner and I enjoyed okra, butter chicken, chicken tikka masala and naan bread on the patio overlooking the water.  Excellent spices and abundant sauce made the meal delicious and enjoyable.

Marigold Restaurant, North Bay

Lake Nipissing is the third largest lake entirely in the province of Ontario.  Known as a vast and powerful yet shallow body of water, you cannot take a small boat out on the lake and feel safe.  It requires something at least 30 feet long because the waves are significant and an 18 foot aluminum boat will bounce around with the swells going over the craft itself.  My friend owns an island about 30 minutes from shore and getting there is a harrowing experience if you don't like the choppiness of the waves.  It is a mercurial body of water.  Fishing is abundant on the lake with walleye, bass, northern pike and muskie available for the taking.  It is 25 kilometres wide by 65 kilometres long but only 20 feet deep on average.  It is known as one of the best places for ice fishing in the world.

Lake Nipissing, Chris Hockley

It was a very nice day in North Bay.