For various reasons, the least being the ever-increasing cost of a boat slip at Hunter's, and the numerous trips in inclement weather, the Workmanns decided in June of 1996 to sell their cottage.  

At the time, we had planned to then purchase a cottage with a year-round road.  Nary a buyer came to view the (water-access) cottage and during one of our frequent trips to the Woodhouse cottage for a chat and a glass of wine, we were asked why we were selling.  It was mentioned by Gwen and Jim that several others in the area had expressed a desire to be able to drive to their respective cottages.

Buoyed by this information, we decided to contact the various other cottagers on the point and get their views regarding the possibility of constructing a road.  Needless to say, there was widespread interest in this plan.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that although Jim and Gwen Woodhouse did not initially want a road, they indicated that they would not hinder our attempts to put one in.  We, as a group, owe them our profound thanks for this magnanimous gesture.

In August 1996 we attended the annual meeting of the East Bay Cottagers Association, and were able to see how this group conducted their business, as well as how they structured their annual fee income.  At this meeting, we met Barry Boice who expressed an interest in building a road for us.  Although we did not know it at the time, plans were already afoot to rebuild the road from the Boice-Bradley Road around Miller's Bay, opening up numerous lots for sale.

Early in September of 1996, several cottagers, namely Jim, Roger and the Long's joined us for a walk through the woods with Barry Boice.  Or should I say a walk through the underbrush and over fallen trees too numerous to count.  The goal was to find a potential road route.  It sounds like a walk in the park, but in reality we slipped and fell and stumbled our way around.  Roger, to his credit, kept getting up.  Way to go, Roger!  In the end, the route was determined by Barry Boice and his crew, who managed to find the proper way in, by coming from the opposite direction to what we had taken.

It wasn't until the latter part of March 1997 that Randall Munroe and I ventured up to Haliburton and met with Barry Boice again.  At this time, a "contract" was ironed out regarding the price of $50,000 plus GST, road quality, width, size of culverts etc.  We were on our way!

In April of 1997 we had our first pot-luck get-together at the Workmann home in Brampton.  The food and camaraderie were excellent.  We came away with the understanding that the road would become a reality after all, and not simply a pipe dream.

From May to August, no doubt quite a few cottagers were looking for the road construction.  By August, the main road was roughed in and progressing well.  Sometime during September of 1997, cottagers were able to drive in as far as Younker's.  Not long now...  By the end of the year most cottagers were able to drive to their cottages, or at least get reasonably close.

In November 1997, another well-attended pot-luck supper was held at the Workmann residence in Brampton.  Little did we know that the surveying costs alone would amount to over $10,000.

Another meeting was held at Woodhouse's to answer and get answers to the mandatory joining of the Miller Lake Road Association.  This was not envisioned when we first set out to have a road constructed.  Although negotiations were made with Barry Boice from the start, we were unaware that he did not in fact speak for the Boice family who owned the land. 

Apart from the continuing road maintenance, all that is left is obtaining the "Right of Ways" which is being looked after by Roger Romanat.  Hopefully we will be able to conclude this part shortly.

All in all, we got a fairly good road for a decent price, and I personally hope that everyone is enjoying the ease of getting to their respective cottages as much as Elaine and I are.  The exception might be David and Marguerite Long who had to build a "stairway to heaven" and are probably thinking right now that boating is not bad after all.

Bill Workmann, March 15, 2001