Big Tracks Guestbook: Cabin #4

Oct 21-23, 2021

Dear Big Tracks,

Thank–you for a great stay-cation! Just what we needed – not too far from the city but all the cozy comfort of the countryside. Beautiful leaves on the trees this year. Having the wood for the fireplace delivered to the door was just great! We could not believe all the howling we could hear out in the woods. And leading up to the full moon too! Beautiful, mournful, and made sure we stayed inside at night. Will recommend! Thanks!

Stan & Belinda Winbourne, Mississauga

Oct 8-15th, 2021

Big Tracks,

Stayed the week of Thanksgiving – beautiful colours on the trees. The forest feels magical during the day and eery at night. All adds up to enchantment! The shuttle service to dine in the lodge was great. Thanks for making our stay comfortable.

Brianne & Yev, North York

Sept 23-25, 2021

Big Tracks,

A darling little cabin in the woods! As an interior designer, I must compliment you on your tasteful selections of fabric and colour. We felt very cozy next to the fire and loved the wood delivery. Thanks for a great weekend!

Talia & Paul Romanov, Toronto

September 14-16th, 2021

Big Tracks,

Thank you for the warning about keeping our dog inside at night. On our last night, we could hear an animal outside the cabin. It sounded big. I could not see anything out the window, even with the light of the full moon, but we could hear something huffing outside the door, smelling for poor Charlie the teacup poodle. Next time, Charlie can stay at home! Great spot. Creepy woodland animals.

Best,

Conner, Kara, and Charlie, Prince Edward County

Sept 3rd, 2021

Big Tracks Cabin 4,

This guest book really got my imagination going! Fated for the wildest ride because I started at the end! What fun, indeed! This place has magic to it for sure. A space where legend lives! We needed a romantic getaway and that’s what we got. Big fan of the jacuzzi tub!

Thanks,

Shelly Bicrombe and Mitch Ford, Toronto

August 26-28, 2021

Dale and Everett,

We heard the wolves howling on the first and third night – beautiful and eerie – the second night, the one with the full moon – the forest was extra dark and spooky by contrast, and it was silent. Us city folk can find a deep silence disturbing at times. A little too cool and damp to stay out past nightfall, anyways. The roaring fire took the chill off me. We went to bed during the silence and awoke to find big tracks (now I know where you got the name from) all around the cabin! Quiet (and large!) wolf neighbour you must have here. Yikes!

Stay safe,

Janet and Dave Wilcox, Toronto

Aug 14-20, 2021

Big Tracks,

Good and fun people do still exist! Thanks for the laughs, Dale, Everett! I stayed here a week to work on my manuscript and I was able to get in a good amount of writing time, plus time to enjoy the fresh air and the great hiking trails. The cabin is comfortable and well appointed. I will be back – avoiding the full moon, to be sure.

Thanks,

Betty Warne, Scarborough

August 5-8, 2021

Dear Big Tracks,

My wife and I stayed at the cabin in celebration of our 20th wedding anniversary. We enjoyed the two-person tub, the wood-burning fireplace, our meals at the lodge, (not to mention being chauffered back and forth by Everett in the golf cart!) and the bed was surprisingly comfortable. I don’t think you have to warn people to stay out of the woods at night – it has a foreboding aura about it, the darkness I suppose. You have won us over with your hospitality and we will be back!

Thank you,

Chrisopher & Megan Cranner, Toronto

July 25-30th, 2021

Big Tracks,

Of course, we stay here the week of the full moon...terrifying. Any other time I’m sure this place would be picturesque, but there is something in the woods, I could feel it getting closer each night, loud at first, like wolves playing followed by howling. Then on Thursday, with the full moon, nothing. Absolute silence. How is that possible with so much wildlife around?!? My husband refused to acknowledge it but the silence kept me awake all night. Imagine that! I’m too easily spooked for stories of the Big Tracks Beast!!

Tonya and Craig, Cobourg

July 20-23, 2021

Dear Dale and Evertte,

Thank you for the wonderful accommodations. It was beautiful weather during our stay for outdoor activities during the day and drinks inside by fire at night. Very tranquil. Surprised to read all the fuss about local wildlife.

Thanks,

Gary and Camille Johnstone, Scarborough

July 15-17, 2021

Dear Dale,

Picture your best friend visiting your beautiful cabin for the first time and finding this evidence of your awesomeness. I adore everything about you. The cabin is perfect – that tub! I felt so, so comfortable here, thank you. I will head your advice not to stay during the full moon.

Undying love and support, your bestie,

Winnie Klein, Toronto

July 4-8th, 2021

Big Tracks Cabins,

Thank you for a relaxing week away from the city! Loved the property and felt very well attended to. The newly planted garden beside the woodshed looks beautiful! I will recommend this stay.

Cheers,

Charlotte Underhill, Toronto

June 27-July 3rd, 2021

Big Tracks,

I’m sure you are waiting to read what we will write here, given our experience. It wasn’t your fault the bear died outside the cabin, and you did your best to shield my wife and myself from any extra trauma experienced after finding it. A wild cat did that? Or the wolves we heard? It’s only that it happened silently, and during a full moon that still has us rattled. Maybe the stories are true? Aside from the one weird night and the bear thing the next morning, we actually had an enjoyable week. The weather was perfect! This cabin feels very safe and comfortable and Everett was always on time to take us to the lodge for meals.

Best,

Peter and Rishma, Thornhill

June 23-26th, 2021

Big Tracks,

Thanks for a great stay. Loved our dinner at the lodge and learning about the area from Everett. The Cabin is very cozy and having the firewood delivered to the door is great. The woods seem so dark all the time. Spooky!

Thanks,

Kelly & Ian, Etobicoke

June 13-17th, 2021

Big Tracks,

Happy few days spent here at the very cozy Big Tracks Cabin #4. We loved the romantic vibe. Thank you for the hospitality! Love the new garden by the woodshed but it looks like something has been digging in it, unfortunately.

Sharron and Bob, Etobicoke

June 9-12, 2021

Dale & Everett,

I saw some huge paw print tracks...really, really big. Around the woodshed, where the garden is being dug in. After reading the previous entry I thought I would make note of it. I don’t think your guests should be going out there for wood. And you should probably mention it if a wolf is about. Lovely place you have here, I do hope it’s not ruined by something unfortunate happening if other guests believe this to be some kind of joke.

Ray Dean, Toronto

June 2-5th, 2021

Big Tracks,

You come by your name honestly. All around the cabin and woodshed we see the most giant tracks! Had a great weekend hiking and soaking in the huge tub afterward. The trailhead closest to the cabin had been closed for property maintenance but, happily, reopened for our stay.

Thank you for your hospitality,

Grace & Don Turner, Port Hope

May 24th-31st,

Big Tracks,

My husband and I are the first people to stay in your new cabin. From the moment we arrived here I have been torn between being exceptionally comfortable inside and extremely uncomfortable outside. The darkness from the woods feels like it has eyes. The howling has a sad beauty to it but it became menacing to me when it all stopped last night during the full moon. Tales of the beast that named the property kept me awake all night, listening. Nothing. Imagine my surprise to see the tracks around the cabin! They were deep outside the bedroom like the beast was standing right there! Creepy enough on it’s own but then there seemed to be something big that died towards the back of the property. A mountain lion? A bear? It was covered when Everett shooed us past. I’m terrified and glad we are going home today. I’m sure you’ll have enormous success renting this beautiful cabin to people less easily spooked!

Take Care,

Bonnie and George Clouster, Richmond Hill

May 2021 – Opening of Cabin #4!

Dear Cabin #4 Guests,

We hope you enjoy your experience here at Big Tracks Cabins. We value your input and in addition to making an entry here, we hope you will give us a review on the Big Tracks Cabin Rentals website.

The woods outside the doors of Cabin #4 are darkened by legend and lore. There have been many sightings of the local ‘Big Tracks Beast’ - all around a full moon, beware! You will notice our calendars keep track of the moon cycles. I, Dale, as a writer, and former librarian, am hoping some of you might play along to keep the legend of the Big Tracks Beast alive. A little trick on those readers out there who do not open a book to the first page, an action which is my personal pet peeve. If your visit co-insides with a full moon, please mark your entry with a suspicious occurrence that might lead one to believe the beast still haunts these parts.

My apologies, now, to anyone reading who got caught in my literary trap! What fun fate has dealt you! Hope you enjoyed our collaborative efforts. Remember to always open a book to the first page!

Yours, in good humour,

Dale and Everett Collins

Big Tracks Cabin Rental

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Thank you for reading! This epistolary-style tale was crafted with the theme of 'twist of fate' for consideration in a 7-Day story writing challenge. I hope you enjoyed it.