But I’ve discovered that no matter where I am, or what I’m doing, people will ask me for directions. They’ll approach me on the sidewalk, pull over in their cars while I’m jogging, shout at me from across the street, and stop me on the subway train, in coffee shops, in hospitals, or in the middle of intersections. People will ask me for directions while I’m at the cottage, sitting on the dock or hiking in the woods, and, frequently, in weird places, such as the grocery store aisle (“Where is the cheese?”) or the gym (“How do I get out of here?”)

I have no idea why. My sister says it’s because I look incredibly bland and ordinary, and that makes people feel calm. Which is nice, I guess, except that I’m not good at giving directions. I couldn’t even tell left from right until age nine, I still have a hard time directing people to my own home, and quite frankly, I don’t feel confident about where the sun sets. (It’s still “in the West,” right?) So I usually give people incorrect information, or I can’t help them at all. Once, when I was about to successfully give someone directions, a homeless man sitting on a park bench took over and ruined the moment.

The bottom line is, nobody should ask me for directions, unless they want to know, “How do I get to Cottage Life?” And even then, I might not be able to help.

There are reasons besides price to look in fall though, says Haliburton broker Anthony vanLieshout of Royal LePage Lakes of Haliburton brokerage. “I’ve always felt that fall’s the best time to buy,” he says. Many of the lakes in his area are reservoir lakes, where water levels drop two to nine feet in the fall. “You’ll get to see the shoreline at its most visible, and see what the low water level is like. And with the foliage coming off the trees, you’ll see the cottage’s privacy level when it’s at its worst.”

Land O’ Lakes broker Chris Winney of Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty tips towards spring. “It’s wet,” she says. “In my experience, water is one of the worst enemies of a cottage, and in spring, you’ll get a good sense of how dry the cottage stays.” You’ll also see how water-laden the ground itself gets.

And what about winter bargain hunters? “I get nervous when people buy in winter,” says Winney. “You can’t see the shoreline, and unless you or the agent know the property or have good photos of the shoreline, it’s hard to know what you’re getting.”

Access isn’t the only issue when it comes to roads, though. Will the road to your cottage be plowed in the winter? Who pays for its upkeep? While some cottagers are lucky enough to have county or township roads that run right to their driveways, many cottages are accessed via private roads. Usually, the local cottage or road association—made up of the property owners who use the road—will assume care of the road, assessing members an annual fee for maintenance and, if the road is open in the winter, plowing. “We pay $125 a year to keep our lane maintained, insured and plowed,” says Chris Winney Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty. “It’s the best $125 I pay.” Note that in some areas, seasonal cottagers may be assessed a lower rate than those who use their properties year-round, though this isn’t always the case.

If you’re purchasing in an area where mining activity is likely, ask your lawyer to check to ensure that there are no mining claims staked on the property you’re purchasing, and see if it’s possible to obtain the mineral rights yourself. And while you’re at it, ask about native land claims—or rumours of claims—on the property you’re considering.

Another first: While he was away, Mitch encountered horses for the first time. Between the horses and the big hike in the snow, he’s a tired little guy.

Thanks for your recent comments on the blog. I love hearing about other cottage dogs, though Panache I was sorry to hear about your pup’s bad experience.

More next Tuesday.

Don’t miss celebrity chef, TV personality and grill guru, Rob Rainford on Saturday, March 31 at 12:30pm and 2:30pm.

Located in Hall 3.

Located in Hall 4.

Located in Hall 4A.

Located in Hall 3.