Our cottage getaway was a mix of hands-on technical work and genuinely relaxing downtime — and honestly, that balance made it all the more memorable.

Day 1: Setting Up the Network

On our first day at the cottage, I spent the afternoon tackling an essential task: installing all the access points and wireless bridges, and replacing the old non-weatherproof cables with fresh wiring. It was a full network setup job, but I wanted to make sure our internet connection would be solid, stable, and reliable for the entire stay. A little prep work upfront goes a long way when you’re relying on connectivity out in the country.

Day 2: A Melted NanoStation and a Quick Fix

On the second day, I noticed the NanoStation had gone offline. After some investigation, I found the device had been irreparably damaged — most likely from an electrical surge, as the connector had actually melted. I got straight to work replacing the Cat6 cable, installing a new connector, and swapping in a replacement NanoStation. Once everything was back up and running, the connection was completely stable for the rest of the trip. Sometimes troubleshooting in the field means rolling up your sleeves and improvising — but there’s real satisfaction in getting it sorted.

Evenings Well Spent

Despite the technical hiccup, the evenings were genuinely lovely. I enjoyed spending quality time with Jasmine — we watched movies and TV shows, cooked meals together, and took a peaceful walk as the sun went down. We even treated ourselves to a well-earned cheat-day dessert while soaking in the relaxed vacation atmosphere. It’s amazing how much a slow evening at a cottage can recharge you.

Day 3: The Beach That Wasn’t — and the Trail That Was

On our last day, we set out to find the beach — but the adventure took an unexpected turn. We wandered a little off course and ended up at a “No Trespassing” sign, which was a clear cue to turn back. We never did make it to the beach, but we discovered a scenic trail along the way and enjoyed a quiet walk through some beautiful natural surroundings. Afterward, we strolled back to the hotel before heading to the cottage by car. Sometimes the detours end up being the best part of the journey.

No Trespassing sign at the end of the trail during our cottage getaway
No Trespassing sign at the end of the trail during our cottage getaway
Scenic trail walk during cottage vacation
Scenic trail walk during cottage vacation
Beautiful scenery along the cottage trail
Beautiful scenery along the cottage trail
Cottage getaway landscape and nature views
Cottage getaway landscape and nature views
Peaceful walk near the cottage
Peaceful walk near the cottage
Cottage vacation sunset and evening views
Cottage vacation sunset and evening views
Lake view at the end of the trail with no beach access
Lake view at the end of the trail with no beach access

Already Planning the Next Visit

Missing the beach was a small disappointment, but the trip was full of great moments all the same. We are already looking forward to coming back — and next time, we are definitely making it to that lake for a swim!