Thursday, August 4, 2011

July 25th - Aug 5th: Georgian Bay and North Channel

When last we updated, we were in a place called Byng Inlet on the Georgian Bay.  The routine for the last two weeks has been several days of anchoring in some wonderful little bays and coves, followed by a day or two in a marina to load up on water and re-charge batteries.  We have moved from east to west finishing the Georgian Bay and have now entered the final leg of our Canadian voyage, the North Channel.

From Byng Inlet we moved into a nice little bay known as Sandy Bay, since there were several nice sandy beaches to take the Boyz ashore.  Sandy Bay was protected on three sides - north, east and west.  Unfortunately, we got some pretty strong winds from the south and the long fetch of the bay made for an uncomfortable evening.  Moving on the next day, we traveled to Tie Island in the Bustard Islands chain where the girls (Teresa and Bonnie Burke) did some serious kyaking.  From there it was through Collins Inlet, a pretty narrow passage with high rock walls on either side.  The pictures will not do it justice - you really need a panoramic view to get the full effect of the passage.  There was a georgous anchorage named Keyhole Island at the end of Collns Inlet where we stayed for a couple of days before moving onto Killarny.

Killany marked the end of the Georgian Bay and the beginning of the North Channel.  We spent a couple of nights at the Sportsman Inn marina, an OK place but nothing to write home about.  Killarny did have a fish and chips place (an old School Bus) that was absolutely excellent.  Would you believe lunch there 2 out of 3 days?

From Killarny we moved onto Covered Portage Cove.  This was by far one of the nicest anchorages of the trip.  A small cove surrounded by granite walls.  Teresa, Bonnie Burke and I took a hike to the top the morning of our departure and got some birds-eye view pictures.  From there it was a couple of days at anchor just outside of Little Current, our present location.  We will spend two days here before moving on.  Right now it appears we will re-enter the US sometime around the 10th of August and begin our trip down Lake Michigan toward Chicago.


Bonnie and Charlie as we prepare for a night on the town


Going out to dinner at Byng Inlet

Not for the faint of heart

So Charlie - What am I going to do about the Chocolate one??

Shipmate - I know it can be tough, but he is your brother and you
can get into a lot of trouble doing something like that. 

Bonnie and Teresa kyaking through Tie Island



Tie Island anchorage at sunset

SONATA at anchor

The men doing their business ashore

GREAT ESCAPE at Tie Island




Going into Collins Inlet

Collins Inlet


Enough room to meet another boat, but not much to spare


Bonnie and Charlie coming to GREAT ESCAPE



The Loon family

Keyhole Island at Collins Inlet

Keyhole Island


Taking the Boyz for s sunset cruise

GREAT ESCAPE at Keyhole Island


Entering Killarny


Sportsman Inn Marina

Rules of the Road applay to him as well

Boats "Med mooring" (an anchor off their bow and a rope tied to a tree
ashore) in Covered Portage Cove

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to hike we go!!


A view from the top at Covered Portage Cove

That tiny little spec down on the water is Charlie
trying to take our picture


There he is !!
                                      


Looking west from the top of Covered Portage Cove

Bonnie at the summit

Teresa looking for the wise one at the top

She found the wise one !!!

Sheer walls at Covered Portage
   

Sunday, July 24, 2011

July 18th-July 24th: Georgian Bay

Wow!!  Two updates within a week.  Yes, we are in another marina that has Wi-Fi.  We are now in the Georgian Bay, about halfway across.  The last week we were at anchor with friends Margaret and David Tovell.  They shared many of their favorite anchorages with us and they were all beautiful.  Great swimming and time together.  We had to leave them yesterday at Parry Sound, one of the larger communities on the Bay, where we continued on and they made their way back to their marina in Honey Harbor.  We moved on to Byng Inlet (you can see our location at
http://greatloop.org/mod/aglcalocator/membermap.php?id=4500) where we rejoined Bonnie and Charlie Burke.
   
The Georgian Bay is known as the "Land of Thirty Thousand Islands" - and we have pictures of them all! Many islands, some large, some small; some inhabited with cottages, some barren.  It is a beautiful area that provides wonderful boating as long as you are not scared off by some of the very narrow passages between rocks that must be navigated to gain access to the anchorages.  The water can be surprisingly warm (as you will be able to tell by the pictures) and is crystal clear.

The Boyz have been good with a few exciting adventures to include Mufasa's near encounter with a Canadian rattle snake, but that is too long a story. Enjoy the pictures.


The Tovells with us during some sightseeing


Byng Inlet Lighthouse

Port Au Baril Lighthouse.  We had to go out into the main part
of the Georgian Bay because the small boat channel was too narrow
in this section for GREAT ESCAPE.


Typical cottage in the Georgian Bay

We get to see all modes of water transportation

Someone looks intent;someone looks bored


This is Henry's Fish camp, a fish restaurant located on an island
in the middle of the Georgian Bay (We stopped last time and
were disappointed - Jimmy Carroll's fish fry is better)

Dave Tovell - the Chef

A man shouldn't drink alone


Margaret Tovell in Parry Sound

Another Georgian Bay lighthouse

PANACHE V - The Tovell's home away from home in the summer

Another cottage

A typical narrow passage in the Georgian Bay

No need to cut grass at this cottage

Everyone in the water




Relaxing at anchor

Which way do I go ??


Teresa and Margaret.  I told you the water was warm

The Boyz relaxing


Watch PANACHE V disappear around this little passage



Around the rock

Out at last

Do you think they want you to go slow through here?
                                     


This is the kind of scenery in the entire Georgian Bay