We (I) just love anchoring

We left Killarney mid-day on Sunday and made the short but scenic ride over to Mill Lake via Collins Inlet which is one of our favorite rides. Our anchorage was straight forward and after trying my hand at fishing again but with no luck this time we settled in for a peaceful night’s sleep. The next day we awoke to rain which lasted most of the morning and afternoon and which caused us to change our anchorage destination for Monday night due to limited visibility. Our stop on Monday was in the scenic Bustards Harbor where we were in the company of just two other boats. The lack of boats has been the trend this year and speaks volumes to how people are being impacted by the economy.  Our route on the chart is as follows (red=leg 1, green=leg 2, yellow=leg 3, and orange=leg 4).

We awoke on Tuesday to clear skies but somewhat windy conditions. Not leaving until noon I spent the morning chasing a pair of Loons around the bay hoping to get some good shots which I did as you can see. After that we made the short five mile jaunt over to the Bad River where we spent the next two nights. I really tried hard at the fishing again but came up empty again. We will go back there in a week or so, however, and I’ll be armed with right lure this time.

Bad River anchorage

Bad River sunset

The Bad River is one our new favorites because of the variety of places to explore. This year the famous Devil's Door rapids were flowing a bit too fast for us to try to shoot them with our dingy like last year.

Our two nights in the Bad River were blustery but we departed on Thursday to light winds and very calm conditions for our 27 mile trek down the small craft passage to Byng Inlet. This is a navigational exercise with amny passages like the narrow spot at Rogers Gut.

We had dinner at the Little Brit Inn but were disappointed in the food and service over previous years. We will be off on Friday for points south as we head for Parry Sound. With all new anchorages ahead of us we expect to see some pretty places. We will post a new entry when we reach our next marina and Wi-Fi connection.

On to Georgian Bay

We will depart the beautiful Sportsman's Inn here in Killarney on Sunday headed back down the east shore of Georgian Bay and will stop at both new and familiar spots along the way. Having traveled the full length of the east shore before we will only plan to go as far south as Parry Sound before returning north again. Parry Sound is probably the biggest town on the east shore and has most amenities (Wal-Mart and McDonalds) found in most small to medium size towns.

We will update our trip log as we make our way down and when we reach civilization and Wi-Fi.

George Island death march

What you hike to (South Shore)

George Island and trail

As many of you know I had rather ride than walk although a stroll through a scenic spot is definitely open to possibilities. Today while in Killarney I decided (by myself) to tackle the 7.5 KM (5 miles) hike on the George Island Wilderness Trail which starts across the channel from the marina. It seemed easy enough since it was not a mountain and I figured it would be just a stroll in the woods. Well, four hours later I made it back and my knees and ankles are shot. I have never walked over so many roots and rocks in my life. I probably won't do it again as it was just not that spectacular unless you call roots, rocks, reeds and wet marsh exciting.  I did pass the wreck of an old ship that ended its life here some years agao. Here are a few shots that I took along the way.

Quiet bay

Old cabin

Pretty marsh

Another pretty marsh

There's always something new on every cruise - PART TWO

Could this be the invasion path?

Our second exciting first was when we discovered that we had a stowaway onboard in the form of a mouse (only one we hope). We're not sure how it got on board but it could have climbed down our shore tie line when we were anchored or came aboard at the dock in Little Current. I know it's a mouse because I saw it the first night at anchor in the cockpit but thought it scurried off the back of the boat into the water. On Thursday morning we noticed that some paper towels that were under our shoes on the floor appeared to be shreaded. Sheri also discovered that a small piece of my prized Mackinaw Island fudge had been eaten into as well as some hot dog buns so we knew we were the victims of a full mouse assault. Not knowing if the mouse returned to shore during the day, we went through everything that we had to determine if we had been violated further. Not finding any more damage we decided to secure those items in additional wrapping (zip-locs) to add more difficulty to the next assault. I also installed a makeshift critter guard on the shore line so that it would be foiled upon his return to the boat if that was the case. On Friday we woke up and everything looked pretty good except we found another food violation so this meant war. When we got to Killarney we picked up a couple of mouse traps that we will deploy in hopes of snaring the little beast during tonight's escapades. I might add that these are not the wimpy capture traps but the good old fashioned ones that will slam down and crush the little bastard's head.

UPDATE - After setting two traps on Friday night that were baited with peanut butter (local recommendation), I was like a kid at Christmas when I woke up on Saturday morning. With great anticipation I entered the main salon only to find the traps as I left them with no mouse in them. I will put them out again tonight in case he just wasn't hungry the first time. It could be that he did leave the boat during the day and is back in Mary Anne Cove waiting to climb on someone elses boat.

FINAL UPDATE - After setting traps for three nights we believe the mouse left the house (boat) when we left Mary Anne Cove. We will choose our shore tie locations carefully or avoid them all together in the future.

There's always something new on every cruise - PART ONE

Little Current - Baie Finn - Killarney

Leaving Little Current

Our departure from Little Current was later than usual but then again without crowds and longs days it does not matter. We made our first and only anchorage at a familiar stop in Mary Anne Cove at the beginning of beautiful Baie Finn. After making the 4PM draw bridge in Little Current we enjoyed the calm waters of Fraser Bay and the two hour ride over to the anchorage. When we arrived we found five other boats and decided to shore tie to the east side of the bay on the rock wall. This is usually a very popular spot and the remaining days saw fewer boats.

Having been freshly licensed to fish in Canada, I could not wait to get cranking. I started off from Florida and forgot the rod and reel that I've had for years (with very little use I might add) so I decided while we were still in the US to pick up an inexpensive beginner's combo in a Wal-Mart along the way. I also added a tackle box, a starter set of tackle stuff, and a nice filet set so when the time came to clean my first catch I'd be prepared. Well, when I whipped out my new gear I noticed that the reel had no crank (used for reeling in the big one). With no Wal-Mart nearby (only one place sells fishing gear in Little Current), I proceeded to buy a modestly priced reel which unfortunately was twice as much as the original setup. Anyway, I bought the new and better reel (more ball bearings), some new line (came with the other one), and some highly recommended lures that were a supposed to be a sure fire bet for these waters. Once we were situated in our anchorage, Sheri helped me wind the line on the new reel and after several tries trying to tie a knot on a swivel that would not slip I managed to get lucky and tied something that worked or at least I hoped it did since the lure I was going to use cost $10. All set, I tried casting a few times off the boat and that worked pretty well as I did know how to do that already. No bites at first but at least I was ready.

Lucky Bay

Day 2 we decided to try trolling but that did not work as I could not go slow enough in our Zodiac without the motor quitting. The next step was to find another spot that looked good so we went about a mile up the bay and found a good place to land the dingy. After we got out I started casting into a shallow area that I was sure was a good spot. Well, on the second cast I hooked a nice bass and was able to land it (with no dip net - next purchase) but unfortunately we did not bring the camera to capture the moment so you'll have to take our word for it. Anyway, I kept fishing and hooked five more but let them all swim another day. After my beginner's luck, I was addicted and needed to catch the big one.

Colorful fungus

The red tape marks the way

The view from Fraser Bay Hill

Jungle Sheri on the way down

Day 3 started with a climb to the top of Fraser Bay Hill but the urge to fish just made me want to get back to the boat and go back to what I had named "Lucky Bay" and this time bring a camera. We went to the same spot but the luck was not there and the only thing I hooked was a reed that would not let go and prompted me to wade in waist deep water to retrieve (it was only a $5 lure). I did catch one small bass and do have a picture to prove it. He went back in, however. We move up the bay to a less windy spot that looked similar. We dropped anchor (yes we have an anchor because any wind blows the Zodiac across the water like a leaf) and I started casting again. I could actually see the bass below the boat but could not get them to bite so I did what any good fisherman does and that's try a new lure. I went for the gold and installed the $10 special on the line and within a few tries I hooked a whopper. I fought him (turned out to be a her) for about 10 minutes before pulling it out of the water (remember, no dip net) and into the boat. Compared to the others I had hooked, this one was a keeper. With our one legal catch in our possession we headed back to the anchorage before the fish was too dead. I whipped out my new filet knife, sure-grip glove, de-scaler, and started scaling/cutting away. A bass is quite boney so I had to work carefully to actually have some meat left to eat. This was a nice sized fish so the end result was plenty for a meal. We refrigerated the filets and enjoyed them for dinner when we reached Killarney on Friday. A simple shake in flour, salt, and pepper and frying in oil in a skillet they were delicious. I don't know when I've had fresh water bass before but it was as good as we've had lately.

The BIG ONE!!

Retrieving snagged lure

No alarm clock needed in Little Current

Little Current

North Channel

As we sit comfortably at the dock in Little Current we are exposed to 12 hours of continuous "tap tap tap" from excavating equipment at the east end of the marina. Apparently the city is building a parking lot for the marina guest above the east docks and it will take moving a section of a hillside to do so. This area is solid rock and building anything is a challenge. The rock breaking begins at 7AM and ends at 7PM and apart from a few coffee breaks it is non stop.

Little Current waterfront

Tap Tap Tap all day

After a brief rain shower passes we will go grocery shopping and head out to a three night anchorage in one of our favorite spots at Mary Anne Cove at the beginning of the Baie Fin "fiord".

Back in civilization (so to speak)

After leaving our first Canadian port of call in Blind River, Ontario we headed out for the short hop to our first anchorage at Turnbull Island. When we arrived we were the only ones there until later in the days when another boat arrived. We had our traditional first anchorage steak dinner and headed out on a nice dingy ride around the series of bays and islands that make up this area. The next morning I went out on a solo dingy ride armed with my big camera in search of a waterfowl species, the Hooded Merganser, which I had seen the night before. These birds are fairly skittish and don’t allow very close encounters. What I did come across was a fabulous shot of a hen and her brood of ducklings as they tried to avoid me. These don’t fly yet but they can scoot across the water pretty quick. I did not see any male Mergansers. Attached are a couple of the shots I took.

After Turnbull, we proceeded on our next leg to another favorite spot at Longpoint Cove. The morning turned cloudy and we were once again the only boat in the quiet spot with the exception of a passing fisherman. We took another long dingy ride but did not spot any creatures along the shoreline. The next morning I spotted a Loon pair and proceeded to follow them in the dingy hoping to catch a close shot. Unfortunately, the morning was dreary and the light was not very good. I did catch a few glimpses as they would surface between dives.

Leaving Longpoint we headed 20 miles east to another familiar area but a new anchorage spot. On the way there we had to transit a narrow Little Detroit Passage which is always a treat as it only allows one boat at a time and you hope any oncoming traffic gives a warning that they are approaching. When we arrived at Hotham Island, we were only the second boat there. There is a nice cottage at the bottom of the bay and the cruising guide says that some of the friendliest cottagers in the area live there as most cottagers don’t like us cruisers. Well, that was a true statement and we were invited ashore, BYOB, for hospitality hour. The owners, a nice retired couple from Libertyville, IL, bought this spot a couple of years ago and live there six months a year. They have no utilities and rely on purified lake water for drinking. It’s a real slice of paradise if you don’t mind primitive.

After Hotham Island we headed east another 20 miles to another nice anchorage in Sturgeon Cove where about seven other boats were anchored. Our big event there was a nice sunset on the point at the entrance.

On the 4^th, we headed the short hop over to Little Current, Ontario where we will re-provision before heading out again on Tuesday for more days “on the hook”. Little Current is the "big" town in this area and sports two grocery, one drug, one hardware, two banks, and a state liquor store. There are also a couple of restaurants and place that serves pizza. We will be here many times this season as always.

Canada at last!!!

After parking our car in a storage building where it will stay out of the weather for the next six weeks we headed out around 11AM for our first Canadian stop in Blind River, Ontario. We will stay there only one night and head out for some anchoring before reaching the hub of the North Channel at Little Current, ON some time around July 6th.

After a windy but peaceful and sunny day (finally) we arrived in Blind River about 4:30 and immediately headed for the cash machine and grocery store to stock up on some perishables before heading out for three days of anchoring. It was fun seeing some old acquaintenances in the marina and dining in the newly reopened marina cafe. The current owners offer a good menu of locally caught whitefish which we tried and loved. In addition, I had my first taste (this year) of poutine (french fries w/gravy and cheese curds) to go along with the fish. If you have not tried it you don't know what you are missing. They actually offer this in the Costco snack bar in Canada. 

Poutine

Grilled Whitefish

We will be off the net for a few days starting 6/30 so we'll catch you up when we arrive at the next wireless hotspot.

Oh summer, where art thou?

Since arriving at Drummond Island we've been holed up once again waiting on the weather to break so we can start our passage to Canada. It looks like Wednesday will work and we plan to head off to our usual first stop in Blind River, Ontario and to see our pals Roy and Darryl who run the marina there. It's a quaint little town where we will stock up on Canadian money and pick up a few groceries. After that we plan to anchor for a few nights before making our way to the hub of the North Channel at Little Current.


The weather up here in the north woods has been downright not very summer like. Today it's 53 degrees and very windy and rainy at times. We used the two days at the dock to complete some planned maintenance and repairs and to just relax. We encountered cool weather at the beginning of our trip in 2009 and did not see it warm up until mid July.

Finally, the cruising can begin

We arrived in Drummond Island on Sunday afternoon and settled in for a couple of days before we head off to Canada. This is a neat place and is a popular vacation retreat for the summer months. I'm sure the winters are fun but I'll just stick with summer. There are a few more things that need tweaking on the boat before we leave and will involve a trip or two to the local hardware store. The island has a grocery store, a hardware store, an ice cream stand, a couple of gift stores, and a few restaurants. It's still early an most are not in full operation. The island itself is reachable by boat, plane, or your vehicle via a ferry.

Had a great sunset tonight.

Drummond Island Sunset

Saying goodbye to Mackinac Island

A passing ore carrier



Mackinac Island Light

De Tour Light