We left the marina at Midland early on July 21st and headed north to our first introduction to the narrow route past Beausoliel Island to a small cove called Frying Pan Bay.This is a popular anchorage with several State Park docks that were already full of boats so we anchored.
Nice little spot with a YMCA camp around the corner - got swarmed by a bunch of kids in canoes having a great time.
Werner and Kathie showed up later (they had just gotten through the last lock on the Trent) and we went for a hike around a small inland lake.
Nice spot and only got lost once!
We stayed there two nights enjoying the peaceful cove and then headed off toward Parry Sound, home of Bobby Orr, the hockey legend. But first we passed the "world famous" Henry's Fish House on Frying Pan Island. Apparently folks stop here for the 'fantastic' whitefish and pickeral dinners, They even have fly-in tours from Parry Sound on seaplanes to enjoy Henry's. All the loopers we talked to said it was mediocre at best so we took a pass!
After Henry's we took the South Channel up to Parry Sound, past some new construction of another "cottage" on their own island.
Under bridges and one swing bridge before Parry Sound that only opened on the hour - made it there with only seconds to spare!
Spent the night at Parry Sound, Went to the Bobby Orr museum, liquor store (again!) and had dinner out on the town. Whoopee! Off early the next morning through the "hole-in-the-wall", a very narrow channel.
Past Killbear Point and a cleverly disguised cell phone tower - it had us wondering how come there was only one tall tree.
And even more narrow channels - this is the entrance to Canoe Channel which the guide book says is not suitable for vessels more than 40' long - thank heavens we're only 36'!
Out into the channel surrounded by rocks,
And then back into the small vessel channel and the historic lighthouse at Point Au Baril with a small museum. Of course there was no where to anchor and the only dock was about 15' long.
Left the channel to get diesel in Bayfield. Got several hundred liters and then saw the price: $1.69 a liter! Just about had a heart attack! Managed to knock him down to $1.40; still way too much but I can live with it.
Anchored in a cove near there and practiced throwing lures in the water.
Off early the next morning (Werner and Kathie following us) and had a mix of everything - open water around Hangdog Bank, lost the GPS in the rain part of the time (do you remember how to navigate?), through squiggly narrow channels to finally arrive at an anchorage in the Bustard Islands. Beautiful spot and great for exploring in the dinghy. Bustard Islands are off the mouth of the French River.
We even saw a very large water snake curled up basking in the sun (me without the camera of course). There are Massassauga rattlesnakes here so you do tend to tread lightly.
Off early the next morning (sunrise) across 20 miles of open water and then into Beaverstone Bay and Collins inlet.
Past some 'quaint' cottages on the rocks,
some on a hilltop,
some spifffy, and
some where, unfortunately, an architect got involved.
And one stretch of rocky islands that had three lighthouses!
Collins Inlet has a very narrow entrance and is almost 17 miles long - some of the most protected and pristine water we have seen so far.
And beautiful stone cliffs on either side.
Stopped just short of the end of the inlet to anchor for the night with several other boats ("Sea Venture" and "Just In Time"). Went for a dinghy ride and hikes on the rocks around the anchorage.
Off the next morning after a breakfast of blueberry pancakes (we had picked the blueberries yesterday) and across flat calm waters through Killarney and into the beginning of the North Channel. We had enjoyed some really great anchorages, beautiful calm weather and wonderful scenery. It's no wonder Georgian Bay is such a popular cruising area and "cottage country".
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