We didn't feel like dealing with the commotion at the town docks, so zipped through the town and headed for Covered Portage Cove only a few miles away. Many boats anchor all the way into the cove but it is reportedly very weedy and crowded so we anchored just outside the entrance and took the dingy in.
Take a walk on the rocks out to the entrance and you can see the many boats at anchor and Killarney in the distance.
It was such a beautiful and calm day we decided to take the dinghy back into town for ice and some over-priced supplies. How many times have you seen a liquor store with it's own dock? Docking limited to 20 minutes of course.
I don't know if it is because we are in fresh water or not but we have seen lots of these aluminum boats in this area; many made by Stanley (same guys that make the really good thermos bottles?).
After a wonderfully calm night we left at 9:00 (slugs) and headed across Frazer Bay to Baie Fine, usually referred to as one of the few fjords in North America. It is fairly wide with white quartz cliffs that make it look snow-covered from a distance. There are lots of rocks but they are all charted as we wound our way up the fjord and into a very narrow channel (100' wide?) that ends in "The Pool", a twelve mile run.
The "pool" is completely surrounded by cliffs and totally protected from all weather. We took the dingy into shore and climbed up to Topaz Lake for a swim in the crystal clear waters. Beautiful spot.
We found it so warm that we hauled anchor in the late afternoon and moved back down the channel about a mile or so to get a bit of a breeze. That and the fact there was a small square-rigged training ship with a bunch of teenagers on board - somehow we figured it might not be a quiet night.
The ship "Play Fair" passed us in the morning as we were having breakfast but we caught up with them in the fjord.
Remember this wonderful warm, calm weather I'm telling you about because that is the last you will hear of that for days to come!
Left the fjord with Werner and Kathy slightly behind us and headed for the town of Little Current (named that way because of the current that can race through the narrow channel based on the winds from one bay to the other). There is a swing bridge, the only road to Manitoulin Island, and it opens only on the hour for 15 minutes. Couldn't make the 10:00 so we slowed down and hung around for the 11:00 opening, along with everyone else and their brother. Must have been 30 boats all together.
The bridge finally opens, slowly, and all these boats either escape Little Current or converge on it. Werner and Kathy wanted to get a slip, along with everyone else, and VHF 68 and the dock hands were going crazy; too much for us! We elected to pass on through and keep going!
Out through the town channel and then got our first taste of the west wind that seems to haunt the North Channel. Bouncy, a very rolly ride to an anchorage at Clapperton Island. Basically just a big round bay, no hills, no nothing. Spitting rain and dreary skies. But no waves (had to re-anchor to get further into the bay to avoid the roll). Winds out of the west at 15-20 knots with higher gusts.
We found Logan Bay on Clapperton pretty darn boring, didn't even take a picture so we moved on to the Benjamin Islands, supposedly the most scenic so far. Every morning at 9:00 there is a cruiser's net where a local gentleman gives the weather, the news highlights, and then boats check in with their locations; most days about 130-150 boats. Seemed like a large percentage of them were in the main anchorage of the Benjamin's.
So we picked out a small anchorage on the south side of South Benjamin Island. Looked good on paper and wasn't that bad. Only two other small "trailer sailor" boats with us.
Kinda close to the rocks and we learned a new word: "wrap around". That's when the waves from the crappy weather which is supposedly on the other side of the cliff, "wraps around" the mouth of the entrance and slowly, and constantly, rolls the boat from side to side. 15 hours later we had pretty much had it with the old "wrap around".
Enough of that. Part of the problem was that, after rolling for hours, when we went for a walk both of us were very unsteady on our feet, like two old drunks at nine in the morning. Walking up a steep rock was quite an event! So, haul anchor and move along the next morning.
Very rough going around the corner until we got in the lee and managed to make another 5.5 miles to another cove in Eagle Island. Drove right to the bitter end and dropped anchor. A bit of dinghy exploring, more weaving and stumbling about the rocks as we tried to walk and a beautiful full moon.
It's been 10 days since a marina and we need laundry, provisions, and a long, hot shower (at least I do!). So move another 11 miles to a marina in the beautiful town of Spanish, on the Spanish river (where else?).
Kind of a dinky marina but very nice, with great restrooms and laundry (four loads!), and very nice dock hands. Short bike ride into town (a wide spot on the Trans Canada Highway) with a small grocery store. We needed a break.
Here's a picture of Timmy taking a picture of the harbor from the lookout tower.
Next morning we got the boys to help us spin the boat around so we could leave without massive destruction and off we go.
Left Spanish about 9:00 headed for Beardrop, a very scenic anchorage. Nice easy ride but the clouds came in and we anchored just seconds before a rain squall hit us. No real winds but heavy rain. Rain stopped and went for a dinghy explore. (Forgot the damn camera as usual). Nice easy and protected anchorage.
Left the next morning at 6:00 headed for Blind River. Got about 5 miles and a fog bank rolled in but we managed to find a little cove in Turnbull/Bassett Island where we anchored and waited out the fog. It also gave us some shelter from the waves. Couldn't see a darn thing so no pictures again!
We waited an hour or so, the sun came out, and we had a decent ride to Blind River Marina. Waves increased on our bow, but remained doable. We radioed "Ariel" (Robert & Corrine) in Beardrop but were answered by "Time Out" (Mike and Gale) and told them conditions were fine. We are such pioneers! About an hour after we got docked at Blind River Marina, they all showed up! Soon followed by Sea Venture and a few others who heard us on the radio.
Biked into town on the loaner bikes, everything shut down because of the civic holiday. Spent two very windy days and nights there. Forecast was for reasonable winds (10-15) on Wednesday, the 5th of August, so a whole herd of us left for Drummond Island, Michigan in the U.S., first customs port where we have to check in. Lumpy uncomfortable ride for 35 miles and then it settled down for the last 10. Arrived at marina, tied up, customs/immigration lady showed up, took down pertinent info and left. That was it - not one question!
Welcome back to the United States, home of the Whopper and Wal-Mart. Next up - Lake Michigan.
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