Lily, A Dog's Life Aboard Moondance: Britt & Killarney, Ontario...a far, far way from Ireland

Britt, Ontario Wright’s Marina August 4 - 5, 2016

We took off with Chasin 80 leading us and Knot Sew Easy into Georgian Bay. A bit choppy and windy out here, but otherwise pretty. Mom is sitting with me down in the salon to keep me happy. Since the wind picked up, we did part of our run outside in the Bay and part inside snaking through the islands. Didn't get into the marina until almost 4:00 PM which is a late day for us...

Kevin and Bob are trying to repair Kevin's windlass, so we can anchor out again...If the weather stays as predicted we might stay here another day, due to thunderstorms on Mom's birthday tomorrow. Oh Well! I don't mind an extra day in because we sleep in and M & D aren't running around...Dad saw lots of interesting lighthouses on today's cruise and photographed them.

The marina is nothing to write home about, but as always the people here can’t do enough for you! Met some full timers “summer” boaters who have been staying here at this marina for 40 years. No restaurant around to tempt us, so M & D are cooking on board. Dad said we had our best meal yet, tonight; especially since he didn’t have to walk far to grill our steaks on a big grill. Heaven…they shared their meal with me too!

We went out after dinner and chatted with our looper buddies and others after dinner but before Looper Midnight, 9 PM. The locals are telling us we are about to enter the prettiest part of the Bay!

We all slept in this AM since thunderstorms and bad winds were predicted for this morning. Dad got me walked before the rain hit. Dad made mom breakfast and I got some bites too! Mom is doing laundry and trying to catch us up on our blog, but the signal isn’t very strong… She walked to the office to pay for another day. Although the rain never came, the winds were strong all day...When she explained that she needed the Internet signal boosted to send out my blog, they did what they could. People here are so helpful...

We all walked over to the Ice Cream on the Rocks for a sundae for Mom's birthday. Yum!

It turned into a beautiful, blustery day...Mom and I enjoyed hanging out on the flybridge watching the water traffic, reading and messing on the computer. Dad is trying to figure out our route and dates we have told people we are trying to be certain places...Found out we have to go into Drummond to go through customs.

Still struggling with Chasin 80's windlass, so we are going to the Killarney marina tomorrow in hopes we can get it repaired there. We are all looking forward to this one anchorage that has it's own rapids, but we all need to have our own anchors working for safety. Dad offered to make mom dinner, but think he will be doing the salad and her the rest.

Mom and I hanging out on the salon floor during the rough water

We never get tired of all the various styles of lighthouses

The ospreys were making this lighthouse served double duty

Pretty Point Au Baril Lighthouse where you can go in for a visit

Knot Sew Easy with the Point Au Baril Lighthouse

Docktails with Bob, Liz, Brandy and Jill

Kevin is enjoying his cocktails in the water

Wright's Marina

Liz crashing as it gets close to Looper's midnight

Mike and I celebrating my birthday on the nosebleed flybridge of Chasin 80

Ice Cream on the Rocks run by a Detroit women

A Camerican flag, who knew?

Moondance tucked in between the other boats

Lily's nose was a bit dirty thanks to her finishing our sundaes, who say's she has a hard life?

Killarney, Ontario Sportsman Marina August 6, 2016

We were so astounded by the clarity and turquoise beauty of the water as we entered Killarney…you can see so far down, it’s unreal. The town isn’t big by any stretch, but the good news it’s all along the channel coming in…We ended up on the island side of the town complete with a massive white screen in front of our dock for showing movies…sadly, the transponder was down so NO movies for us.

Instead, we had docktails with 10 looper boats altogether. Dad met a number of interesting people including one couple that started the loop in 2011 & have been doing it slowly ever since… Mom and I skipped this docktail and opted for quiet time on the boat…I love having her to myself!

Mom, dad and 3 other looper couples went to the Sportsman Pub for a late lunch/early dinner. M & D finally had poutine, a French Canadian specialty sure to add to any cardiac issues one may have…(It’s fresh cut french fries covered in a thin gravy with squeaky fresh cheese curds melted on top.) Yummy, but once is good…

We all walked the town after that & visited a couple of the stores along the way including the pull up your dingy/small boat to the LCBO store for more booze or the General Store for some very expensive groceries or supplies.

Two crazy things happened while M & D were in town. One, they met a American dad, son, son’s wife & children from Sudbury, Ontario, it turned out the son graduated with C. Mike from St. X HS in 1998, & married a Canadian. Second, the darling Catholic church dad photographed was St. Bonaventure, which was the name of the church Mike and his sisters attended in Price Hill in Cincinnati. (It’s now gone…)

Everyone got back into their dingy and took a bit of a cruise around the channel to photograph the scenery…We just couldn’t believe the multitudes of blues, and greens…

One place even reminded us of the camping/hunting resort we had gone to for years on Manitoulin Island, “Northern Aire.” It had existed for so long; they had plaques for the families that returned year after year/generation after generation. (We understand it is now another Mc Mansion and the cabins and wonderful old lodge are gone…sad!)

We are loving the temperatures up here now…more what we are use to for Canada. In the 70’s during the day going down to 50/60’s at night.

Currently, dealing with winds more than any other weather issue.