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.

Gee, bet you are surprised another lighthouse?

Downtown Killarney

The Sportsman's Inn, Pub, Spa, you name it

The drive in movie theater for boaters...there's Moondance in a perfect spot

Lots of marinas here for such a small place

St Bonaventure's here

The General Store but sadly they destroyed the inside architectural details

Check out the water color, so incredible!

We laugh another "World Famous Fish & Chips"

Gateway to the North Channel

Our view from the dingy 

Tiny, tiny islands everywhere...if there isn't a cottage on it the birds are there

A commercial fishing boat

Drive up in your dingy for your booze

Another seaplane right by the LCBO

Prime waterfront property

Loved this log cabin that was abandoned

30,000 Rocky, Lovely, Rugged, Windswept Islands

Georgian Bay, Ontario            Small Boat Channel                            August 2, 2016

A bit of miscommunication about our starting time but eventually we were off with our other two looper boats and partners in today’s cruise. Another sublime day with warm temps and winds, but not overly so…As Bob said earlier, “Following this channel is like following a congo line with all the snaky twists and turns it does…” (Once again we heard another boater announcing over Channel 13 he hit the wall coming out of Lock 45 with that awful current & winds there!) It reminds us all how careful we have to be up here with rocks and more rocks…currents and more currents, wind and more wind…YIKES!!!   So glad dad is driving, he is so very careful! 

Saw a charming tiny lighthouse on one of the numerous islands with a small helicopter taking off. Came around a bend to see a magnificent house with a lighthouse like portion to it…behind it was another helicopter taking off; moving a tall pole??? Lots of helicopters and seaplanes up here, and it is easy to see why with all these islands everywhere!

Mom decided it was time to put up our screen doors and windows around the boat to try to keep out the creepy, flying critters…I’m really enjoying the salon with all the fresh air and no bugs to bother me…don’t know why she didn’t do it before this? However, just as I was getting settled for a nap, she opened up this smelly stuff and started messing with her toenails…PEE UUU! So grateful, she didn’t use that crap on my nails when she trimmed them yesterday!

We arrived into Echo Bay to Massasauga, a Canadian Parks approved anchorage…really pretty and there were a number of other boaters here… Trying to get me on and off the dingy to go on these rocky outposts was not easy…the first time, went ok…By then M & D were hot and just wanted to put their bathing suits on and jump into that clear, cold water… You should have heard the screams! Definitely, not the 88 degrees they are use to!!! I kept whining trying to encourage them the get out, but they seemed to enjoy it with Bob and Liz. When they finally got out…I got my treat and then dinner before dock tails… 

M & D decided to take me in our dingy and Brandy in Bob and Liz’s dingy for one last pee and a run around Echo Island. It started out ok because I was able to jump from the dingy to the rock, but getting back into the dingy was a different matter. Mom had to pull me into the water to get me back into the dingy…I was not happy with this predicament! She had to lift me from the water into the boat, but she was laughing so hard it made it more difficult!!! I made sure she got wet as well! Being nervous from my new experience, I was less than impressed, as we took our little spin and very happy to see Moondance again! As dad was checking the generator to make sure it was running well, he spilled my treats, so I was really enjoying myself until mom figured it out…

Both of our boats retired early but not before dad took lots of photos of this area…from the boat and the dingy.

As you initially approach the channel those two red markers have to be over the top of one another

Look at the boat in the distance, he had just made one of the many twisting turns

We kept trying to decide if it was one home or two but it was one

Here's the side view

Look in front of the helicopter and you can see what he was getting ready to lift

We couldn't see where he was taking this to...

There are so many various and interesting lighthouse structures up here

The original Henry's restaurant was lots smaller than the one we went to at Wye Heritage

Our anchorage in Massasauga

the trick of anchoring is where to take Lily to do her business

Before we both ended up partially wet from getting back into the dingy

Bob, Liz and Brandy on our cruise around Echo Island

Coming back to our boats before the mosquitoes carried us off

Here's Moondance rafted off of Knot Sew Easy

Parry Sound, Ontario          Big Sound Marina                                 August 3, 2016

Today I was a little more ready to get into the dingy to go do my business…Dad pulled up to a floating dock, mom helped me to jump off and I did what I had to and came back…only my one paw got wet this time on your swim platform! I was really proud of myself. We came back to the boat and I jumped right off like I had been doing it forever! I was really happy when we pulled into Big Sound Marina before 11 AM, so I could really take care of business!!! It’s a bit more overcast and humid today, but thankfully no really strong winds to make it difficult for dad navigating…Especially, since we were going through the 7 Mile Narrows with lots of other people going to work…

I’m hoping M & D will jump off for awhile so I can get a good nap in… They did go up town for a bit and came back for a quick docktails with Kevin and Steve from Lone Star. They went to dinner with Lone Star and a new looper couple from Fourth Quarter, Syl and Jim...another really delightful couple! Mom brought me back leftovers. She and dad said that Parry Sound was nice, but not really pretty the way some of the other towns have been. I was happy that mom went to bed early, so I could join her! 

The Island Queen out of Parry Sound and one of the many seaplanes flying in and out of here, as we watch

We had to wait for this swing bridge to open before we could come into Parry Sound

All the town resides on the hills between the sound

One of the gorgeous houses tucked around Parry Sound, you can see the swing bridge in the background

Another interesting but blurry (sorry) lighthouse

One of the many commercial boats going to work

Lily and Mike navigating while I took photos and read

                                 Just one of the many serene scenes we pass each day

Love seeing these cottages perched up on the hillsides

So many varied type of barges here

another waterside playground

Some of these barges went to these houses perched along the water to clean out their septic tanks or bring them water...whatever was needed... 

Parry Sound, Courthouse

1914 Trestle that goes across the sound here

The Hemp Tent sign amused me

Wye, O, Wye, O, Wye, O

We all slept in late our first morning here, but after getting stuff accomplished on the boat & breakfast, M & D took off for supplies. As soon as they returned, dad took Bob and then Jill for their supplies. By the time he returned a steady rain had come down, so much to my happiness; they ate in and shared with me. It was a quiet night and I love those kind!

We woke up a bit earlier today because mom and dad wanted to see downtown Midland and the historical village of Sainte-Marie among the Hurons before we had dinner with Vic and Bev at their house this evening.

Sainte-Marie among the Hurons is a completely recreated outdoor village on the site of the original one founded in 1639 by French Jesuits on the land of the Wendat or Huron people. It was originally designed as a retreat for missionaries and a refuge for the converted Christian Wendat. The Wendat shared their knowledge with the Jesuits to help them become self sufficient, but the village only lasted about 10 years. 

By that time the Wendat had lost many to illnesses and famine. Their rivals, the Iroquois were unhappy with the Christian Wendat becoming friendly with the French and attacked the village. With the loss of many of their allies, the Jesuits and their helpers decided to burn the village and move closer to Quebec. 

Mom loved that the Wendat planted their corn, bean and squash together in little mounds and called them the Three Sisters.

It’s a wonderful museum thanks to all the helpers dressed in historic clothing and presenting various demonstrations throughout the day. The inside museum gives you more of an understanding of how the Jesuits and French came here with many videos and interactive media including a terrific movie. 

Mom and dad said they had a better understanding of the history of this area now. 

Overlooking the Sainte-Marie of the Huron village, Martyrs’ Shrine is a Roman Catholic church, which is consecrated to the memory of the Canadian Martyrs, six Jesuit Martyrs and two lay persons from the mission of Sainte-Marie among the Hurons. M & D didn’t have time to go there.

They did drive downtown and to the waterfront area which was wonderful! Many of the downtown buildings have artistic and historical murals dedicated to different events which adds a real esthetic touch to the town. Sadly, most of the darling shops and stores were closed since today was a Civic Holiday.

Mom and dad fed me and left taking some fantastic smelling pesto infused mac and cheese with them…I can’t believe that I didn’t get any first! I’m insulted!!!

They returned talking about the wonderful meal at Vic and Bev’s and how much they enjoyed spending more time with them! It couldn’t have been all that great since I wasn’t there! 

Off tomorrow to an anchorage in Georgian Bay, so don’t know when I’ll get to send out my blog again…stay well…(I’m not sure how I’m going to enjoy anchoring if they can’t get me off to do my business???) 

Our sunset our first night here

One of the larger murals of the Wendat and Jesuits

Loved this Canadian geese sculpture with the birds on top of it

What a colorful town with all these murals

So much more interesting than a plain brick wall

Walking into Sainte-Marie on the Huron

Just a few of the buildings within the village

The Jesuit Chapel by their residence

One of the garden areas

One of the demonstrations of the possible uses of this inside waterway

Some of the historical interpreters, they were really good

A birch bark canoe made on site

Church of St. Joseph that combined Catholicism with some of the Wendat traditions

Mike and Vic, as we all sat out on their dock for cocktails and appetizers

Their house from the dock...gorgeous, even if there is much to finish

One of their views looking out from their house...so beautiful! We can't thank them enough for all they did for us!!!