8/24/2010 PARRY TO CHAMPLAIN MONUMENT ISLAND ANCORAGE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DWAYNE!!

We heard the early morning callings of the Loon nearby and discovered a crisp, sunny morning. Now this is more like it! The sightseeing and commuting pontoon planes come and go at a frequent pace, we hardly notice them now.

We walked back into town for a morning haircut for Dan but the three barbers were already busy. He did get in quickly and got a great haircut. His last was in Charleston so it was desperately needed. We made a quick run through their Tuesday farmer’s market and got some plump, rosy raspberries.

PARRY BARBER SHOP

Time to move on now. We passed into Parry Sound proper and found this huge Canadian Coast Guard ship. Whooping and hollering from these young sailors caught our attention. Their patient instructors bellowed out direction but the kids were basically having a ball. Just farther on we saw some of the older kids intentionally dump their sailboats then practice righting them. I’m not sure which kids were having the most fun.

LEAVING THE MARINA

CANADIAN COAST GUARD

THE YOUNGER KIDS HOVERED AROUND

THE INSTRUCTOR'S BOAT

GOING, GOING

GONE!

Kilbear Point’s red and white marker alerted us to the exit of Parry Sound. Just past the marker was a public park and roped off swimming beach. Summer stragglers were utilizing the facilities and beautiful day.

KILBEAR POINT

We passed light houses on Spruce Island Shoal and Red Rock before we were in the “big waters” for a while. Back in the islands again we crept, mouths agape, past the reigning Ojibway Hotel then spied the cross on Champlain Monument Island and sought an anchorage up one of the little channels littering the waterway. Each cove is home to one or more beautiful cottage, some with lingering summer vacationers trying to eke out the last rays of the sun’s warmth.

SPRUCE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE

RED ROCK LIGHT

CHAMPLAIN MONUMENT

After finding the perfect anchorage and dropping the dingy, we took off exploring. Each bend and turn brought another cozy cottage in the long established, wealthy summer colony.

OUR ANCORAGE

The social center for this area is the old Ojibway Hotel. This grand old dame was opened in 1906 as a retreat for “city folks” who took the train to Pointe Au Baril Station then were shuttled by launch to the hotel. Later several small cottages were built on the site to house more guests. Due to decline and neglect, the hotel was closed in 1960. Islanders bought up this property and nursed it back to health, making it the center of island life once again. Cottage kids now make up the staff and run the programs while the Ojibway Historical Preservation Society works hard at continued restoration and maintenance. Most impressive!

THE OJIBWAY

READING THE HISTORY

ONE OF THE HALLS

All these long months and I had never driven the dingy! I got lots of practice today, zigging then sagging through the narrow channels. It’s definitely fun but I need more work before the “opposite” steering becomes natural.

Back on board the Quest Dan got out the fishing pole and gave it another shot. This time he caught six fish, the largest being maybe 6” and the smallest, well let’s just say “tiny”. Again, no fish for dinner.

We listened to the loon and watched the sun creep down the sky as the moon rose up. Peaceful!

SETTING SUN

RISING MOON