8/25/2010 CHAMPLAIN MONUMENT ISLAND TO SNUG HARBOR

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUZIE GOTT!

We pulled up anchor and meandered out of the lush channel, passing Macklin Light on our port side and then the Pointe Au Baril Lighthouse on our starboard. Pointe Au Baril or “point at the barrel” got its name a long ago when fishermen would place a lantern on a barrel at the harbor’s entrance to guide them home.

MACKLIN  LIGHT

PONTE AU BARIL LIGHTHOUSE

POINT AT THE BARREL

Soon we were relieved to enter the rough, open waters. We welcomed it after the tight turning in the narrow channels. We bounced around for several hours with the bell ringing several times. The sun peeked out of the clouds and gifted us with an afternoon full of sparkling rays.

BOUNCY WATERS

NOTE ENGINE STILL ON DINGY

BLUE SKIES AND A FEW MOUNTAINS

At Thebo Point we entered the slim Killarney Channel and sailed right on past the town, heading for our night’s anchorage in Snug Harbor.

WELCOME TO KILLARNEY

PASSING THROUGH KILLARNEY

The popular anchorage of Snug Harbor has good depths and lovely woods lining its shore but locating it is difficult. We were lucky to find three sailboats hovering at the hidden entrance, waiting to be led in by a dingy. We shared this enchanting cove with six other vessels for a peaceful evening protected from the gusting wind.

FOLLOWING THE LEADER

FIVE OF THE SEVEN BOATS IN OUR

BEAUTIFUL SNUG HARBOR

Dan, forever the optimist, gave fishing another try but came up empty handed. Guess we are going to have to get him back to the ocean!!

FISHING, YET AGAIN

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

8/23/2010 BIG SOUND MARINA IN PARRY

Finally, the day dawned bright and sunny! We soaked up all the rays and watched them sparkle on the water.

SUNSHINE ON MARINA ACROSS THE RIVER

We contented ourselves staying in Parry for the day but it was anything but relaxed. Dan started the day off taking apart the laundry enclosure and the dryer. With frayed belt in hand, we headed for the hardware store and then were directed to Parry Sound T.V. & Appliances. They didn’t have the belt but were able to order it and have it delivered to the post office in Leland, MI, a future stop.

Our next stop was the LCBO (Liquor Control Board Authority) where we bought beer and wine for the journey ahead. Food came next but this proved to be a breeze. The local Sobeys Market has an arrangement with the marina and sends a van to deliver you right to the market’s door and then returns you to the marina loaded with goodies.

LCBO

We enjoyed the evening on Quest with a salmon dinner (no, Dan didn’t catch it) and another movie, The Ref.

EVENING CLOUDS

TODAY'S REMINDER OF FALL'S APPROACH:

OAK LEAVES

8/22/10 MOOSE-DEER TO HENRY'S TO PARRY SOUND

It’s a dark, damp and dreary Sunday here with an expected high of about 68. Since we are hearing of the heat in the upper mid-west, we are kind of relishing this coolness.

DARK AND DREARY

We maneuvered our way from Moose-Deer Marina, cruised back out of the 12 Mile Bay and enter the Small Craft Channel. At times we thought there might be a chance for some sunshine, but no such luck.
World Famous Henry’s Fish Restaurant on Frying Pan Island (yes, you can’t make these things up) was our lunch destination and we found it with no problem. It seems everyone we talked to in this leg of our journey has told us “Be sure to stop at Henry’s for a great fish meal and a good, old fashioned welcome”. They were right on. Owner, Paul Elliot, two dock hands and newly recruited greeter, Alex, were all on the dock to guide us in and welcome us to their summer “home away from home”. We enjoyed a wonderful pickerel lunch with tons left for later. Good and plentiful food with reasonable prices and terrific service. A must stop in this area.

WORLD FAMOUS HENRY'S ON FRYING PAN ISLAND

OWNER PAUL WELCOMING DAN

"SUPER HELPER" ALEX

WADDLING BACK WITH A MEAL OF LEFTOVERS

We next headed for Perry Sound, about 16 miles further on. More granite cliffs, lots of woodlands and folks seeking some fun on the water during this August weekend.

JUST TOO CUTE

So, we’re cruising along and I happen to look out our port side. Right there on the shore is a big, black bear scampering up the hill. I nearly fell over myself trying to get the camera and track his path up the hill. A Real Bear In The Wilds!!! Totally, totally cool! Here are the photos but, unfortunately you can barley see him.

BEHIND THE DEAD BRANCHES IN CENTER

SOME BEAR BUTT HIDDEN ABOUT CENTER

Twisting and turning, we made our way up the Menominee Channel to the entrance of Parry Sound at the Parry Sound Swing Bridge. Here we had to wait about 30 minutes for the next opening. We patiently waited our turn as the bridge opened and the 550-passenger Island Queen entered the sound with her sightseeing passengers before us.

PARRY SOUND SWING BRIDGE

I

ISLAND QUEEN DAY CRUISE

Big Sound Marina in Parry Sound proved to be our home for the evening. We docked, once again with the assistance of other helpful boaters then grabbed our tenniEs and set out for a walk.

They have a great fitness walking trail that we will probably try tomorrow but today we just set out to explore the little town. First we found the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame at the Center of Performing Arts just steps from our dock. In town we saw the old Fire House and the lovely new library. Stopping on the bridge to watch the flow of the Seguin River, we spied this familiar (but out of place) object.

WELCOME

ICE HOCKEY GREAT, BOBBY ORR, WAS BORN

HERE IN PARRY SOUND

OLD PARRY SOUND FIRE HOUSE

OLD FIRE HOUSE

MODERN NEW LIBRARY

LOOKING OVER THE SEGUIN RIVER

NOW-LOOK CAREFULLY, CAN YOU MAKE OUT

WHAT THIS FAMILIAR OBJECT IS?

Back on Quest we pulled out the movies and watched Vantage Point before crashing for the night. Now this movie was a good one and we are now 1 for 3.

8/21/10 MOOSE-DEER MARINA IN 12 MILE BAY

After a night of rain we woke to ---- more rain. We decided to stay put, right here in Moose-Deer Marina and do some housekeeping chores.

OK, so we have water and power. Let’s do the laundry until the bloody dryer just stops with the racket or quits! You guessed it, it quit. Now on a normal day this wouldn’t create such a mess. Pull the sheets outside to dry in the warm air and all would be done shortly, right? Well it was raining!! Quest became a huge clothesline with things in the engine room, the helm, kitchen, salon and bathrooms. By night we were able to remake the bed.

HELM CLOTHESLINE

During the downpour we observed this crowd at the marina and found it was a group waiting to be transported to a nearby boy’s camp. What a lousy way to start your week at camp. However, it didn’t seem to dampen their spirits, at least not the boys.

WET BOYS AND DAMP GEAR=PHEW!

During the few overcast breaks in the rain we walked around the marina and took in natures gifts and visited the little provisioning store. Nothing much here but wilderness and parking for the many boats belonging to the cottage owners dotting the 12 Mile Bay. Water taxis also make frequent trips between the marina and the cottages.

WATER TAXI

PINK GRANITE

WATER LILLY

Dan and I are now deep into playing Gin and fairly even on the win/loss scale. We played tonight while Dan listened to the NASCAR race at Bristol, TN.

QUEST AT REST

Hoping for a less damp day tomorrow as we continue our journey and the forecast seems favorable.

LATE RASPBERRY CROP