North Channel 2012

North Channel cruise 2012 begins.  Trip to Spanish was uneventful with the exception of having to stop in Sault St. Marie for a new trailer tire.  Tinker is currently tugging at her reins at the dock waiting out the weather.  High winds and predicted storms have delayed departure until Sat.

The Big Chute and St. Marie of the Hurons

Since we had one more day before hauling out we opted to see two special local sights by truck.  At the dock masters suggestion we visited the Big Chute marine railway on the Trent-Severn and Sainte Marie of the Hurons.

After an enjoyable lunch at the Dam Grill we went on to visit the restored Fort.

 

And so ends the trip but for the 650 mile drive home. 

Shotgun Bay to Midland

Temps drop to 62 overnight with wind and rain.   The weather prediction is not promising, still calling for rain and winds 20 plus kts.   We got underway at 8:00 to try and avoid any greater winds in the afternoon.   In a relatively short time the sun came through although the wind remained high.  We had an exciting ride for the final 36 nm of our Georgian Bay Cruise.  The sea was on the port quarter or astern most of the way.

Arrived back at the Midland Town Dock at 13:00 and went to Dino's for lunch.  Then a bit of shopping.  

Parry Sound to Shotgun Bay

Rain off and on all night.  Had to break out the foulies to go up to the shower.  With severe weather predicted many folks were staying put.  We went up to the marina office to have a look at the radar on their computer.  The decision was made to proceed as a good portion of the days trip would be sheltered.  Departed 9:30.

 

With winds predicted to rise to 20-25 kts.WNW  overnight we were in search of a sheltered spot to anchor.  We checked out several spots, some already too crowded, some too exposed or too deep.  We finally found an ideal spot well up inside Crooked Is. at Shotgun Bay.    The bay is very narrow and has a nearly north south orientation.  There were already several boats moored here for the night.   Once again our small size and shallow draft allowed us to go right to the head of the bay past everyone and anchor in a pool surrounded by hill hills.  While the chart indicated 1 to 3 feet we found 11 and good holding.  The sky had cleared a good bit but the wind was blowing strong the the tree tops.  

Snug for the night we settled down to enjoy late afternoon sun and an early dinner.

Hopewell Bay to Parry Sound

Awoke to grey skies and wind.  The weather is predicted to worsen with thunderstorms and wind building into the twenties over night.  Up to this point we had heard rain forecast nearly every day which never materialized.  When the cook finally awoke we had breakfast and headed for Parry Sound for a shore day.

 

By 13:00 we had covered the 25nm to Parry Sound where we found a slip at Big Sound Marina.  True to form the sun began to show itself in just in time for our excursion into town.   We tried out a new bistro near the marina that was expensive and not that impressive.  

 After lunch we had a brief walk around town and the climbed a very steep road to a local museum and observation tower.

On returning to the dock we found two boats we had met twice before during the trip.  They let us know that there was a free jazz duo playing tonight at the Bobby Orr Center just outside the marina.   A nice end to the day.

Britt to Hopewell Bay

The weather cleared nicely and we departed St. Amants around 9:15 after showers and laundry duty.   We opted for breakfast underway as the day was too pretty to waste at the dock.

You will note the paper chart close at hand.  As it turns out there are a number of blank areas in the chart plotter  coverage as shown below.   The first time this happened it was a bit of a panic but we got used to it and it was not that frequent.  Compare.

None the less it was a great day for sight seeing.

 

By 13:00 we reached Pointe Au Baril Channel.  Finding that the lighthouse was open we stopped at their dock for a visit and to stretch our legs.  

We were pleased to meet Emmaline Madigan who was the last  keeper of the light before 1988 when it was automated.  She had shared the duty with her husband until his death in 1976. She spent her summers there for 29 years raising 6 children.  She and her friend Bill now keep the light open for visitors several days a week.   We were encouraged to climb through a trap door to the widows walk on the roof. 

After leaving the light we explored a bit more among several islands looking for a suitable place to spend the night.  We tried a sheltered spot behind Black Bass Is. but after a few minutes we were driven out by the biting flies.  The worst we had encountered the whole trip, they were about to carry us away bite by bite.   We moved on to Hopewell Bay which was deserted but for two cruising sailboats anchored 2/3 of the way in.  We found a spot well inside them but still in the breeze which was blowing  directly from the head of the bay.  After setting the hook a swim was called for and enjoyed.  We again enjoyed the dinghy lounge on the roof to blow dry.  After a supper of Skyline Chile and a piece of Emmalines's Blueberry pie the skipper went to rest his eyes and didn't move until the midwatch awakend him to check on things in a rising wind.  As it turned out all was well.