Traveling With PRIORITIES

Wed. July 2 0930/1504

44 miles Parry Sound to Alexander Passage, Georgian Bay

Last night the town put on a great show with a parade of decorated boats and an awesome display of fireworks. The pier where our boat was tied, came alive with people at sunset to watch the festivities.

Today traveling through Parry Sound we had water depths of 350 feet which is the deepest we have seen in quite awhile. After leaving Parry Sound, the small craft channel went out to Georgian Bay for about 6 miles. There was a 15 mph wind coming out of the west so we were getting 2 foot waves during that section. The rest of the day we traveled in the small craft channel where it was calm. We had a few more narrow spots and zigzags through rocks, but arrived at our anchorage for the night in one piece.

Point Au Baril Lighthouse

Anchorage at Alexander Passage.

Thurs. July 3 0725/1345 – 1430/1530

50 miles – 5 miles Alexander Passage to Killarney – Killarney to Covered Portage Cove (North Channel)

We left our anchorage and headed back out to Georgian Bay. The forecast for the water in the Bay was 1-3 feet so we decided to skip the small craft channel (it’s beautiful country but you have to be on constant alert for twists, turns, buoys, and rocks) and go the rest of the way to Killarney via the Bay and open water.

The village of Killarney is in the northwest corner of Georgian Bay, has a population of 430 and was once a busy fishing village but now depends on tourism (especially boaters).

For lunch we were told a “must stop” is to go to the Red Bus for fish-and-chips. Well the Red Bus is no longer there but the fish-n-chips were and it was delicious. The “Bus” has been put to rest (a funeral and everything) and a new “red” building is being built instead.

Killarney

Stand in restaurant for "Red Bus" fish n chips.

"Boat in Theater". Dock and watch a movie.

After lunch we moved on through Killarney channel and into Killarney Bay. We also said good bye to Georgian Bay and hello to the North Channel which will be the next body of water we travel through.

Our anchorage for the night was 5 miles from Killarney in Covered Portage Cove.

Killarney Bay

Anchorage in Covered Portage Cove.

Fri. July 4 0945/1300

23 miles Covered Portage Cove to Baie Fine (North Channel)

The next stop we chose to anchor in (Baie Fine) was only 2 miles away by land but 23 miles by water. This section of the waterway has hundreds of places where you can tuck behind islands to anchor. Baie Fine is about ¼ mile wide and 10 miles long. You can stop numerous places to anchor as you go in or go all the way to the end and then go through a narrow channel to get to what’s called The Pool. All the way along both sides are high quartz rock hills. We went all the way to the end and anchored in The Pool.

After anchoring, we got the dinghy out and went to shore. There is a small dock to tie to and from there you can hike on several trails. The trail we picked you need to hike uphill for about ½ mile to find Topez Lake.

Topez Lake

Anchorage at The Pool.

Sat. July 5

0 miles Baie Fine (North Channel)

This anchorage is so beautiful and peaceful we decided to stay another day. At the entrance to The Pool is a cottage that is owned by the Evinrude family. When Ralph Evinrude was alive they owned a 100’ boat which they docked at the cottage and then used the boat to power the cottage.

Morning reflection.

The Pool

Evinrude cottage.

For today’s hike we took another trail to Artist Lake and then followed one more trail several miles through woods and found a small stream and waterfall. (you really need to be part billy goat for most of these trails)

Sun. July 6 0645/1030

25 miles Baie Fine to Little Current (North Channel)

We left our anchorage and went out into Frazer Bay (a nice open body of water) and on to the port of Little Current. This port is located on the northeast tip of Manitoulin Island and the waters of the North Channel are funneled into a passage only 100 yards wide, creating stiff currents.

Strawberry Island Light

Little Current

Mon. July 7 1030/1330

19 miles Little Current to Benjamin Islands (North Channel)

Today started out cloudy and windy. When we left Little Current the wind was about 20 mph out of the west and we were cruising into 3-4 foot waves. By the time we got half way to the Benjamins, the clouds moved on and the sun was out. The Benjamins were formed millions of years ago as part of molten rock that rose to the earth’s surface and are in the shape of a bull’s-eye.

This section of the North Channel we boated through 10 years ago so it will be great revisiting some of the anchorages we stayed in back then.

Looking west out at the North Channel.

Our anchorage in the Benjamins.

Tues. July 8 0715/1038

30 miles Benjamin Islands to Beardrop Harbour (North Channel)

Traveling today we had light rain on and off till 10 am. To get to our anchorage in Beardrop Harbour we cruised through Little Detroit’s tight passage, (75 feet wide & 16 feet deep) and on into Whalesback channel.

Leaving the Benjamins we had to travel through several rock islands called the Pigs & Sows.

McBean Channel

Whalesback Channel

Whale Island

Our anchorage at Beardrop Harbour.

Wed. July 9 0700/1030

30 miles Beardrop Harbour to Meldrum Bay (North Channel)

Our weather today was cool and cloudy. We left Beardrop and started heading toward Drumond Island. After an hour of traveling the winds picked up (the winds weren’t predicted to get higher till afternoon) and next thing we knew we were in 4-6 + foot waves. This called for a change of plans and we headed to Meldrum Bay instead which cut 3 hours off our travel time. Once we pulled into the bay and out of the wind it was like a different world with nice flat water. Meldrum Bay is a nice quite place that consists of a marina, hotel/restaurant, country store, museum, and church.

Meldrum Bay

The shore line is all stones.

Meldrum Bay marina

Hotel/Restaurant & Country Store

Thurs. July 10 0700/1145 – 1500/1600

43 miles / 9 miles Meldrum Bay to DeTour MI.

That’s right, we are not only back in the USA but our home state of Michigan. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in

Canada

but it’s really good to be back in the States.

We left Meldrum Bay with sunshine, cool weather (65 degrees) and flat water. Since we were leaving Canada and entering back into the USA we needed to stop in Drummond Island and check in with Customs. Once we arrived at Drummond marina, 2 Customs officers came out to the boat and after filling out some paper work and answering a few questions we were given the All Clear to move on. We decided to eat lunch before we left, so walked about 1 ½ miles to the Bear Track Restaurant. After lunch we moved on to DeTour marina for the evening.

Drummond Island