So Plans for Two Nights have Extended to Six

Gore Bay is one of my favorite ports of call -- well protected, good shopping, nice art galleries, and just nice people.

So, we arrived on Sunday.  CLASS ACT left on Monday morning, and I was fully intending to leave on Tuesday -- but Environment Canada warned of high winds and strong thunder storms on Tuesday.  By 10 a.m. the winds were building, and I decided that staying was smarter than going.  I was planning on coming back on Thursday anyway for the Farmers' Market on Friday -- and I'm not really very happy about arriving at crowded anchorages during high winds.  So stay I have.

To make up for being ashore, I went to my very favorite artist here -- and purchased an original water color of sandhill cranes in flight.  And, Sophie and I walked the board walk to the end of the bay to explore the high grass and see at least two white tailed deer trotting along thru the main street of town.

By late Tuesday, boats were abandoning the open waters of the North Channel, and the marina became very busy -- and pretty rocky.  Tied additional lines to the cleats, hunkered down and got very little sleep on Tuesday night as the winds changed from the south to the north at a record pace.

Have had happy hour with JC -- whom I haven't seen since last spring in Charlevoix, was given fresh green beans by LADY MARION who I met in Bing on the Georgian Bay back in 2008, invited Okaga to happy hour on Sonador.  Visited with other friends including Allan and Margo who have gone over to the dark side with a Grand Banks Europa 42 named ENCORE.  And, tonight, Thursday, had happy hour on GUNKHOLER with Chris and Diane, along with Ann and Yarma from BASIC BOAT. 

Tomorrow is the farmers' market -- followed by a little provisioning.  Hope to be out of here on Saturday to head to Turnbull Island for the Wilderness Rally.

Pictures from McGregor Bay 3 of 3

The cottagers in McGregor Bay know how to make the most of their remote location -- this is by far my favorite sauna in the North Channel.

Following the dinghies from GUNKHOLER and CLASS ACT to explore one of the many bays and inlets.  We managed to get just beyond those rocks on the left, and ran amuck of lilly pads and lots of weeds.  After two stops to clean props, we abandoned our exploration and turned back for snacks on GUNKHOLER and a short tour ashore for Sophie.

You just have to trust that they know where they are going!!!

Later, while we stopped in the East West Channel to pick blueberries, Sophie sought refuge in tall grasses and cooler climes.  The sun is very hot when you are a doge lying on the floor of the dinghy in a life jacket that's embarrassing enough, without the added insult of being too warm!

Pictures from McGregor Bay -- 2 of 3

On our second day, we hiked from Usual Reason to Baie Fine, on the charts the topography shows that this trail (which is considered a canoe portage) is fairly level.  We saw a beaver dam, and heard lots of wild life, but brave Sophie staved off the most ferocious of chipmunks to our great pleasure.

And, when we reached the other end, we were treated with this view looking across Baie Fine to the west.  The mountains in the background are known as the Killarney Ridge of the La Cloche Range.  This is all provincial park land.

 Sophie holding court on her island in Usual Reason.

And, one of the many splendid sunsets we enjoyed at this anchorage -- and throughout the days we've been out.

Pictures from McGregor Bay

On our first day at Usual Reason, Sophie is enjoying the cool breeze from the west after we dropped anchor and before we went ashore.  Looking south toward the Blue Ridge and over to Baie Fine.








This is looking west from "Sophie's island" at Usual Reason.  This particular body of water is called Pappa's Bay by the Cruising Club.   There is a cabin, we found out later, across this body of water but it is hidden behind the rocks and the trees.

Looking out from "Sophie's Island" toward the anchorage in Usual Reason.  The dinghy ride was short enough that if the outboard failed I could row -- BUT I never had to test that theory.

And, now looking to the other end of Usual Reason, where we found pints of wild blue berries, raspberries, and future strawberries.

Into the Wilderness and Back Out

So, a week ago we (CLASS ACT, SPIRIT OF ALOHA, SONADOR) set off for the glorious McGregor Bay -- an area well charted but unmarked (no buoys).  It is tucked between the mainland to the north and Baie Fine to the south, surrounded by high mountains and scattered with islands of all sizes from a small rock to large enough to hold two or three cottages.  So, although it is wilderness in the sense of no roads, no services, and no marks there are people about.

The only tricky part of getting into McGregor is a sharp turn north and then back east at the "rock and the bush" identified on GLCC guides and now imbedded in both my mind and on my chart plotter.  This is when acting like a duckling following its mom isn't anything to be ashamed of -- CLASS ACT being the mom in this instance.  Then winding our way eastward to a bay named by the GLCC as Usual Reason Bay -- utterly breathtaking!

We explored by dinghy, we went for a hike across to Baie Fine, we picked blueberries, swam in the chilly water, and generally enjoyed ourselves for the five days we lingered there -- and probably would have stayed longer except for the constraints of holding tanks (one of the realities of cruising.)  Sophie had her very own island to run on, small enough for me to keep a watchful eye -- not so small that she met herself coming and going.

She even managed to demonstrate that she isn't a mountain goat -- and yes she can swim when absolutely necessary.  Trying to jump from one part of the rock onto another, and not being agile enough nor mountain goat enough to hold on.  Oh, well, it's all part of the summer with her mom.

We stopped in Beatty Bay on Clapperton Island for one night before proceeding into Gore Bay -- a major provisioning port on Manitoulin Island.  Last night we had wonderful fresh fish from the lake, tossed salad, and local wine for dinner -- proceeded by showers, laundry, and all the things that can't be done at anchor.

Here thru tonight, then out again tomorrow for a couple of days.  Pictures in separate posts.

Off to McGregor Bay

It's Monday, July 14th and we (CLASS ACT, SPIRIT OF ALOHA, and SONADOR) are off to McGregor Bay and the Killarney Wilderness Area.  Haven't been up there in several years, so am looking forward to following experienced boaters into an area that is unmarked and almost ideal wilderness.

Will be out of touch for at least a week -- but that doesn't mean I can't contact the Canadian Coast Guard in case of emergency.

Lots of pictures and stories to tell -- hopefully, none too exciting.

Pictures from Clara and Sturgeon

Sophie's Taxi to the Island at Clara

Sophie Relaxing at Clara -- Class Act anchored on left

Sunset Looking Out of Sturgeon Cove to the La Cloche Mountains

The East End of Sturgeon Cove where we go ashore

And, a week later

Sorry for my silence --- haven't had internet connection since we left DeTour and now, in Little Current, Ontario after six days of anchoring out in various places in the North Channel.  Pictures will come later, as I sort thru what's worth posting, keeping or simply laughing that I took yet another picture of my feet, the water, or the sky (it's sometimes hard to keep the object in focus when you're underway on a boat.)

We checked into Canada at Thesalon, had dinner with friends from Charlevoix who were one their way back to US waters.  Next day, under a heavy overcast headed east to Clara Island (never been there before) where we (CLASS ACT and SONADOR) stayed for two days keeping out of the westerly blows that were coming across the North Channel.  Then, with rain and a light wind, headed east again to Eagle Island joining other friends on SPIRIT OF ALOHA for two days of really blustery weather. 

One bit of too much excitement was when CLASS ACT dragged at quite an impressive rate down toward SONADOR.  But, thanks to quick action by Mel and Sue, they avoided the crunch and reset their anchor further in.  Sophie had a much deserved run on the little island in the pouring rain after that -- but she had no idea the fun that almost occurred.

Then, the three boats left Eagle for Sturgeon Cove (where I famously cut my ring finger on a zebra mussel four years ago.) It is a beautiful anchorage, well protected from all sorts of winds -- just a little tricky getting into.  Sue and I explored near by Bell Cove the next day by dinghy and Sophie got her first long walk since we started.  Today, we and several other GLCC boats are in Little Current for much needed showers, provisioning, etc.

Possibly on to McGregor Bay in the next couple of days for more wilderness experience.

4th in Style

 We arrived in Detour -- not Harbor Island because my companion boat was having problems with it's battery charging system.  That was easily solved because of a loose wire -- and we decided to stay for the festivities on the 4th of July. 

Wish I could share all the images of the parade down the main street in Detour -- but this picture gives you a idea of the creativity of the locals who came in all sorts of conveyance to show off their patriotism.  It was great fun, everyone got caught up in the excitement of the parade and the candies being tossed from every passing car, fire engine, boat, motorcycle, etc.  Lasted all of thirty minutes, but thirty minutes that pulled you back in time.

Later, there were concerts down by the marina.  They band wasn't half bad, but they wouldn't have recognized a request for "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" or anything of that ilk.  After sunset -- which comes at 9:45 at the earliest, the fireworks began and it was quite a display -- with private rockets and flares carrying the celebration well beyond 11:30!

If a Tree Dies, Do Something

Next day, CLASS ACT and SONADOR planned to leave -- and leave we would but not before a little capturing of the town on film.  I simply love this unique adaptation of an old tree that died -- instead of cutting it down and creating more fire wood, the owner called an artist from Michigan and had this twice life size carving made that looks out over the marina and the DeTour passage with all the passing freighters (there were more than twenty passing both up and down-bound to Lake Superior while we were there.)

Finally, a snap of SONADOR at her slip in Detour.

We are now in Thessalon Ontario.  Planning on leaving in the morning if the weather promises to hold -- but if threatened thunderstorms develop or are pending we'll stay another night.

Life is good on the water.

At Detour, July 4th

Finally, out and across Lake Huron!  We picked the best of the days this week to make a crossing -- earlier the winds were really too strong for a calm crossing.  But today, the water was flat and the sky threatening but no real wind to speak of.

As I left Cheboygan, the Mackinaw (USCG icebreaker) was coming into home port.  That's quite an impressive ship -- made more so by the pictures earlier this spring of her breaking ice for the Lake Superior freighters.  After she passed in the channel, I pulled out and headed across -- it was thirty five miles of open water, with little or no other traffic.  Uneventful and relaxing.  Even Sophie settled down for a nap.

I was crossing with friends Mel and Sue aboard CLASS ACT -- with being an approximation since they left before me and are a sailboat so move a little slower.  About mid-way Mel reported battery charging problems, so we opted for coming into DeTour Marina.  John and Bobby aboard ANDRALISS arranged for slips, and the three boats are tucked safely into slips across the dock from one another.  Turns out the charging issue was a loose connection (thank goodness).

Storms out of Saginaw Bay reach DeTour

The choice of a marina was serendipity -- these clouds building to the south as I approached DeTour light joined with storms to the north to produce a steady rain for a couple of hours after we settled in.  Much better to be at a marina, than at anchor as planned where dinghy, Sophie and I would have been soaked during trips ashore.

We'll stay today to watch the freighters come down out of Superior on their way to ports throughout the Great Lakes and the world -- to celebrate the fourth of July as only small town USA can with parades, community chicken roasts, band concerts, and fireworks.  Then leave tomorrow to enter into Canadian waters. 

It is good to be underway.

Down bound July 3rd in DeTour Channel