Pictures after Gore Bay 2

Looking east across Usual Reason Cove from one of the blueberry expeditions

Sophie resting after hiking the portage to Baie Finn

Baie Finn and the gang after the hike

Second anchor in Usual Reason -- it's deep all the way up to that rock face

Looking back over the anchorage toward the west

Pictures after Gore BayL

Looking out on Sturgeon Cove from the point

Sophie believes that shade and grass are made just for her

Taken from the same point of land that the top picture was, this looks out over the entrance to Sturgeon Cove toward the La Cloche Mountains

After Gore Bay

Sat out winds and rain at Gore Bay for almost a full week, but on the 17th of July the sun came out, the winds died, and it was time to go.

Traveled north east up to Sturgeon Cove -- a well protected anchorage that runs along the north side of Great La Cloche Island.  From the anchorage, you can look north to the La Cloche Mountains -- and, if you are lucky you can see eagles and bears.  I saw the former, not the latter.  It is tricky to get in, but a good holding bottom and plenty of room for lots of boats.  And, a good place for both blueberry picking and dog running.  What could be better!

I now have about a quart of small, delicious blueberries picked from various locations -- and consumed with a creamy yogurt and granola for breakfast many a morning.  

After three days in Sturgeon, we decided to head up into McGregor Bay -- the most remote of the anchorages that I'll see this summer.  The Bay is north of the Killarney Mountain range, and is sided by a provincial park (think bears, wolves, and other critters of the north).  There are no marks on the channels, just rocks everywhere that one learns to recognize from year to year -- thank goodness for modern technology.  So with a chart plotter and "tracks" created where ever one has successfully transited a difficult spot it's relatively easy to get back to Usual Reason Cove on a clear day.

There are a few cottages in McGregor, but only a couple can be seen across the water from Usual Reason.  More blueberry picking, and time ashore.  We went about two miles west in dinghies to a "portage" which links McGregor with Baie Finn -- hiking across with Sophie leading the way.  Then turned around, and headed back.  On the way there, the winds were in our face so we got relatively wet but on the way back the winds had died somewhat and were behind us.  I moved Sonador to another, more protected, area of Usual Reason before the big storms hit on Saturday.  Lightning, thunder, winds gusting into the upper twenties, and plenty of anxious moments when you hope the anchor will hold.  It did, we survived, and enjoyed an evening with friends aboard FAIRY TALE.  

Our last day there, we climbed the nearby rocks to pick more blueberries -- they were so thick that even from several yards away the low bushes were blue.  YUM.

Then on the 25th we moved into Little Current in anticipation of more strong winds and rain.  Little Current is the oxymoron of the North Channel, very seldom is the current much below three knots -- which may not seem like much except when you are trying to hold your position while the swing bridge opens to let the traffic thru.

On the 25th the Cruisers' Net hosted a talk on the fossils of Manitoulin Island (which some hundreds of millions of years ago was actually somewhere near the equator) and then a pot luck dinner in the pavilion at the Little Current Town Docks.  As predicted, the 26th was a washout -- but a ride to the grocery store, and dinner at the Anchor Inn made for an enjoyable day.  

Right now, I am waiting for word from one of the local boat shops on the fate of my dinghy outboard which is giving me fits again.  I'll borrow a "spare" from Bill Matley (SPIRIT of ALOHA) while mine is either being repaired or is condemned to being junked.

Later this morning, we'll leave (SPIRIT, CLASS ACT, SONADOR) for South Benjamin.  To hopefully be joined by LEADING EDGE and THYME HYSSOP WRY.

Pictures in separate postings.

Pictures (2) from Early July

Taxi Service at Long Point

Sophie trying to look regal at Long Point

Harbor at Eagle -- note Sonador in the far center

Ashore after a long dinghy exploration at the sandy beach at Eagle

Pictures from Early JulyS

Sonador at Long Point Cove

Exploring Long Point -- this is not the entrance just a good dinghy channel

Blueberry picking at Long Point

Looking out north to the main land

The problem with travel in Canadian waters is that data coverage is iffy depending on where I am at any given moment.  Right now, I'm in Gore Bay using their internet service -- and on the phone with Verizon trying to straighten out my ability to use both the phone and the "jet pack" for internet. Hopefully that is done!!!

Now, back to the Adventures of Sonador.  

When I last wrote I was heading to the Wilderness Rally at Harbor Island -- that's still in Michigan but right on the Canadian border.  We "rallied" there last year also, and it's a good setting for thirty odd boats to gather, hear discussions as varied as using solar power, tying to shore, best reads, and best recipes.  All interspersed with meals. libations, and good times visiting on shore.

The only problem was the weather -- it rained on and off for the whole time -- and not just gentle rains, true downpours.  Neither Sophie nor I were happy campers, making the trek to shore in the dinghy, only to get wetter than we would have been had we swam ashore.

On the 3rd of July, we set off across the North Channel to the town of Thessalon, Ontario -- a relatively small town with a good marina, a grocery store, and the essential liquor store (remember you can't bring much into Canada).  Much to my surprise, and to those boats travelling with me, the marina was closed -- that is there was no staff there to greet and help me tie up.  A local boater came to my rescue, and then I helped the next several boats come in.  We had the code for the bathrooms and showers, we were able to plug in for electricity, and we even used the marina lounge for a delightful pot luck that evening.

Out of town by 9 a.m., and off to Long Point Cove -- one of my favorite anchorages.  The seas were very calm, the sun shining and boating was good again.  I was joined by Mel and Susan on CLASS ACT, Ron and Jo on THYME, HYSSOP, RYE, Chris and Diane on GUNKHOLER -- had happy hour on shore, and simply enjoyed the wilderness around us.

We stayed at Long Point for three nights, then took off continuing to head east into the Whalesback and out to Eagle Island -- another good spot for getting Sophie ashore and exploring.  The rain and wind continued for the time we were there; but thanks to CLASS ACT I was enticed to go exploring in the dinghy to another nearby island and to clamber the rocky hills of Eagle looking for blueberries (enough for a handful)

On the 10th, we moved less than 5 miles to South Benjamin Island -- a very protected cove as long as the winds are from the north and east -- which they thankfully were.  My first attempt to take Sophie ashore ended up with her on shore, running free and me in the dinghy trying to find a spot where we could actually get back together.  She thought it was great fun -- I, on the other hand, had my doubts about this arrangement afterall there are bears and other wildlife that city dog has no concept of.  Another blueberry picking adventure (this time with lots) and plans to leave the next morning for Gore Bay.

Woke to dense fog, which appeared to be lifting, so set out for Gore about 7:30.  Within an hour I was in a fog bank, sounding my horn every two minutes as the rules of the road require, slowing to a crawl, and keeping an eagle eye on the radar.  Only had one radar contact, but certainly felt the wake of a large power vessel passing me -- my guess is it was the local fishing tug which plies these waters every day.  Entering Gore Bay harbor was tricky since I still couldn't see much beyond my bow and there is a significant rock break water -- but got around that, into the service dock and finally into a slip.  The fog didn't lift until late that afternoon.  CLASS ACT experienced the same type of crossing, and other boats simply turned back to their anchorages for a few days.

Why travel under those conditions?  Well, the forecast for the next day (the 12th) was for extremely high winds, rain, and just yucky conditions -- and Gore Bay is a delightful town and marina.  I've spent enough time here over the years that I know many of the local boaters and have established a passing friendship with several of them.

So, here we sit -- another gloomy day.  But this morning is the farmers market, and tonight several of us are going to the local theater.  Last evening had dinner with friends, dining on smoked duck and enjoying the change of pace from life on the water.

Plan to depart on Sunday -- weather and the water gods permitting.  I'll try to post pictures later today.