Summer has officially begun "up north"-- it is after the 21st of June, and we've had two straight days of sunshine and warmer weather. In addition, I finally moved on the boat which is no small task given the amount of stuff I had to pack away.
I'm hoping to have all the needed repairs to Sonador done by the middle of the week, and then will look for a weather window to begin moving east toward the North Channel. Right now, the dinghy won't retain air on one side -- let's hope it is the valve; I have a grounding issue with my electric outlets on the boat -- critical because my Keurig won't work and I won't be able to have my morning cup of joe; and, the head has to be rebuilt. Now, I can actually do one of those tasks -- but I'm not gonna 'cause it's the last one!
Lots of friends here in Charlevoix -- boaters passing through on their way to a summer of cruising as well as land based friends I've met over the years. So passing the time is filled with long walks, good books, and leisurely happy hours -- what could be better?
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Pictures # 4
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| Looking out south to the entrance at Gord Blake |
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| Rat Portage -- Frazier Bay to Landsdown Channel |
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| The eastern shore of Frazier Bay |
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| Exploring the eastern end of Frazier Bay |
Pictures # 3
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| Fishing/hunting on Collins Inlet |
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| Sonador at Mill Lake -- looking west |
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| Bill and Sandy and Ginger at Mill Lake |
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| Those crazy Canadians -- even the beavers have hockey fever! |
Pictures #2Where
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| Where else do you see planes sharing space with us boaters? |
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| Part of the Fleet at Sportsman's Inn |
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| Sophie out watching the action at our end of Killarney |
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| Roques - a surprising gem in Killarney |
Catching up on Pictures #1
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| And they call this a wilderness rally |
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| Good eats |
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| The Wilderness Committee |
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| Sophie's Ride to Shore |
How Can SO MUCH TIME have passed?
Actually, it's easy to figure out. I'm in the wilderness most of the time, so no internet let alone cell service (that's another issue to be addressed below). It's now the first of August, and all the boaters are beginning to think about the end of another summer. Sad, but still a couple of weeks left before I have to make tracks.
The Rendezvous was lots of fun -- getting to visit with old friends and meeting new. I even was able to get my cell phone restored to a phone. One of the GLCC boaters figured out how to down load a new operating system, and I have phone and message service again. I'm afraid to try to add any apps, just in case I somehow screw up, and go dark again.
After the Rendezvous, I traveled to Mill Lake (about the middle of the Collins Inlet) with Home Free and Spirit of Aloha. We had a delightful three days anchored and taking the dogs to a little island. Joined by Adagio 1 and Deborah Ann for happy hour on Sonador one evening. Two mornings woke to the strong smell of smoke -- now we are surrounded by Provincial forest, so you wonder about these things. Turns out there is an enormous fire south and east of where we were anchored -- it's still out of control and the small craft channel in the Georgian Bay has been closed because of the fires.
We then headed to a new anchorage -- Gord Blake in the far eastern end of Frazier Bay -- nice protected bay with good places to take the dogs and a great afternoon of dinghy rides to the Rat Portage (takes one from Frazier to the Landsdown Channel) and to Blueberry (which I've heard boats mention for years, but never got to. Three nights there, and it was time to head into Little Current.
Luckily picked a day when the current was "little." The dock hands found me a clip facing west, straight in without having to duck and twist. The next night Roy Eaton hosted the Cruisers' Net party (a pot luck for about forty boats) at the west end of the docks.
Then the next morning headed off to Amadroz -- another new harbor -- to hide out from the west winds. The travel there was a little rough, especially when I had to turn north up the Waubuno Channel and had large beam seas for several minutes. Sophie wasn't a happy camper -- and neither was I. But pulled into the harbor -- directed by Teem Zooma toward a sandy beach, and dropped anchor awaiting the other boats (Home Free and Spirit of Aloha)
Two days later, Class Act and Gunkholer joined us -- along with Deborah Ann. Everyone hiding from the strong west winds that built almost every day by noon.
Finally decided it was going to be quiet enough that we could leave -- but not before Sophie managed to escape her collar -- which now rests somewhere near the beach at Amadroz. Leaving that behind, went to the Benjamins for two nights. Anchored near the cottage (which still never seems to be occupied). Two great shore party happy hours, and a morning of hiking all over and up and down Benjamin Island -- both Sophie and I were really tuckered out after that.
Left yesterday morning, but not before I had to call for assistance from Spirit of Aloha -- I managed to wrap my anchor chain around a twenty foot dead head! Only me! There are rocks and other traps at the Benjamins, but I've never hear of deadheads. Two hours later I pulled into Gore Bay for a four night stay.
And, here I sit -- a light rain -- two loads of laundry done. Even a hot shower. Life is GOOD!
The Rendezvous was lots of fun -- getting to visit with old friends and meeting new. I even was able to get my cell phone restored to a phone. One of the GLCC boaters figured out how to down load a new operating system, and I have phone and message service again. I'm afraid to try to add any apps, just in case I somehow screw up, and go dark again.
After the Rendezvous, I traveled to Mill Lake (about the middle of the Collins Inlet) with Home Free and Spirit of Aloha. We had a delightful three days anchored and taking the dogs to a little island. Joined by Adagio 1 and Deborah Ann for happy hour on Sonador one evening. Two mornings woke to the strong smell of smoke -- now we are surrounded by Provincial forest, so you wonder about these things. Turns out there is an enormous fire south and east of where we were anchored -- it's still out of control and the small craft channel in the Georgian Bay has been closed because of the fires.
We then headed to a new anchorage -- Gord Blake in the far eastern end of Frazier Bay -- nice protected bay with good places to take the dogs and a great afternoon of dinghy rides to the Rat Portage (takes one from Frazier to the Landsdown Channel) and to Blueberry (which I've heard boats mention for years, but never got to. Three nights there, and it was time to head into Little Current.
Luckily picked a day when the current was "little." The dock hands found me a clip facing west, straight in without having to duck and twist. The next night Roy Eaton hosted the Cruisers' Net party (a pot luck for about forty boats) at the west end of the docks.
Then the next morning headed off to Amadroz -- another new harbor -- to hide out from the west winds. The travel there was a little rough, especially when I had to turn north up the Waubuno Channel and had large beam seas for several minutes. Sophie wasn't a happy camper -- and neither was I. But pulled into the harbor -- directed by Teem Zooma toward a sandy beach, and dropped anchor awaiting the other boats (Home Free and Spirit of Aloha)
Two days later, Class Act and Gunkholer joined us -- along with Deborah Ann. Everyone hiding from the strong west winds that built almost every day by noon.
Finally decided it was going to be quiet enough that we could leave -- but not before Sophie managed to escape her collar -- which now rests somewhere near the beach at Amadroz. Leaving that behind, went to the Benjamins for two nights. Anchored near the cottage (which still never seems to be occupied). Two great shore party happy hours, and a morning of hiking all over and up and down Benjamin Island -- both Sophie and I were really tuckered out after that.
Left yesterday morning, but not before I had to call for assistance from Spirit of Aloha -- I managed to wrap my anchor chain around a twenty foot dead head! Only me! There are rocks and other traps at the Benjamins, but I've never hear of deadheads. Two hours later I pulled into Gore Bay for a four night stay.
And, here I sit -- a light rain -- two loads of laundry done. Even a hot shower. Life is GOOD!
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Onto the GLCC Rendezvous in Killarney
A full week at the Wilderness Rally in Key Hole -- with sun and calm seas everyday but the last. Although there are so many boats attending these events, it's hard to really talk "wilderness."
But that's the location more than the activities. We had pancake breakfast on shore, presentations on cloud computing and exploring the Georgian Bay, and lots of great catching up with old friends and meeting new. I'll publish photos when I have a stronger internet connection.
The one true wilderness experience for me is that my i-phone has decided to die -- and so far no attempts to revive it have worked. I have one more possible solution, at least according to Google, and if that doesn't work I'll be without phone or messages until the end of August when I return to the States.
I'm now in Killarney, Ontario -- a small community that connects the Georgian Bay with the North Channel -- where the GLCC has it's summer Rendezvous. That starts tonight, and will run until Thursday morning. Lots of visiting back and forth, activities to participate in (or not depending on your inclination) and the requisite dinners and cocktail parties. And, at least for a first step a HOT shower and some laundry.
It really is the little things that make boating a pleasure -- just kidding, but civilization is nice to encounter everyonce in a while.
But that's the location more than the activities. We had pancake breakfast on shore, presentations on cloud computing and exploring the Georgian Bay, and lots of great catching up with old friends and meeting new. I'll publish photos when I have a stronger internet connection.
The one true wilderness experience for me is that my i-phone has decided to die -- and so far no attempts to revive it have worked. I have one more possible solution, at least according to Google, and if that doesn't work I'll be without phone or messages until the end of August when I return to the States.
I'm now in Killarney, Ontario -- a small community that connects the Georgian Bay with the North Channel -- where the GLCC has it's summer Rendezvous. That starts tonight, and will run until Thursday morning. Lots of visiting back and forth, activities to participate in (or not depending on your inclination) and the requisite dinners and cocktail parties. And, at least for a first step a HOT shower and some laundry.
It really is the little things that make boating a pleasure -- just kidding, but civilization is nice to encounter everyonce in a while.
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