July 26, 2004 -
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I can’t believe it but we have been traveling 10 days in a
row. (That includes 2 weekends) That’s a record for us. The
next startling news is we have spent the night at anchor 3
nights in a row.
We decided to try the small craft channel to explore the north
shore of the Georgian Bay. We asked several locals what they
thought with all the reports of the low water level in the Bay
but the consensus was the water is up from last year and is
not a hazard.
But I’m ahead of myself. I left you last on Lake Simcoe. We
finished the locks and railway (Big Chute) on Friday. The
picture of Bob fishing is Swift Rapids Lock. That is lock 44
(of 45). We locked through and stayed on the lock wall
Thursday evening. Bob decided to try his luck at fishing. I
had my taste buds set for Walleye. Instead he gets 2 catfish.
(All this way for catfish.)
We wanted to leave early on Friday and avoid the weekend rush
at the Chute so off we cruised by 8 am. I was all ready to get
in line and wait when we got there. Can you believe we were
first and had to wait for them to get the railway ready? The
lock staff is very helpful in loading. They put the trawler on
first to the starboard and then loaded us in the middle of the
back. The slings are tightened and up you go. You can see from
the picture of me getting the lines ready that the clouds were
gathering. The barometer had dropped and my well worn Eddy
Creek hooded sweatshirt shows how the temperature was
dropping. I wish I had a picture of Oil & Water in the sling
going down but you stay on the boat while it is transported
and you can drive it off quickly for the next riders. The
pictures show us going down and looking back to where we came
from. The current at the bottom of the chute was pretty stiff
so there is no messing around.
There is only one more lock on the Trent but the ride was
beautiful. When we got to lock 45 the temp had dropped more
and the wind had picked up. We had planned on motoring to
Midland on the Georgian Bay but the water was pretty rough so
we ducked into Victoria Harbor and stayed at the Queen’s Cove
Marina. We got there about noon, tied up and waited for more
bad weather but by 3 pm the sun was out and the sky was clear
but the wind was still white capping the bay.
We did spend quality time with the chart book planning our
travels thru the Bay. We left the marina on Saturday morning
to make a short jaunt to Beausoleil Island to anchor there
until Sunday. That is a popular place. Boats anchored
everywhere and campers on the island that come by boat and
stay for vacation. We stayed on the western side of the
island. There are pretty beaches and rocks to swim off from
land. The water is so clear. I started in from the boat ladder
but decided it was still way too cool for me.
On Sunday we cruised to Snug Harbor. The lighthouse without
the clothesline is there. We put the dinghy down and motored
around the harbor. Rocks everywhere. Houses built right on the
rocks. We left there this morning and probably did our most
difficult navigating to date as we moved along.
There are rocks everywhere. Not just “rock” but glacier
remnants from before dinosaur time. I included one picture of
a tight squeeze. I’m afraid you can’t appreciate the tight
situation but I don’t think they had a 44 foot boat in mind
when they marked this part of the channel. It was a sharp
turn, narrow rocky ledge on each side and a swift current but
another boat was coming fast at us as Bob was negotiating his
way. Fortunately the oncoming boat saw the turn and opted to
stay back until we could get through and moving.
We did cover some water today although most of it was winding
here and there. The lighthouse with the clothesline is at
Pointe au Baril.
As I mentioned the terrain is rock. The last picture is my
best effort to show you one of the many rock sculptures that
are built on the stone ledges along the way. I have neglected
to get the history but I believe they may be Indian in origin
and probably have a navigational purpose. I can’t imagine
piloting a water craft on this water without some kind of aid.
The rocks and trees and twists and turns look amazingly
similar.
We travel to Killarney tomorrow. I believe we will stay for a
day or two to rest and reprovision before we start the North
Channel. I am anxious to keep moving. I would like to be back
in the states to reconnect my email and catch up on the news.
We haven’t seen a TV program since we got back and the radio
reception is just as bad. With the exception of news from
Mandy and Marty and sometimes Taylor we are making our own
news.
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