Quest on the Loop

Friday, July 27, 2012

Wright’s Marina, Britt, ON - 7/26/12

Finally … WiFi at the dock but it is very slow. I am downloading 7/23 through 7/25 with this posting, however pictures refuse to post.

Marc’s Ark and Quest left at 7 a.m. for the 51 mile run to Britt. Blue Heron elected to stay and leave a little later since it is pretty much an open water run and they can get their boat on plane.

We went through a rocky area called “the pancakes”

Later we passed the Point Au Baril Lighthouse.

The water here is gorgeous and we understand it will get better.

Just before we made our last turn toward Britt … there came Blue Heron.

Rickshaw and their guests Al and Dawn stopped by for adult beverages in the late afternoon. Ricki and I elected to eat on the boat tonight since we have had restaurant food several times lately. After dinner Marc and Michelle along with Craig and Barbara stopped by after returning from dinner.

Another day in paradise.

N 45 46.058 W 080 35.082

Killbear Marina, Killbear Point, ON - 7/25/12

After receiving advice from a local, we left early at 8 a.m. for the short run of 16 miles to Killbear in order to miss the cruise boat that would be coming through the small boat channel out of Parry Sound. There are few places that we could have passed the boat safely within the buoyed channel.

The trip was a nice ride and the water was calm, however although the marina is nice it is not in a town, does not have WiFi and does not have any way to get to town. We should have motored on to an anchorage closer to our destination tomorrow which is Britt.

After doing nothing most of the afternoon except small things on the boat, we had dinner at the marina restaurant with Mike and Kathy (Queen Kathleen), Marc and Michelle (Marc’s Ark) and Craig and Barbara (Blue Heron). Mike and Kathy are going to stop short of Britt tomorrow and anchor so this will be our last get together with them until our paths cross again.

Since Britt will be a 50 mile run we will be leaving early tomorrow.

N 45 21.424 W 080 14.354

San Souci, ON Henrys Fish Camp - 7/24/12

We woke up to strong wind this morning and after discussions with the other 3 boats, decided to stay put and hope the wind lays down tomorrow. This gave us an opportunity in the afternoon to get together and chart our course for the next few days with local advice from a man that works here. This was a big help since he was able to tell us routes to take and places to avoid.

That was followed by happy hour before going back to the restaurant for a light dinner. One can only eat so much fish so Ricki and I both had salads.

We turned in pretty early in hopes of leaving at 8 a.m. tomorrow.

Sans Souci, ON – Henry’s Fish Camp - 7/23/12

When we looked at the weather report for today it indicated winds out of the SW with 60% chance of storms in the afternoon so along with Marc’s Ark and blue Heron, we decided to make an early run for Henry’s on Frying Pan Island 31 miles away.

We all got started at 7:10 and pulled out of the Marina as we watched a helicopter from a cottage on the harbor leave. The weather was a little overcast but calm.

As we left the private markers for our marina we passed a rock named “Jack’s Rock”. Apparently “Jack” either hit it or had a memorable experience there to get that name.

It was a couple miles to get out of Honey harbor and back into Georgian Bay. The next series of pictures were taken in the bay as we traveled.

There were spots that we quite open and some that required some maneuvering to get through. Rocks were the order of the day!

About 10:30 we entered the harbor for Henry’s Fish Camp which is famous among loopers for their pickerel fish. In other parts of the world the fish is known as walleye or pike.

The six of us had lunch there and vowed to return for dinner. This is the new money in Canada and is actually plastic which they seem to think will last much longer than paper.

While we were eating this small plane landed and it turned out to be the Georgian Bay Airways which makes several stops here a day from early April until November.

A couple other planes also landed while we were eating.

This is the water in front of our boat. (the picture needs rotated)

Of course no day is complete when several loopers are present without happy hour which was on the Ark.

More planes came and went during dinner.

Dinner again at Henry’s. The picture includes: Barb and Craig (Blue heron); Michelle and Marc (Marc’s Ark); Mike and Kathy (Queen Kathleen) and the Guthries.

Tomorrow if the weather is decent, we will go to Parry Sound.

N 45 10.445 W 080 08.227

Sunday, July 22, 2012

South Bay Cove Marina, Honey Harbor, ON - 7/22/12

We got up early this morning and went to church with Marc and Michelle.

Catholic Church

The marina manager loaned us his truck so we were able to also get to the store to pick up a few things before heading out again tomorrow.

Craig, Barbara and Bailey

Craig and Barbara came by and suggested that we all dinghy down the bay for dinner which sounded like a great idea.

Our Marina

We dropped our dinghy and took off along with Marc and Michelle and headed out.

Happy Dinghy Ride

A little bad news ... it started taking on water and we had to turn back. Apparently the sun has caused the adhesive around transom to fail and we were afraid to go any further.

Neat Boat House

We did pass this neat boat house with a helicopter sitting in the yard.

The others turned around also and we ended up with happy hour at the marina on the porch. Another day in paradise!

Tomorrow we are going about 30 miles to Henry's Fish House with Blue Heron and Marc's Ark. After that we may not have Internet access for a few days as we go through the North Channel toward Michigan.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

South Bay Cove Marina, Honey Harbor, ON - 7/21/12

Several boats lined up at the lock at 8:30 this morning to go through the last lock on the Trent-Severn Waterway so we waited awhile to leave the marina.

Lock Line Up

At 8:55 we moved over to the blue line behind Marc's Ark. Only problem was that this was a small lock and only one boat over 40 foot could go down at a time. By the time it was our turn there were 3 others waiting behind us. This is the last lock we will go through until after Lake Michigan!!!

Georgian Bay

We headed out into the Georgian Bay. The following are some of the pictures we took today.

Crazy Canadians

After 17 miles of very stressful maneuvering around rocks and through narrow channels, we arrived at our marina at 12:30.

South Bay Cove Marina

Ricki caught up our laundry then we attended the mandatory looper happy hour at 5 p.m. We plan to stay here Sunday to avoid the weekend traffic then move on.

N 44 52.056 W 079 46.894

Rawley's Resort & Marina, Port Severn, ON - 7/20/12

Finally, after 3 nights on lock walls ... WiFi and I can get the last 4 days downloaded.

When we were getting ready to leave this morning to get the 8:30 opening of the Lock at Swift Falls, there was a timid Sheppard mix dog hanging around our side of the wall and it finally made up with me.

Michelle had tried to pet it earlier but it wouldn't have anything to do with her until she brought out some chicken. We had thought it homeless but found out later it belonged to one of the lock maintenance guys.

Lock Master

Floating Bollard

We entered the lock on the front port side next to Blue Heron. Marc's Ark and KARMA completed the lock. This had a few floating bollards which is the first we have seen since the inland rivers.

Marc's Ark and KARMA

Blue Heron led followed by Quest, Marc's Ark and KARMA.

Cottage?

This supposed to be cottage country but some houses were BIG.

Little tight - Keep Left

Island Cottage

Cottage?

Big Chute

Within an hour or so we rounded a corner and there it was. Ricki and I have waited for this moment for years.

We approached the blue line on port and was summoned over the PA system to enter the rail car. Any boat over 38 feet is taken alone over the road and into the bay beyond.

We were held in position by straps front and rear under the boat to steady it but we were actually sitting on our keel.

Up one side which is not steep and over the highway we went.

Straps

Starting Down

Looking back up the hill we just came down

Back in the water

It seemed like it was over so quickly that it didn't sink in what we had just experienced. This was the only type marine railway in the world!

Marc's Ark was next

The rail car

Marc'sprops

We took pictures of each other's boat and made sure we got pictures of their props.

Down the hill

Blue Heron

Carl and Marc

KARMA

Old Rail Car

Blue Heron and Quest below the Chute

Marc's Ark below the Chute

Off again in narrow turns

Passed this group coming into a tight turn

Rickshaw

We had made reservations with Marc's Ark to spend the night at Rawley's Resort and wewere surprised to learn that Rickshaw had done the same and ended up right beside us a couple hours later.