The North Channel

Friday, August 16 - Wednesday, August 21, 2013

The North Channel - Its proximity to Michigan, i.e.the end of our Loop is looming. For the the time remaining we will continue to live in the moment and count our blessings. Such is the freedom of the this Looping life. Reality will return soon enough.

North Channel Ports
Image From boatinggeorgianbay.com

Irish Attitude, Journey and Harmony approached Killarney, reunited once again. Margi, our cruise director, made reservations at Killarney Mountain Lodge and Marina. Killarney is the eastern edge of the North Channel, a body of water that stretches 70 miles, separates itself from Georgian Bay and Lake Huron by a series of islands. Most notably Manitoulin Island. Killarney a small town +on the mainland side of a channel with George Island on the opposite bank. Our trio of boats motored in and were greeted at the dock by some familiar faces! Mike and Cindy (Aurora), Jane and Kent (Carina) and Eddy and Linda (Spiritus) waved us in and caught our lines. This is one of the best parts of the Loop. Pulling in somewhere... anywhere and catching up with old friends (or making new ones). Other Loopers were also there. Rick and Leila (Sun Gypsy) along with people from Free At Last, Meridian, and Bright Angel. The latter came up from Grand Haven and they were exploring The North Channel. Regardless of their path, everyone gathered for docktails that night. It's been awhile since we had full blown docktails. After visiting with everyone the members of the Hudson River Homesteaders decided to continue the reunion over dinner and walked into town for a fish and chips sold out of a bus! (This is referring to the month we all spent on the Hudson River waiting for the Erie Canal to open.)  I had eaten enough appetizers to qualify as a meal but there is always room for ice cream! As everyone waited in line I headed to the local ice cream store then joined them at the picnic table out back. My ice cream did not go unnoticed and the others stopped in for a treat on the way back to the boats.

Lighthouse at Killarney Channel Entrance

Killarney is on the Right

Fuel Dock

Familiar Dock Hands (Eddy, Jane and Kent)

Setting Up for Docktails

Eddy, Kent, Rick, Leila, Jane, Mike, Bob and Margi

Rick and Mike Chillin' (One Beverage is Mine!)

Members of the Hudson River Homesteaders Have the T-Shirts to Prove It!
Mike, Cindy, Linda and Eddy

Fast Food Fish Bus!

Fine Dining, Finer Company

Two Otters Sunning Themselves

Carousel Lounge at the Lodge

Checking Out the Dining Hall

On Saturday, Margi and I walked around the Lodge. Some of the accommodations were like a motel and others had cabins. I walked into town to do laundry and Mike worked on small jobs on the boat. Janet, Margi and I walked into town to see the sites. There were a few other marinas further along the channel. The Sportsman's Inn looked like a nice marina also. Janet spotted a place sponsoring a pig roast that night. Dinner plans were settled! We stopped into a grocery store near the marina on the way home. $8 for a package of bacon.... seriously? I don't know where the locals shop but they couldn't afford to shop here and neither can we!

Local Church with Common Stone Architecture

Boat-In Theater! An Animated Film Played at Night

Our Lady Of Lourdes Shrine on George Island

Pig Roast at The Pines Inn. Good Eats, Good Prices!

In Town for Dinner?

This Long Channel Makes a Great Runway

Every Sunset is Unique

Sunday, August 18th we pulled out of Killarney, headed for an anchorage in Baie Fine (pronounced Bay Fin). This freshwater fjord (pronounced Fee Yord) is a specific type of inlet carved by glaciers and filled by the melting ice. Bright white quartz and limestone cliffs in the La Choche Mountains can be spotted from some distance away. I told our southern friends there was snow in the hills ahead..... I thought I had them convinced but they denied it! The further we traveled the more breath-taking the view.

Frazier Point Lighthouse

Rocks to the Port Bow, Mountains Dead Ahead

Rocky Shelves Are Visible In Calm Waters

An Old Lodge, Now Privately Owned

The Route Narrows

Green Buoys are to Our Port (left)

Mountains of Quartz

There are numerous anchorages here. We hoped to get as close to the end as possible. This area is called 'The Pool'. After some discussion we opted to anchor in a cove to the east, just before the narrow entrance to The Pool. You have to watch your depths here when anchoring. It can be very deep in some places. We dropped anchor and it held. Mike put out a stern anchor on shore again. It was early in the day so everyone hopped into their dinghies to explore The Pool and nearby Lake Topaz. After beaching the dinghies we hiked along a marked path towards Lake Topaz. The trail was wide with loose rocks but not difficult. Once we cleared the crest.... WOW! The name said it! There are not fish or even algae in this lake. The mineral content is reportedly too high to support any growth.

Stunning

Watch Your Footing!

Vibrant Blues and Greens Against the White Quartz

We Took Turns Posing

Kids Took Turns Jumping off the Quartz Cliffs

Mike and Margi Lead Us Back Down

As we putted around The Pool it was obvious that boats of our size could easily fit. A few sailboats had claimed their spot for the night. It was unanimous, we were staying put! So we headed back. Margi invited everyone to dinner at aboard Journey. Margi and Janet surprised Mike and I with a dinner celebrating our year of looping. Bob and Janet were not with us on August 14th so we were treated to a 2nd celebration! Pizza on the grill and blueberry pie!! The delicious food filled our stomachs but our friends thoughtfulness filled our hearts. How lucky we were to stumble upon such wonderful people.

This Cottage in The Pool is Owned by the Evinrude (Motors) Family

Dinghy!

Celebrating 1 Year on the Loop (a 2nd time!)

The End of Another Amazing Day on the Loop

Monday, August 19 - We weighed anchor and headed out for a brief stop in Little Current. Our group alternates lead boat. We tailed entering so we took point on the way out. Exiting Baie Fine was even more picturesque due to the stillness of the water. The beauty of the landscape was doubled by its reflection.

The Morning Sun Peeks Over the Trees Spreading a Warm Glow

The Sun Reflecting on the Water

Mirror Images

The Mountain Reflection

Mike Takes It All In

Thumbs Up if You Enjoying Yourself

Quartz Mountains

The Buoy Line Takes Us Right Next to the Cliffs and Rocks Below

At 9:00 a.m. Roy Eaton of the Cruiser's Net sends out a live group broadcast over the VHF radio. He gives the weather and a bit of news. Boats in the area may call in their location or a brief message or question for Roy. It's a way of staying connected in such a vast area. We all called in and heard Kent from Carina too. Little Current is located on Manitoulin Island. Manitoulin Island's shores boarder the North Channel, Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. It's a large expanse of land that boasts over 100 inland lakes. We timed our approach to Little Current to the scheduled opening of the swing bridge, the islands only connection to mainland Ontario. The bridge swings once and hour for 15 minutes, boat traffic or not. Irish Attitude can't pass up an opportunity to fill our gas tanks so we pulled in. I stepped off to get a few pictures. The town dock is free but it was early. Harmony and Journey have larger fuel tanks and burn diesel fuel. They fuel up less frequently. 

Strawberry Island Lighthouse

Little Current Swing Bridge 

Downtown (2 Blocks Long)

Free Town Dock!

We move on towards the small village of Kagawong in Mudge Bay. As Journey approached, local kids were jumping off the pilings into the harbor entrance. The kids were not at all concerned, I can't say the same for the rest of us! Kagawong is Ojibwe for "Where mists rise from falling waters". This is a reference to Bridal Veil Falls, the reason for our stop. With the boat secure and our dockage paid we were off to the falls. First we passed St. John the Evangelist's Anglican Church, know as 'The Sailor's Church'. This 120 year old church has a pulpit is built from the bow of a fishing boat! On track again we followed a marked trail along a small river or creek for a mile or two. It was a gentle rise and not difficult in the least. The path opens up to a small pool and waterfall. Mike was the first to brave the water and stood beneath the shower of the falls. I was next. Our friends attributed this to our northern upbringing. Water we found refreshing was just plan cold to them. I convinced Margi to try it and she did it! Janet walked on the ledge behind the falls and she convinced me to join her. It was slippery in some places but a unique perspective. Thanks Janet! We visited the tourist shops on our return and had dinner aboard that night.

Kagawong Municipal Marina

Kawagong Harbor Entrance

The Sailor's Church

Unusual Pulpit

A Teaser

Bridal Veil Falls

Me and Margi

Behind the Falls

Zoomed In

Harbor Lights, Harbor Lights Shine so Bright

Tucked in For the Night

Wednesday, August 20th we departed Kagawong and Manitoulin Island head for Cockburn Island in Robinson Bay. This is a beautiful spot! Sandy bottom with no weeds. We all dinghied ashore and walked the sandy (not rocky!) beaches. Just when you feel like Robinson Crusoe you find a message in the sand left by the last visitor.

Mike, Margi, Janet and Teddy

Irish Attitude

Setting Sun

Rising Moon

Where the Water Meets the Sky

Well, another chapter comes to an end. Canada.... We have spent over 6 week following the waterways here. Tomorrow we will re-enter the U.S.A. Two regrets as we leave Canada: What took us so long to visit by boat and Sorry we didn't stay longer. The choice is ours of course but as we approach familiar waters we are excited to introduce our friends to Michigan, the state that Mike and I grew up in. That is our Irish Attitude.... find the positive side!