Georgian Bay---First Leg

We left the Trent-Severn Waterway after Lock 45....and entered Georgian Bay, which was totally flat. We headed south to Hog Bay which is the first bay east of Midland. We were taking Snow Cat to James Power, a PDQ expert serviceman, who would install a new battery combiner. 

 The small-craft channel is well-marked. A few places require some tight maneuvering, but we haven't been in any water less than 7 feet, and that was only once for two seconds. I guess we were passing over a boulder! But we are always watching our GPS and spotting the buoys ahead. The channels are well marked, but once in a while we have to stop and figure out where we are. I follow along with the paper strip charts of Georgian Bay that show the main channel and all the side routes...they are a must in our opinion to safe navigating in this area.

 The boat in the foreground that we are rafted off in Hog Bay is Last Cat, a 2007, and the last Powercat 34 foot hull built by PDQ. Ed, the owner, who worked for PDQ, finished the boat himself after they stopped production.

While we stayed on James' mooring, our boating buddies, Al and Julie, stayed at Queen's Cove Marina. While visiting with them, we watched a mink scurry along the dock.

 When we got up at 4 am to sit with Kate during a thunder and lightning storm, we found she had made a "nest" out of all the little rugs and dog mats.

 The next day we passed by Honey Harbour. They had the cheapest diesel prices that we have seen in Canada, $1.35/liter.

 My favourite anchorage so far...in Frying Pan Bay, at the northern end of Beausoleil Island Provincial Park.

 Kate was all prepared for "Ready, Set, Swim", except, instead of jumping off the dock at home, we jumped off the bottom step of our boat. She has a blue tennis ball in her mouth!

 We enjoyed seeing this sign as were heading to Parry Sound, via an alternate route off the main small-craft channel. The day before, before we reached Sans Souci, we were caught in a terrible thunderstorm that surprised everyone! When the heavy rain came, we went below to steer. The cabin was so dark that I had to put on the overhead lights to read the paper chart. With the dark skies and water, it was very difficult seeing the dark bouys, but we managed to stick to the channel and avoid all the rocks. But the concentration was very intense....I was too busy and nervous to even think of taking pictures!

 This was the prettiest boathouse we have seen so far.

 An osprey feeding her young...

 Downtown Parry Sound. If you took the cars away, it would look like a scene from the 50's and 60's!

 We loved this church sign....

 We needed a side table for our sunroom wing-back chair...and we found one. It is quite heavy, but Don managed to carry it back to the boat! He was glad it was downhill going back to the harbour. One less thing for him to build....

Today, June 21, we have decided to stay in Parry Sound. The winds are very high,  and no one is boating.  Tomorrow, Friday, we hope to continue on to Pointe au Baril. We should be home in a few days!!!