Wye Heritage Marina, Midland ON to Snug Harbour, ON

Anchorage on Brown Bay

July 28, 2015

We leave the marina at 8:15 after filling our water tanks and pumping out.  We are following what is known as the Small Craft Channel on Georgian Bay, the home of 30,000 islands.  We proceed past Beausoleil Island and Gin Rocks.  We plan to anchor on the north side of Bone Island in an area known as the"Hockey Stick" which is a long fjord like bay.  Andy, at Wye Heritage Marina, recommended this anchorage.  As we round the corner, we realize that this area is very popular with the locals and although it is absolutely beautiful, we decide to continue to another of Andy's recommendations which is across Musquash Channel on nearby Brown Bay.  When we arrive we realize that two other looper boats whom we have traveled with recently, Abama Dream and Gud-Nuff are also just setting their anchors.  During the afternoon, Dave and I enjoy swimming and relaxing while Jesse and Linda and Janet and Ralph try their luck at fishing.  Later in the day, Dave puts the dinghy in the water and we take a short ride, but the motor is acting up and we are towed back to "At Last" by Jesse and Linda.

Enjoying a tow

A little help from our friends

After trouble shooting the problem, Dave takes another ride.  About an hour later, I see Dave being towed in by a friendly Canadian.  Once again, he works on solving the motor problem.  He thinks the gas might be bad or water has gotten into it.  He decides to add a few things to the gas and try again later.  We have dinner with our two other looper friends and then head back to "At Last" to enjoy the night in our very peaceful anchorage. 

Brown Bay Anchorage

Shoaling and shallow areas are common in anchorages.
Careful attention is necessary.

Janet & Ralph

Jesse & Linda

July 29, 2015

After a morning swim, we all leave the anchorage at around 10:00.  We head to Twelve Mile Bay.  This is an interesting crossing as there are many narrow and twisting segments in this channel.  The entrance to the anchorage is just past Bowes Island.  The entrance is challenging and there is a shoal in the center of the anchorage.  Dave navigates the entrance expertly and we set our anchor.  Abama Dream follows us in, but Gud-Nuff has decided to continue on to Parry Sound.  After dinner, Jesse and Linda come to our boat for dessert and conversation.  It's another excellent evening in beautiful surroundings.

                      

                                                       Traveling to Twelve Mile Bay

Entrance to Twelve Mile Bay

Twelve Mile Bay Anchorage

July 30, 2015

Dave and I leave our anchorage at about 8:15 am.  Jesse and Linda have not decided where they are headed yet.  The weather forecast for later in the day is for wind and 3 ft. waves on the Bay so we decide to leave early and head to Echo Bay which is a well-protected anchorage.  It is close by…only eight and a quarter nautical miles….an easy day.  The first part of the passage on Twelve Mile Bay is sloppy, but smooths out as we head into a more protected area.  We pass by the popular Henry's Fish Restaurant.  It is well-known and many local and transient boats as well as seaplanes frequent the eatery.  The passageway into Echo Bay is breathtaking.  It is shallow and a bit rocky, but absolutely pristine and secluded.  As we round the corner, we see the basin where several boats are anchored.  There is still plenty of room for us.  The shoreline of this anchorage is part of the Massasauga Provincial Park and there are many walking trails.  However, caution is advised as this area is also the home of the massasauga rattlesnake.  Med Mooring is a common practice in anchorages such as this one.  Since the water is deep to the bank, boaters tie their sterns to a tree or stake on shore and anchor their bows out about 100' from shore.  This is very common in Georgian Bay as well as the North Channel. However, we set the anchor in the traditional way.  We meet Bill and Ann who are anchored on Therapi-Too.  Bill is very knowledgeable about the area and chats extensively with Dave about navigating the waters of Georgian  Bay.  We take a dinghy ride and explore the many coves, swim, and chat with other boaters.  Tomorrow we will travel to Parry Sound.  Ann and Bill are also headed there and so we will follow them.

The famous Henry's Fish Restaurant

Barge transporting oil tank

Entering Echo Bay

Echo Bay

July 31, 2015

At 8:00 am, we leave our anchorage right behind Therapi-Too en route to Parry Sound.  It is only about 13 miles.  There are many cottages along this route.  Although the beginning of the ride is a bit bumpy, it turns into a pleasant, smooth ride.  There are several narrow channels along the route and it is necessary to announce a "securite" before entering them, especially Devil's Elbow which is a 90-degree blind turn.  

Devil's Elbow

Chippewa III

We arrive at the Rose Point swing bridge at about 10:15 am.  The bridge only opens on the hour.  However, the Chippewa III, a small sight-seeing ship, is waiting on the other side of the bridge so the bridge keeper opens at about 10:30 and we head through.

Rose Point Swing Bridge

Ann and Bill are staying at Big Sound Marina which is owned by the town.  We are unable to get a slip there due to the fact that it is a holiday weekend for the Canadians and it is very busy.  We do take a slip on the Town Dock, Government Dock, with the large cruise ship, the Island Queen, and some larger boats.

Parry Sound Town Dock

Island Queen

We have electricity and are able to use all the facilities that the Big Sound Marina offers.  Parry Sound is one of the last places that one can re-provision before reaching Little Current.  We take a cab to Sobey's for groceries and when we return, I go to the Big Sound Marina to do laundry.  In addition to several marinas in the harbor, Georgian Bay Airways, a float plane charter and tour business, operates from here as well.  Throughout the afternoon we have noticed many seaplanes taking off and landing.  Dave is a happy man just to watch them.  However, on our way to dinner, I suggest that he inquire about taking a ride.  I am not a good flyer, so it is not even a consideration for me to go.   The airways has a tour available and Dave takes the Parry Sound Island Tour.  Although it is a short ride, he has a great time.  We have a wonderful dinner at the Bayside Bistro and then return to the boat.  It's been a very busy day and Dave is not feeling well.  He has an earache.  Tomorrow we will have to look into finding a walk-in clinic.

Scenic Flights and Adventures

Dave's Most Excellent Adventure!

The Plane

The Passenger

Pre-Flight Checks

Preparing to Take Off

The View

The View

The View

The View

The Landing

At the Dock Again

Disembarking

Dave and Crew

August 1, 2015

Dave awakes to an ear infection.  His jaw is swollen and we need to find a walk-in clinic.  After talking with some people on the dock, we call a taxi and head to a pharmacy.  The pharmacist says he cannot diagnose or treat any ailment, but he can suggest some over the counter drugs. He also suggests we go to the emergency room at the West Parry Sound Health Centre.  It is a short walk away.  When we enter the emergency room, it is jammed.  We sign in and wait about an hour to register.  When Dave's name is finally called, the triage nurse is great.  He tells us that because we are foreigners, it will cost $575 just to register.  Once the doctor has seen Dave, and perhaps prescribes medication, there will be an additional charge.  He suggests that we go to a "nursing station".  This medical facility is staffed by nurse practitioners.  However, the only problem is the closest one is about 30 kilometers away.  We thank him the information and decide to return to the boat.  Before we leave the hospital, Dave attempts to call Blue Cross to see if he will be reimbursed if we use the Canadian medical center.  After being cut off several times, we give up, call a cab and return to "At Last".  Dave definitely needs to be seen by someone, so we call the taxi company again and ask what the fee to Rosseau, ON will be.  We then call the nursing station in Rosseau to confirm they are open and Dave can be seen.  They tell us to come after 1:30.  We call the taxi and head to Rosseau.  It is a pleasant ride and the town is quite quaint and busy.  Our cab driver waits while Dave goes into the clinic.  There are a few people ahead of us, but the receptionist believes it should be no more than 45 minutes.  About an hour later, Dave is seen and in about five minutes he has a prescription in hand and we are headed back to Parry Sound.  The cab driver brings us to a pharmacy where they fill the prescription for ear drops and and an antibiotic. Then it's back to the boat.  The nursing station, the round-trip cab ride, the medication and the tip for the driver cost us about a third of what it would have cost at the hospital.  It is late afternoon, but we decide to leave the dock and go into the sound to anchor for the night.  We find a nice anchorage just outside the harbor.  We have dinner and head to bed early, hoping Dave feels better in the morning.  There is one bright spot tonight, there is a Blue Moon and there won't be another until 2018.

Blue Moon

August 2 - 3, 2015

Dave is feeling a little better today.  His jaw is not as swollen, but his earache is still there.  We leave early to go to our next anchorage which is close by.  When we start out, there is very little wind, but the forecast is for both the wind and water to kick up later in the day and thunderstorms are forecast for the afternoon and evening.  On our way we pass Davy Island and a cruise ship, Misty Pearl, which cruises the Georgian Bay, the Trent-Severn and the Rideau Canal systems.  Although how it fits through some of those narrow canals is a mystery to me. 

Davy Island

Misty Pearl

We arrive in the area before 10 am.  We have a choice of anchoring in Regatta Bay or Snug Harbour.  We choose Snug Harbour because it is more protected if the weather turns really nasty.  There is only one other boat in the anchorage.  We set the anchor and then take a dinghy ride around the area.  Due to the forecast, when we return from our ride, we put the dinghy back on the upper deck, cover the bridge and make sure everything is secure.  By 1:30 it is raining and continues to do so intermittently throughout the day.  After dinner there is some thunder and lightening and more rain.  We watch some TV, read and then head to bed.  

Snug Harbour Anchorage

Anchorage

Anchorage

We wake to gray skies on Monday morning.  After breakfast and a check of the weather, we decide to stay in the same anchorage for the next 48 hours.  It is well-protected and the forecast is for waves of 4-5 feet with winds of 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots.  Definitely not my kind of traveling weather.  At about 9, we see a group of kayakers.  They are students from Michigan who have been camping and kayaking on nearby Franklin Island for the past 21 days.  They are leaving today to return home, but have had an awesome time.  We spend the rest of the day getting caught up on the blog, route planning, and photo transferring.  It's good to have a few days with free time.  Stay tuned.  Not sure when our next post will be.

Kayakers from Michigan