Day 81 – Saturday, August 29, 2009

Around 10pm last evening, the rain came and the boat continued to rock and roll until day break today. It wasn’t a night for sleeping or even resting!

The temperature dropped to a point that every one is wearing long pants, sweat shirts and jackets! This is the first day we had to turn on a small portable electric heater inside the boat. Barb wanted more heat than the little portable one so late in the afternoon I went to the boat house to get another power cord to heat the interior of the boat. A few people were standing on the dock next to the boat house looking across the river and I was told I just missed seeing a bear swim across the river then shake the water off his fur like a dog would ----- Timing is everything!

The weather forecast is for improved temperatures and wind conditions for the next few days. With the boat up and running and weather conditions improving, it appears we will leave Killarney tomorrow morning.

Day 80 – Friday, August 28, 2009

Today was a day of making repairs to the boat! Every thing fell into place as the day progressed. I started working at 7 am to remove both alternators and found out the Generator cover was in the way so it also was removed. There wasn’t a mechanic available to have the alternators checked or repaired within a one hundred miles so I hired a car and driver to take me to Sudbury to an alternator repair shop. John went along for technical and moral support – or maybe a road trip and lunch! I called ahead and after an hour and a half drive through the woods we arrived at the shop. The alternator shop mechanic told me the problem wasn’t major but could be repaired by replacing a terminal on each alternator. He said that this is a very common problem with Mercury marine engine alternators! Two hours later every thing was repaired and we headed back to the boat. The weather was turning and I was racing the clock to get the boat put back together. On our return every thing went as planed and by 7 pm, both engines were running!

It wasn’t very long after I had the tools picked up and the engine covers closed that the winds picked up and the boat started to rock - and roll - and rock!

Day 79 – Thursday, August 27, 2009

Another perfect day to cruise! We passed through some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever experienced.

About half way to Killarney we experienced a major engine problem – both batteries were loosing their charge and most systems were shutting down and alarms were going off! I was able to work around the problem by starting my generator and running on the battery charger to get me to port. It sure was comforting to have John standing by to assist if we got into more problems in the middle of no where.

After securing the boat to the dock I went into the engine compartment looking for something obvious. It didn’t take long to locate a broken wire on the starboard engine and the identical wire on the port engine about to fall off the alternators. I tried to get a mechanic to no avail. Frank the town mechanic said he would put me on the list but wasn’t sure when he could look at it! Then he said he would probably have to send the alternators to Sudbury for repairs etc & etc. To me it sounded like four or five days for him to do the work. It’s now decision time…………..do I wait for the mechanic………..or try to repair it myself?

Day 78 – Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Today was a great day – the weather was close to perfect and we started the day well rested and ready to move forward. After yesterday every thing we did was going to be on the plus side normal. To be on the cautious side we fueled up prior to departing the marina, knowing we wouldn’t find fuel for the next few days. We took the Inland Passage route for 29 miles which was slow and full of rocks and reefs. The channels are well marked and if you don’t make a mistake it’s a good day. Up here on Georgian Bay, a mistake is unforgiving and could cost you your boat. Two years ago a 2 million dollar yacht hit a reef that we passed through yesterday and sank. Slow and cautious are one and the same thing when boating here! When we arrived at Obstacle Island we entered Parting Channel. The markers and rocks were so close together that I had to bring the boat to a full stop and spin it 90 degrees in one direction then do it again three more times in less than 100 feet around a large rock that was smack dab in the middle of the passage! It is exciting, fun and does test your boating skills!

Late in the afternoon we arrived in Macdougal Bay on the French River. The Bay is a very quiet anchorage which is absolutely beautiful. We plan to stay up later tonight just to view the stars without any man made lights to contaminate the view.

John and I rafted off each other after our day of dodging rocks. We set a second anchor to keep the boats from swinging. In the middle of anchoring and rafting, I snagged a 15 foot log with my anchor and had one hell of a time getting it off to free the boat.

When our chores were complete we shared a nice bottle of wine before dinner. Barb and I then retired to our boat and had a steak dinner with all the trimmings before studying charts for tomorrow’s new adventure.

Day 77 – Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Today was a day to remember! By the time we topped of our fuel tanks and pumped out our holding tanks it was 9 am. John was leading as we moved north into open water. The first four hours wasn’t bad just a little choppy but windy. We navigated to a port called Pointe au Baril Station and planned on staying the night. The dock attendant signaled to me to bring the boat to a specific location which I did. As we approached the docks we encountered a 20 mph wind that made getting into the dock dicey at best. After getting to the dock and securing he boat I was told I would have to move it when a work boat arrived! That did not make for a happy Captain! The four of us did a quick assessment of the town from the dock and determined that it was time to leave and head for the next port on our list.

That was not the best decision as the wind was picking up and it changed direction --- something that I should have noticed! For the next three and a half hours we had a one and a half hour period of pure hell! We carefully navigated through some of the worst reefs and rocks I have ever encountered and add 3 to 4 foot waves with 6 foot rollers it was an experience the four of us would rather forget. Once inside the inside passage the water calmed down and by the time we arrived in the port of Byng Inlet every thing was fine.

We went to dinner at The Little Britt Inn, a restaurant that has been written up in where to eat in Canada for over 8 years! On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give them a 5 and I’m being generous. The only part of the meal worth raving about was the desert. The two Barb’s both gave then a 6 and John gave them a “maybe”7.

About half way through the meal the room started to rock and move --- I think the rough water caught up with all of us. It was then time to return to the boat and sleep off today’s experience! Tomorrow we will check the weather more closely then make a decision as to what we will do.

Day 76 – Monday, August 24, 2009

Not much excitement today! John and I spent most of the day calling different marinas in the northern portion of Michigan looking for storage. We are now waiting for replies from a few marinas that said they weren’t sure if space would be available until there regular customers replied by September 1st! That doesn’t help us much at this time but……! We did get a few good offers from marinas further south but the intent is to stay as far north as possible then visit more of Canada and Lake Superior next summer before heading south on Lake Michigan.

Day 75 – Sunday, August 23, 2009

Today the weather was overcast with the wind out of the north! It appeared that a storm was in the works but it never materialized. The boat is now in Parry Sound one of the larger towns in the Georgian Bay region. We all walked to town to have lunch then check out the shopping district. On our return to the marina we stopped at the local sea plane airport and had ice cream at their concession stand. Barb did laundry and I spent a lot of time looking for a storage facility to store the boat for the winter. All in all it was not a very exciting day! Tomorrow John and I will call about 30 different marinas or leads to reduce the number of possible locations to store the boat.

With a little luck Barb might get the Blog out tomorrow. To accomplish it she has to sit out side at a picnic table with her laptop. If the bugs are biting her – no blog!

Day 74 – Saturday, August 22, 2009

Today was a short day on the water. We retraced our path back to the main channel and turned west for a few miles before heading north into Echo Bay, another great location to anchor out! John dropped his anchor and secured a stern line to a tree growing out of a large granite rock formation. I slipped in to his port side, lashed our boat to his, and rafted off for the night.

We just finished dinner and a nice bottle of wine so will call it a day. Tomorrow we will move to Parry Sound and spend one or two nights in a marina. Our hope is to call as many marinas as possible to help us make a final selection as to where the boat will be stored over the winter.

Day 73 – Friday, August 21, 2009

Today we had mixed weather reports for Georgian Bay. We headed north from Henry’s and dropped the hook in Port Rawson Bay. I know it sounds commercial but there weren’t many other boats in the area! Later in the day other boats did join us at this very special location. More than likely the area we anchored in was once used in the lumber industry. There are still metal rings attached to some of the rock faces that were used to secure logs during the logging days.

The bay was absolutely gorgeous! I anchored in 15 feet of water with a good bottom to set the hook. Barb and I then launched the dinghy and set out to explore the bay and have a picnic lunch away from the boat. With the anchor firmly set and 100 feet of chain lying on the bottom we had a peaceful night to sleep.

The nights are starting to get cool - very cool, and it obvious that the summer is coming to a close up here! Barb and I need to get serious as to where we will store the boat for the winter!

Day 72 – Thursday, August 20, 2009

The day started out with Susan McClinton leading us on a hiking adventure to visit a couple of locations within the island. Fairy Lake is a lake on the Beausoleil Island with a higher elevation than the waters the island is sitting in! What a great way to start the day. (picture on left) On our return to the dock we said our goodbyes to more new friends and departed the harbor.

We cruised north and west for 27 miles to Henry’s Fish Restaurant and marina in the middle of nowhere on Frying Pan Island. We decided to stay the night due to changing weather conditions and have dinner in the restaurant later in the evening. Within an hour of mooring the boat another storm came roaring through and we were very grateful to be secured to a dock and not on the hook in some remote location!

Every one that we have talked to in this area has recommended Henry’s Fish Restaurant – soooooo we gave it a try and enjoyed it as much as you can when eating fish - again! If I eat any more fish I’m going to grow gills! If you have a desire to sample Henry’s Fish, remember the only way to get there is by boat or seaplane!

Day 71 – Wednesday, August 19, 2009

What a great day – we cruised through well marked channels, and rafted off Johns boat for a short period of time. There are two docks in Frying Pan Bay that became available shortly after we arrived so we broke away from John and tied to the dock. Within minutes, John pulled his anchor and joined us at the dock. This harbor is incredibly beautiful with its crystal clear water, pink granite rocks and thick vegetation!

We were told to watch out for the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
(bottom right picture) that is on the endangered list and sure enough another boater found a small one about two feet long close to the dock! Barb took a few pictures before it slithered back into the forest. There are other critters running around the island, especially black bears, so we will stay on the dock and socialize tonight.

Tomorrow we plan to do another twenty miles then anchor out in a remote area that was recommended by Kathi and Harold that live in Meaford on Georgian Bay. Loopers are great people and share so much knowledge and helpful suggestions that make this whole adventure worthwhile!

Day 70 – Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Today we drove to Port Severn and picked up John’s package. On the way we stopped to visit Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, another living museum in Midland, Ontario. Sainte-Marie was an early mission that the Jesuits established in 1639. The mission prospered for ten years before being attacked by the Iroquois. In 1650 the Jesuits and about two hundred of their converts burned the mission and returned to Quebec

If you’re ever in this part of Canada I would highly recommend stopping for a most enjoyable visit. Give your self two or three hours as there is a lot to see and do! The staff is in period costume and well informed.

As we were about to leave the Hurons village the sky turned dark and the weather turned to heavy rain. The inclement weather was all it took for us to change our schedule and stay one additional night at the marina.

Tomorrow we will cruise to Beausoleil Island and anchor out in Frying Pan Bay. The island is a provisional park and the only way to get there is by boat.

We are now entering more remote areas that have poor telephone service and have very little internet service. When ever it’s possible, we will post the blog.

Day 69 – Monday, August 17, 2009

The four of us walked to Discovery Harbor (pictures) in Penetanguishene, Ontario. It’s a living museum constructed on the site of a prior naval base that was completed in 1817, after the war of 1812. The Canadians still considered the Americans a threat in 1817 and thought that they would attack their borders with naval power. There is great historical significance to the old compound so it was rebuilt as a reminder of their growth when building their nation.

Today John rented a car to pick up a package in Port Severn! The package didn’t arrive but we got to ride around in the car and do some shopping. Tomorrow we will try again!

Day 68 – Sunday, August 16, 2009

Today we moved the boat from Midland (picture is sunset in Midland last night) to Penetanguishene, about a seven mile ride. (I can’t pronounce it but it’s a nice place to visit.) We will stay here two nights then move to an island where we are planning to anchor out. The marina were staying at has every amenity you could ask for except wave protection from the boat traffic passing by us! Our boat is being bounced around like a cork in this harbor and if it continues throughout the night we may change harbors tomorrow!

Tomorrow we will rent a car and tour this area as there are many sights to see out of walking range! The weather continues to be summer like and dry. We hope the good weather continues for the next four weeks or until the boat is placed into heated storage.

Day 67 – Saturday, August 15, 2009

Our boats are officially in Georgian Bay! Once the two boats were safely moored at the Midland Harbor Town Dock we had a bottle of champagne to celebrate our completion of the Trent Severn Waterway! The lock we passed through this morning was the smallest lock (80 ft. long and 24 ft. wide) in the system and will be the last lock for this year, giving us a total of 128 locks. Our next lock will be when we enter Lake Superior next summer on our return home.

The picture is the largest outdoor historical mural in North America, and the theme is echoed throughout downtown Midland, where murals painted on downtown buildings record the rich history of the town as a busy fur trading, lumbering, fishing and transportation port.

Our latest plan is to cruise Georgian Bay for the next month and then, putting “Moor $tuff” into winter storage until next season. Leaving the boat in Canada will seam strange, but it’s the most economical and easiest thing for us to do! Our biggest problem facing us will be to recover our car that we left in Vermont! At present we are thinking that we’ll pick up the car in Vermont, then drive back to the boat and load it up with items that need to return to Illinois

Day 66 – Friday, August 14, 2009

Today was a great day – we traveled 43 miles dropped 68 feet through two locks and then rode the Big Chute Marine Railway another 57 feet down to the level of the Georgian Bay. The Big Chute was a huge, treat for Barb and me! We consider ourselves lucky that they selected our boat to enter the rail platform first then placed us in the center of the platform which is equivalent to riding in the first seat on a roller coaster. The view was great and the whole experience from start to finish was over in less than ten minutes. For me – the whole concept of a big platform that rises out of a lake on RR tracks and lifts your boat out of the water on slings, drives across a highway with railroad

gates stopping the traffic and bells clanging, then travels down two sets of RR tracks into a lake 57 feet below where you float off the slings is just over the top!

At present we are moored at Severn Boat Haven in Port Severn one lock away from entering Georgian Bay. It’s time to pull out the next set of charts and start another adventure!

Day 65 – Thursday, August 13, 2009


We are now in the town of Orillia, Ontario. The weather is perfect today, and has been predicted to stay this way for the next five days!!! At present John and I are waiting for the starting motor and a mechanic to install it. The “Barb’s” are out shopping and its Miller time! Stayed tune for updates!

The mechanic arrived at 1 pm and within an hour and a half the job was complete! With all mechanical systems working and nothing to hold us here – the four of us went to the local supermarket to provision our boats for the Georgian Bay! The four of us had dinner on our boat and discussed the next few days. Tomorrow we will experience the Big Chute Marine Railway.

There’s a lot of history within the park that surrounds the harbor. There’s a large statute commemorating Champlain who was the first white man to step foot in this part of the world. Champlain and his crew of 16 men spent a winter here with the Huron Nation Indians.

After an enjoyable walk the four of us stopped for ice cream, and then returned to our boats.

Day 64 – Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Today was a quiet day for Barb and I as we waited for John and Barb’s boat to be repaired. The starting motor for their generator was delivered as promised but didn’t fit! Late in the afternoon they realized there was no way to make it fit so a different one was ordered. The marina realized their mistake and gave both of us a free night and pump out for our wasted day. A different starting motor is going to be delivered and installed at the marina in Orillia that we will move to tomorrow!

Day 63 – Tuesday, August 11, 2009

We have parts!!!! The parts were delivered to the boat this morning and an hour later I had our generator running! By early afternoon all systems were 100% and we are ready to move on. John is waiting for a new starting motor to be delivered tomorrow morning. Once the starting motor is installed by the marina, we’ll move on and try to get out of Lake Simcoe and into the town of Orillia about 15 miles from here. From there we are two days from the Georgian Bay! Every day we get closer to the Big Chute a 57 foot drop via a platform that picks the boat up on slings and transports it down the side of a hill on rails! I’ve come a long way for this ride and I’m really getting excited!

Tonight we will dine on Barb and John’s boat! I think you could call this a boater's pot luck dinner. Not sure what will be served but I’ll bring the wine!

The pictures are of sights along the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Can you find the bald eagle?

Day 62 – Monday, August 10, 2009

We got under way early and passed through one lock before stopping for breakfast. Without a generator on board we couldn’t make coffee or cook on board the boat! We tied up at the wall next to lock 38 (Talbot) and walked down a country road to the local restaurant and had a hardy breakfast. On our departure from the wall, John had a mechanical problem with the steering on his boat that required a trip to town for hydraulic fluid! One of the lock attendants drove John into town so I got a chance to fill in and help on the lock, opening and closing the doors by using old machinery that was over 100 years old. I truly enjoyed every minute of that experience! Once we added the fluid and got the air out of the system we were under way again. That's us as we passed through the “Hole in the Wall Bridge” constructed in 1905 with a vertical clearance of 28 ft. The weather was hazy and overcast all day but we moved forward passing though five locks before reaching Lagoon City Marina, on Lake Simcoe, mid afternoon as the rain began.

I still don’t have my parts but have been assured that they have found them and they will be brought to my boat by 9 am! (Stay tuned for the saga of Skips missing parts!)


Picture on left is entering Lake Simcoe.