Owen Sound, ON - Big City Feeling

The Saginaw was in port. Made us feel at home!
The Owen Sound Marina went bankrupt a few years ago and was recently purchased by 5 new partners in auction.  They are working hard to make it a better place. We wish them well.

We try to visit interesting museums. This is a marine transportation museum. I asked the usual subject to take a photograph of the photographer where she is happiest - at the wheel!

Boys will be boys. We saw these guys getting ready for a jump. The guy on the right is the photographer. What good would the jump be without the photographer!

Billy Bishop was born in this house and grew up in Owen Sound. He was the WWI flying ace from Canada, officially credited with 72 victories. We learn a lot of history visiting towns and villages along the way.

Wiarton, ON - More Canadian Quaintness

Cruising has been gorgeous for most of the trip so far. As you can see I am safe from those pesky flies.

The fog rolled in at an incredible pace. Glad to have radar for those times of surprise.

There are few cottages.  Some are palatial and others are small summer cottages from generations ago.

Lions Head, a charming town on the Bay

Lions Head is a village just south of Tobermory on the Georgian Bay. Don't know why I missed this posting the other day, because we loved this charming village. The cruise to Lions Head was beautiful in itself. The Niagara Escarpment runs from Niagara Falls, across the Bruce Peninsula across the Manitoulin Island to the Door Peninsula. The geological formation is famous for limestone cliffs, waterfalls and forests.

Bruce Trail runs around the Bruce Peninsula and residents and people from around Canada enjoy the trails. We met a couple while we were at the laundromat (!!) who were caught in a rain storm on the trail and were in the laundromat drying their shoes and backpack. A mother bear and cub were walking on the trail and scared this couple into a quiet turn in the other direction!

Such a picturesque village and marina.

When stopping at a marina, we usually unload our bicycles and ride around the town. This field was so beautiful, I had to stop and take a picture.

Dinner at the Lions Head is a must! The food was as good as the Inn was charming. The Inn's history extends to the 1800's.

Poppies remind me of my grandmother's garden. My favorite flower.

The greeters are out in full force.

Yup, it worked!

No stop is complete without a mechanical issue. This was the first run of the outboard and the old gas gummed up the carburetor. Lucky us - a mechanic was nearby.

If anyone wants to help me with this formatting, feel free!

MacGregor Harbor, safe and sound.

Anchoring is a peaceful experience and Jim and I prefer, when possible, to anchor. The generator is available to run our A/C power, so we are independent and can enjoy the outdoors. Before the schools close for the summer, most marinas and anchorages are deserted. Just the way we like it!

Of course, anchoring comes with its negatives. The dinghy must go in and the boys need to head to shore periodically. Seems like a rain storm or a heavy wind comes up when Boo starts spinning. Some dogs longingly go to the door, asking for relief. Others whine or bark. Boo is a spinner, but he doesn't just spin, he smiles while he spins!

In the small harbor there is the broken spine of an old wooden schooner that was built in 1888 and abandoned in MacGregor Harbor in 1904. Ida A. Olson was reported to be 4 feet under water in the 1980's and is now fully exposed. The boat was 122 feet long and had a draft of 9ft 6 inches. Interesting stuff to and old sailor!

The night was extremely dark as the land surrounding the harbor is owned by a tribe of the First Nation. We landed at the dock and were greeted by an old Indian with a border collie as big as a bear named Diamond. The boys walked us up to the Council Office and the church across the street. The tour book described the local businesses.....no longer there.

The old fishing boats are on dry land now and the locals jump on board and throw out their fishing lines.

Watched a charming family of ducks (red head and a comb) with many babies. Later they were lined up on the bow of the schooner. Lots of other birds too. Killdeer in lower picture. Can't see very well in these pictures, but it was so interesting at the time! Better get out the Bird Book.

Tobermory Home of the Chicheemaun

Now you’re talking! Boats, people, things to see and do.  The Dockmaster placed us in a peaceful spot a mile from the restrooms and bathhouse, but we later found out our slip was an upfront spot for fireworks. Did I ever tell you how much BooBoo hates fireworks?

We are in Canada now. How can we tell for sure?

Lake Huron can be the most peaceful place on earth or pure hell. I have experienced both and everything in between in my 30 years of racing. What is peaceful on a trawler can be hell on a sailboat. Fortunately for us, trawler cruisers, the water was truly flat. No waves on our crossing to Tobermory. The crossing takes about 9 or 10 hours. By the time we arrived, the boys bounded off, headed for grassy havens!

Chi-cheemaun, a passenger and car ferry, travels from Tobermory to South Baymouth located on Manatoulin Island, the largest fresh water island in the world.  There is only one other way to arrive with car on the Island and that is over the drawbridge at Little Current. The Chi-cheemaun is 396 feet long and weighs empty almost 400 tons. The name means Big Canoe – yea, one BIG canoe!

Tobermory is located at the very end of the Bruce Peninsula which divides what we know as Lake Huron and the Georgian Bay, which are both parts of the same Great Lake-Huron. The scenery is not unlike the Door Peninsula in Wisconsin. The harbor has two distinct parts. Little Tub Harbor (where the municipal marina lies) and The Big Tub. Old wrecks lie under water in the Big Tub and can be viewed with the naked eye.  Needless to say, Tobermory is a scuba divers dream!

The Grandview Restaurant overlooks the Harbor and is a fine place for dinner.  Lots of fresh whitefish in this area! Can't miss the lighthouse!

Harrisville, MI A Jumping off point.

Bay City to Harrisville is about 75 miles. Short trip by car, but a long trip when travelling 10mph.

Harrisville is a welcoming hamlet with young college students suntanning their bodies as they assist boaters into their slips, buying fuel or pumping out. The two college students assisted us as did on our return home from our Great Loop trip. We recognized one another and enjoyed the chit chat.

Where is everyone? There were only 2 transients for the night. As you can see, the marina is well maintained and beautiful.

And the price is right! Michigan marinas are subsidized by the state and are the least expensive anywhere we have experienced. The rate is $1.10 per foot length. In New York for example, the price is $4.00 per foot. Even in Canada, it is not unusual to find $2.25 per foot.

We walked into town and enjoyed one of the few local restaurants. Not much going on. Four old guys dining each by themselves. Apparently the single women are in the other room.  No wonder there isn’t much happening in this town!

Back at it Again! Bay City, MI June, 2012

Great planning over the winter scheduled us to leave for the North Channel and Georgian Bay June 1st. That way we could pack it all in! There is so much to see! June 1^st came and went as did many other days. Lyn Detzler from Skipper Buds was helping us with our last minute projects which, as usual, took longer than we had expected.  The rear video camera and DC engine lights are now performing admirably!

Over the winter we completed the new galley (Corian!)  and canvas was extended to give us more casual, outdoor seating. The white wicker and cushions are a welcome addition. As we cruise, Jim or I can lounge and read while the other half works feverishly over the auto pilot. Jim also used epoxy on the transom and the windows, then appropriately varnished or painted. Jim also repaired and varnished the handrails. Looking mighty fine! Oh, and we had the propellers balanced.....and the generator hoses replaced.

The weather for the two weeks before we left was incredible, of course!  When it came time to leave, the wind showed it’s ugly (or lovely for my sailor friends) head. We decided to cruise under bridges from Skipper Buds to the Saginaw Bay Yacht Club so we could easily enter Saginaw Bay. Lyn kindly called and scheduled our space for us as Saginaw Bay Yacht Club offers reciprocity to other yacht club members. Lyn's wife Tari was the first female commodore in 2005. Not one since. Hey Bayview, get your head out of the sand!

What a night! The wind gods were warning us to be careful on our trip! The most hazardous bay in my opinion is Saginaw Bay. The shape of the Bay lends itself to building winds that come from the (prevalent) SW wind. We rocked and rolled and not one of the 4 of us slept.

We took off early and the Bay was like glass! Hallelujah!