BENJAMIN ISLANDS to BEARDROP & TURNBULL

Tuesday morning we went on a paddle to double check for submerged rocks, on our planned exit course from the picturesque BENJAMIN ISLANDS. We also said bon voyage to our boating buddy's on Patriot and Blue Willow. Starting today we are taking slightly different courses. Captain Greg swam to shore to remove our 200 foot stern line from the pine tree. We pulled our anchor and started today's journey. 

As for our weather, the heat wave was definitely over...with clouds, possible rain and increasing wind gusts predicted the next few days. When we departed our plan was to anchor remotely on Tuesday night and stay at a marina on Wednesday night (due to the weather forecast). 

The "Big Picture" plan is to continue on The North Channel the next few days to Drummond Island and clear US Customs. But, remember it's always weather dependant :)

Looper Tip: Always monitor Channel 16 on your radio for weather security announcements! Channel 21 has constant weather updates. Be aware, above Latitude 46 conditions change quickly on The North Channel. (Reminder - Internet service is extremely limited).

The "Big  Picture" ... We are the Blue Dot and the Pink line is the Canadian / USA Boarder.

Navigating out of the BENJAMIN ISLANDS...avoiding granite rocks!

Tuesday's journey from BENJAMIN ISLANDS to BEARDROP - 4 hours.

Navigating through the narrow Little Detroit Channel into Whaleback Channel. 

Whaleback Island in the 17 mile long Whaleback Channel.

Thistle anchored in BEARDROP Harbor. There were about 12 other boats anchored, with room for many more.

Our view from Thistle's stern...just love the name BEARDROP XO!

Captain Greg practicing Yoga...Namaste.

Sunset at BEARDROP... Sending all of you a Big Goodnight Bear Hug 🐻❤️!

Our planned course for Wednesday (Red Line) from BEARDROP to Blind River Marina. But, due to strong winds and squall warnings being broadcasted over the emergency radio... We looked at our charts and made an unplanned stop and anchored for the night at TURNBULL ISLAND (Yellow X) - one hour.

It was a wise choice... With strong wind gusts at 40 knots! TURNBULL ISLAND was very protected (still windy?).

The weather calmed slightly at sunset with a rainbow!!! We were anchored with 6 other sailboats. In The North Channel sailing is very popular. 

Enjoying  a BBQ at sunset ... Early to sleep tonight, hoping for a decent good weather window early tomorrow morning!

BAIE FINE to LITTLE CURRENT & SOUTH BENJAMIN ISLAND

On Sunday we pulled up our anchor and "Buddy Boated" to LITTLE CURRENT. The big news of the day is that there is a heat warning in this region of Canada today! It will be 37 degrees Celsius... A hot one.

LITTLE CURRENT is on Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, it is the largest fresh water lake island in the world. 

After one night in LITTLE CURRENT we pushed off the town dock after breakfast and headed for The BENJAMIN ISLANDS. It was still warm, so the breeze underway on Thistle was very pleasant :)

We are at Latitude fourty-six degrees North here, closer to the North Pole than the Equator!

Buddy Boating out of BAIE FINE.

Our course from BAIE FINE to LITTLE CURRENT - Three hours.

Strawberry Island Lighthouse...

LITTLE CURRENT Swing Bridge - It opens on the hour (we increased speed to 12 knots for 20 minutes) and made it at 10:58 :) 

The town of LITTLE CURRENT.

We joined the Little Current Cruisers' Net in person on Monday morning. Eight five boaters from the North Channel checked into the "Boaters Helping Boaters" show this morning.

Roy has hosted the net for 12 years.

Monday we traveled from LITTLE CURRENT to BENJAMIN ISLANDS - Three hours.

We anchored Mediterranean Style (Our bow anchored and stern tied to a pine tree) for the first time!     

Thistle at anchor in the beautiful BENJAMIN ISLANDS.

We went on a long paddle (Red Line) from Thistle (Yellow Dot). 

The water here is clear and clean ... A beautiful tropical blue/green color.

Our SUP's with Thistle in the background. 

The pink granite rocks of the BENJAMIN ISLANDS.

Enjoying a "Rocktail" at sunset in the BENJAMIN ISLANDS.

KILLARNEY to COVERED PORTAGE & BAIE FINE

After we both enjoyed long hot showers at The Killarney Mountian Lodge, we pushed off the dock. This Friday morning we have beautiful sunny skies. Today is the start of our journey on The North Channel. The North Channel is 138 miles long from Killarney to De Tour Village.

The North Channel was created by glaciers and has some of the oldest rocks in the world exposed on it's north shore. Many of the rocks are more than 3 billion years old.

This area has a lot of history. European explorers used The North Channel as a major canoe highway for fur trade in the 17th & 18th century. In the 19th century European settlers came to farm, fish and log.

We anchored both Friday and Saturday nights in beautiful protected coves. We have been warned that...This area is also notorious for Mosquitos!

  

Looper Tip; Purchase a bug "Executer", well worth the $15 in case a bug gets in your cabin!

The North Channel.

Friday we traveled from KILLARNEY to COVERED PORTAGE - a short one hour journey.

Captain Greg checking our anchor at COVERED PORTAGE (Syncro Score: 10 for pointed toes :).

We hiked straight up a cliff (20 minutes) to to get a picture of Thistle.

Beautiful COVERED PORTAGE Cove.

One...Two...Three...Four - Splash!!!!

Sunset at COVERED PORTAGE.

Saturday we traveled from COVERED PORTAGE to BAIE FINE - a three hour journey.

We had some fog roll in and out on Saturday morning.

The 10 Mille trip into BAIE FINE, looks just like a cruise in the fjords, the channel is lined with White Quartz Mountians.

Reenie on Bow Watch!

Bugs have NO chance in our cabin!!

We hiked 20 minutes uphill to Topaz Lake for a swim. The Lake is an unreal color ...properly  named.

Happy Hour aboard Thistle on Saturday night with our boating buddies on Patriot and Blue Willow. Our SUP's are fun to try :)  

Sunday morning was very still and glassy with a reflections of Patriot and Blue Willow. Captain Greg cleaning the grass from our anchor. Leaving The Pool at BAIE FINE, we saw the Evenrude (of outboard boat motors fame) Family Home.

Happy Sunday ... Buddie Boating to Little Current XO.

BRITT to BAD RIVER & KILLARNEY

The The past two travel days have been spectacular! 

We departed BRITT in the morning under cloudy skies. We are still in the Georgian Bay and have two sets of eyes following the navigation buoys and charts...This is a very remote region with granite islands covered with wind swept pine trees. We cleared the very narrow Cunninghams Channel and Rogers Gut (How do they come with these names?). After passing Bustards Islands we veered off the Small Craft Route into Bad River Channel. In this channel the low gray granite rocks are replaced by pink granite walls. 

We anchored in BAD RIVER. There were a few wind gusts and we got a little nervous changing our anchor position three times! The wind finally calmed down and we launched our SUP's. With excitement we proceeded to paddle through The Devils Door Rapids (Luckily we did not bring our camera as we fell in a few times :). After paddling around a couple more islands we headed back to Thistle for dinner. Post dinner we played Eucker with boat buddies. In aw, we ended the evening by watching shooting stars and the Milky Way on our flydeck (We later learned it was the Perseid Meteor Shower) It was one of those special nights we will never forget :).

We were up by 6:30 am for an early start to KILLARNEY, knowing it would be a long journey with strong wind predicted for the afternoon. 

The first part of our course to KILLARNEY was traveling on an exposed  section of Lake Huron. Later we cut into Collins inlet. The inlet cut was protected, pristine and glassy perfect!

We arrived in KILLARNEY by 12:30 pm, finishing the 165 mile Small Craft Route from Port Severn to KILLARNEY. To celebrate we docked at the Killarney mountain Lodge for the night :)

KILLARNEY was founded in 1820 by a French fur trader and his wife. From 1949 -1961, KILLARNEY was operated as a Fishing Camp by the Fruehauf Trailer Company in Detroit, Michigan. Clients would fly here by sea planes for their summer vacation. It was not until 1962 that the village was accessible by car. KILLARNEY is now a small tourist town and a boaters gateway to the North Channel (Our next chapter in Loop Life).

Looper Tip: The KIllarney Mountian Lodge has brand new docks...and a great staff :)

Our course the last two days:

BRITT to BAD RIVER - Red Line (five hours).

BAD RIVER to KILLARNEY - Green Line (five hours).

Navigating through the Gray Granite Islands.

Some islands have pine trees.

Entering the BAD RIVER Channel we saw a group canoe camping. The channel is lined with pink granite walls.

Our paddle course from where Thistle was anchored (two hours of fun :).

Thistle anchored in BAD RIVER with our SUP boards ready to go.

Just close your eyes and imagine a million stars twinkling in the night sky...with so many shooting stars that we lost count!

Up early to start our journey to KILLARNEY ... The spray was over our bow.

Entering  Collins Inlet...What's that in the water - we both asked?

A Black Bear swimming across the channel...and hopping out on shore!!!

So thrilling to see... Possibly the most exciting moment to date :)

The KILLARNEY Lighthouse and docking at the Killarney Mountian Lodge.

Herbert Fisheries....Famous for Fish & Chips. The Fishing Boats dock right by the fishery, they weigh their catch on the dock, the fish are cleaned inside, the fish is cooked and you are served. It was so good and fresh we had lunch and dinner here our one day in KILLARNEY.

A Lot of Loopers in KILLARNEY :)

Sitting by Thistle on the new dock at The Killarney Mountian Lidge.

Good night...tomorrow we start The North Channel.