Hopewell Bay, Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada.

(half-way up the Georgian Bay).

Since my last report, we have travelled from Port-Severn to Parry Sound (via a stop at Hope Island) to our current anchoring spot on Hopewell Bay. Weather has been remarkable for the past month, albeit a tad windier than we expected. This is not a problem during the day when we are moving the boat, but makes finding a suitable anchorage a bit trickier. Fortunately, this region of the Georgian Bay has lots of anchorage possibilities. We met Bruce and Cathy, a Canadian couple who live in Midland in the lower reaches of the Bay. They have cruised the area for 50 years.  Bruce gave us many tips as to where to anchor, and where to spend time. His advice and pointers have been most useful. We have enjoyed anchorages not mentioned in the port book and apparently known to locals only.

So far, we have not seen many US boats. We have been hearing the same from marina operators and store owners along the way. Where are all the USA boaters going this year? We finally ran into a few when we stopped in Parry Sound (refueled, pumped out, provisioned…yeh! Fresh veggies again, laundry):  the marina we stayed at was hosting a Rendezvous of the Great Lakes Cruising Club.  Boats from Canada and the USA participated (about 85), many quite large (45 to 65 feet) and in impeccable conditions. We actually met a couple from Cary, NC (Raleigh area) who keep their boat up here and have cruised the waters of the Georgian Bay and the North Channel for the past 15 years. Just like us, they enjoy the clean, fresh waters and the spectacular landscapes.   

One observation we have made is that many Canadians do not follow the “watch-your-wake” rule when passing another boat from either direction We had observed this on the Rideau, where the passages are narrower, but here it is just incredible that they pass you 30 yards away when there is 1000 yards of open water available…and they wave at you while throwing you their wake. Hmmmm…wonder what boating school they went to.  

Another unpleasant experience we have encountered here are the sailors (sorry our sailor friends): they often act like they own the water. Three times in one day we had sailboats cutting and tacking right across our bow at the last minute while there was plenty of deep good water all around.

As we were coming in from the Bay, we were about 500 feet from the entrance channel so narrow that only one boat can proceed at a time. We reduced our speed to navigate this narrow when a 36 foot sailboat passed us on the port under full sail (main and jib). It proceeded to pull in front of us about 100 feet then it immediately dropped both sails causing us to take evasive action. It then approached the channel on motor at a crawl (way slower than we were proceeding when they passed us). Immediately on clearing the channel up went the sails. I should mention that there was really no room to do so as they started a rapid series of tacks. When we could finally get clear of them, they had the audacity to wave.  What seamanship! We are not impressed.

We are seeing many seaplanes (float planes) taking off and landing just in front of Sirocco. Pretty cool. It appears to be the second mode of transportation around here (first being boats).

And then there is the evening concert of Bumble Bees…the little red Honda Generators are all around us. Many boats, large and small, carry them, so we are not alone.  We have been using ours instead of the large generator towards the last half of the batteries charging cycle. It is very economic and effective.

Finally, I had posted a picture of radishes we bought here to show how humongous they are here in Canada. Well, not just the radishes are huge: the flies (all types) are huge too! And one evening, Annick spotted what she thought looked like a small black bear swimming across the anchorage. Once he stepped out on land, this animal looked like he was about 100 lbs, but had a big flat tail. His head resembled more that of a beaver. After researching this on the net, we found out that beavers here can attain 120 lbs! Bingo: we saw one!

We are continuing to move slowly further North as we are due to pick up our friends Wendy and Dale (Ottawa) in Killarney on July 28^th. We will then explore the North Channel for a week with them on board. We have been told by many that if we liked what we are seeing so far, we haven’t seen anything yet!

As always, visit the picture albums on Picasa (link on right hand side of blog page).

Click on the location at the very bottom of the page to see where we are.

Annick & Michael Smart aboard Sirocco

Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada

On the Georgian Bay (southern portion)

A quick note as we are on our way out of a marina we stayed for 2 nights. Lots to do: provisioning, cleaning, small repairs etc...

Check the pictures added as they tell the story: this is God's Country. So magnificent! Just can't quite describe the spendor around us. Never seen anything like this. Weather has been splendid too.

Will write longer at another time more convenient.

Leaving Parry Sound in an hour and heading a little bit North, progressing along the Eastern shores of the Georgian Bay to eventually be in the North Channel in 2 weeks time.

Annick & Michael Smart aboard Sirocco

Hope Island, (South) Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada.

So far, so very very good!

But before we got to where we are “reporting” from, we finished the last 50 miles or so of the Trent-Severn waterway. The Trent-Severn finally becomes picturesque after Orillia, and even better after the second lift lock at Kirkfield (49 feet lift). We happened to be the first boat in this lock going down, so we got the whole height perspective up front. A bit intimidating looking at the river down below… We also locked through the “Colossal” lock at Swift Rapids, a single chamber with a change of 47 feet (a drop in our case as we were going down river). Impressive when you are at the bottom and look up the walls!

After a couple of overnights over Canada Day weekend (July 1rst) at a very quiet lock with no road access, amidst farm land (no fireworks or fire crackers there), we were off to take the “Big Chute”: a railroad type of lock where the boat gets lifted in slings and travels a short distance over land, including a road and a steep downhill (feels like a small …and slow roller coaster, to reach the next section of the waterway below. Quite an exciting experience. Check the pictures.

We finally made it to the Georgian Bay (Southern part) on Thursday out of Port Severn. Getting out of Port Severn into the Bay was quite the navigation challenge, as advertised. But with great care, thorough preparation, all the charts, and total attention, it was not that bad: we knew where the rocks were and stayed where they were not!

We headed to a suggested anchoring spot on Hope Island, off the track of the “charted small craft navigation route” that most transients follow. A local traveler that we met along the Trent-Severn had recommended this spot. And we are glad we listened to his advice: crystal Caribbean blue waters, a small sandy beach and sandy bottom, about 30 feet plus visibility. We had never seen our anchor and anchor chain at work as we see it here! Just like the Caribbean’s with the added advantage of fresh water (not sticky salty). Although the water temperature is a bit cool for us (70oF)... Oh well, short invigorating showers!

  

We have just spent 2 days in paradise. Off Saturday to another anchoring spot a bit North and East from here, weather permitting (thunders storms are  forecast). We plan on reaching Parry Sound later next week (about 50 miles further up the Georgian Bay).

As always, visit the picture albums on Picasa (link on right hand side of blog page).

Click on the location at the very bottom of the page to see where we are.

Annick & Michael Smart aboard Sirocco

Port-Severn, ON
Thursday July 5th

Hope that our American friends had a great 4th of July celebration yesterday.

We made it through the Trent-Severn and 45 locks...we are at the mouth of the Geogian Bay.
Yesterday 4th of July was spend doing light travel to get positioned to start The Bay. We took "THE BIG CHUTE", a rail-road type of lock. Boat gets into slings and is lifted up, and the entire sling machine (a boat lift) travels on rail-road tracks across dry land and even across a road (!). At the end, the boat is lowered back in the water and floats away. Very neat and unique for us. I'll post pictures at a later time.

The scenery on the Trent-Severn has been very, very pretty since we passed Orillia: lots of blue waters, nice cottages, many of which are built on rocks or islands, some pink granite, and even narrow & deeper channels similar to Fjords in Norway. We are to see more of this on the Georgian Bay this month.

Boat is running fine...for now, until next event: It's a boat!&$^#@^&. Drinking water has been hard to find in the last week, so we are saving our fresh water tank (filtered and potable) and started taking showers in the water now that is is warmer. Quite pleasant actually, and you don't have to rush your shower to save water!

We are headed to our first island on the Georgian Bay today, Hope Island (Google it). At anchor from now on mostly; no more docks and no more locks.

So long to all.
Annick & Michael aboard Sirocco.