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