Georgian Bay remains one of our favourite places to boat.
The water is crystal clear and not too cold. The landscape, some might find
bleak (a rock, is a rock, is a rock) but we find it beautiful.
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| The water in Georgian Bay is crystal clear |
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| You know you are in the Canadian Shield |
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| Blustry |
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| Rock formations |
Our first anchorage this time around was recommended to us
by Bruce and Ann from MV Happy Hour. Although off the main
boating channel, Longuissa Bay is a popular anchorage. The reasons aren’t hard
to see, the holding and wind protection is great!!
Gary took this opportunity to change the sacrificial anodes
on Time& Tide. The water is clear enough to see and nice and warm to work
in. After changing the anodes he checked out the props and both had a little
curl on one of the wings; we figured it probably happened when we fought the
debris in the Hudson River or it might even have happened as far back as the
Tenn-Tom waterway when we also had to duck and dive around floating tree stumps.
Still, we have been lucky; many boaters have had to have their props changed
while on the Loop.
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| old and new |
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| Getting suited for underwater work |
Gary says that since he straightened out the props he feels
a difference in the boat … so that is good.
After a couple of days we moved on and anchored in Indian
Bay, an anchorage I was very sorry to have missed the last time we passed
through Georgian Bay. Another great spot!! Great holding and clear warm water.
On a weekday we were all by ourselves and on Saturday night there must have
been 15 boats anchored in the Bay.
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| Josie having a cat nap |
We waited out a huge squall in the bay (50-60KM) and were
nice and protected. Boats around us dragged their anchors but we held nice and
tight. The rain poured down in buckets. We heard no less than 6 mayday calls
while the squall was blowing through. The next morning we left early but the
big waters were still very unsettled so turned right around and went back to
bed. The winds continued howling all day and the very hot and humid weather
made way for cool northern winds and the evenings were pleasant to sit outside.
The past few night had been so hot we had to run the air conditioner.
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We were asked by 3 boates rafted off together to take a picture of them. They had been
vacationing together for 8 years. They returned the favour by taking a picture of us with T&T in the back ground. |
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| Nice fish |
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Jumped out of my hands into the dingy, it wasn't hurt and
we set it free to live another day. |
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| Sunset Indian bay |
When we left Indian Bay we decided to get some distance
behind us and we headed to Bing Inlet. Here we anchored behind Rabbit Island.
Our plan was to wake early the next morning and make a run for Killarney and
Covered Portage.
We woke up to find fog all around and a weather forecast
that was getting more grim by the hour. As we had already de-anchored we tied
to the Government Dock and decided to go back to bed. Both of us were restless
so after an hour we decided to give it another go and on our way out saw 2
Loopers heading out as well.
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| Sedgwick Point cross |
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| Moon rise - Bying Inlet |
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| Sunset Bying Inlet |
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| Early morning as the moon sinks behind a fogbank |
We discussed things and decided to skip the inside route for
a faster outside route to Killarney (via the North East passage). The weather held out and we arrived in Covered
Portage around 2pm along with the whole trailor-sailor community. Last year
they all arrived while we were here and sure enough, here they were again. Gary
and I found a tight little spot and tied the stern to the shore with about 50
feet of chain. I counted 59!!! boats anchored total. Catheryn (MV
Next to me) if you read this, there were 18 boats anchored just in the
spot where you were originally anchored outside!! Insane!!
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| Covered Portage full of boats |
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| Time& Tide tied to the shore |
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| Moon rising |
So we waited for the forecasted high winds and sure enough
they were blowing 30kns on our beam. We felt more uncomfortable as the day grew
and the winds continued to blow out of the west and not the north as
forecasted. Gary and I spent 4 hours working non-stop, trying to get a second
anchor to hold us against the wind and re-tying lines to shore….and out of the
30+ boats anchored with us not a single boat offered to lend a hand. What a
shame. Many people watched as we struggled but no one came forward to lend a
hand. Gary and the dingy were covered in black mud from re-anchoring the second
anchor so many times. Eventually I said we had to make a decision and move,
there just was no way we could stay tied to shore, the wind on our beam and so
close to other boats.
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Poor Gary tying a line to one of the huge boulders onshore to try and keep us
safe. |
As Gary left to try and find another spot in the crowed
anchorage he actually was asked to save a dingy from a sail boat that had come
loose and was drifting away, which he did of course. The folks were very
thankful for our help, just too bad that we couldn’t say the same from any of
the trailer sailors.
It was a tight maneuver but we finally lifted the anchor,
untied our shore line and moved out to find a better spot. We were both
relieved to be out of the precarious situation and safely swinging on our
anchor again. A power boat that was tied next to us sent his kids over with our
shore line and our faith in our fellow man was renewed.
It seems that there are good and helpful people out there.
If you read this and you are a boater….please, if you see a
couple of people struggling for hours to secure their boat in a a tight spot,
offer a lending hand, help out a little...................for that I thank you.
……………………….to be continued
