Echo Bay and the Small Boat Channel!

Our last night in Midland turned out to be a real treat! It was Joe's birthday, so we all went out to dinner to celebrate -

and then back to the dock for B-day cake! After traveling together, we decided we were all - well - as Charlotte puts it - JUST LIKE THIS!

On Wednesday morning, the 18th, we traveled 40 miles to Echo Bay anchorage with Jackets ll. Tara and Joe on Seabatical went to Hope Island. It was hard leaving good friends behind, but we have to make some miles. 

Again, the water way and scenery was spectacular! We just can’t believe what a wonderful cruising area this is!!! Our favorite of the entire trip so far!!!

Just a couple of miles before the anchorage, we passed the iconic Henry’s Fish Restaurant. We had heard about it, so the girls decided we should dinghy over for dinner.

 

When we arrived on the dinghies, we discovered that it’s not only boaters that stop here! They also fly in!

Pat was excited to watch one take off! She said it reminded her of the Canadian fly in fishing trips with her sisters!

Then it was back to the anchorage, where Pat signaled the sunset with her conch! We had heard that the Northern Lights would be out that night. Both of us were up a few times to check, but no show!

Thursday morning, we left Jackets ll at the anchorage, and we set out for the small boat channel of Georgian Bay. This would soon prove to be our most challenging day of this trip yet!

I'll be the first to tell you that Admiral Pat does an AMAZING job of setting our course for the day, marking up the charts, and figuring out two or three possibilities of anchorages, marinas, and alternate routes. 

These two photos show you what we piloted through for our 67 mile day today! It was a constant maze of twists, rocks, turns, rocks, shallows, rocks, narrow passages, rocks - did I mention rocks!!!

And some very odd channel markers! This appears to me to be a part of an old steam boiler!!! 

The channel was very well marked, but you did not dare let down your guard for an instant, or the rocks would get ya! 

We just went slow, constantly compared the paper charts to the plotter, what was in front of us, and enjoyed the scenery.

I wonder how long that deer has been standing there!

We ended the day at a great anchorage a mile up to the end of Sandy Bay. Two other boats are here. Tomorrow, we head to an anchorage in Killarney, which is the end of the small boat channel of Georgian Bay, and the beginning of the North Channel!

Good Night - we will be watching again tonight for the Northern Lights!

This is the view out our bedroom window!

Captn Ken