Georgian Bay--Port Severn to Byng Inlet

Georgian Bay is an enormous bay on the eastern side of Lake Huron.  It is surrounded by granite outcroppings of all sizes.  We took the small boat channel which runs along the eastern edge of the bay.  It is well-marked with navigation buoys which is a good thing since the water is strewn with granite boulders--some of which stick out of the water and others are hiding just beneath the surface.  It reminds us a lot of Elephant Rocks ( a state park in Missouri) surrounded by lots of water.

Little Gibraltar--Did we make a wrong turn?

Now this is isolation!

Lighthouse on one of the granite outcroppings.

Granite everywhere!

We happened to time another Canadian three day holiday as we entered Georgian Bay, so we had a lot of company on the water.  Our first night's anchorage was in Frying Pan Bay off Beausoleil Island-- a very popular spot.  We had to try three times before the anchor set, but when it finally did, it set well.  Even so with the help of another boater in the bay,  we wedged a second anchor between boulders on shore for security.  This seems to be a common anchoring technique in this area especially in crowded bays.

Canadian holiday--boats, boats and more boats!

On Sunday, After Taxes decided to join us. Shortly after they arrived and rafted with us,  the winds picked up gusting to 35 knots.  Unfortunately the winds were from the NW, the only direction not protected in that bay.  Our shore anchor broke loose and  it was way too windy to reset it at that point.  Luckily our bow anchor was dug in tight and although we bounced and swung, we held firm. That evening the ladies challenged the men to a game of dominoes and although we were way ahead throughout the game, they managed to slide to victory on the final round.

After Taxes and Raydiance in Frying Pan Bay

Kathy, Tom, Carol, Jimmy, and Gary getting ready for the big game.

Sunset on a windy night.

Monday the winds had calmed and we decided to move on.  The plan was to stay at Henry's Fish Restaurant but when we arrived their docks were full.  Henry's is a well known destination stop and we should have known to make reservations.  But it turned out to be one of those happy mistakes as we ended up anchoring in Echo Bay (about 2 miles away) and it was gorgeous!

Beautiful anchorage in Echo Bay

After a quick dip in the cool, clear water of Echo Bay, we boarded our dinghies and headed off to Henry's.  The restaurant featured walleye (called pickerel here) and whitefish.  I chose the walleye and it was the best fried fish I have ever had.  Lightly coated batter (like Ste. Gen. onion rings!) and just plain yum!  Unfortunately Gary had thrown out his back and didn't feel he could handle the dinghy ride, so Kathy brought a meal and an obscene amount of french fries back to the boat for him.  Using the leftover massive amount of french fries,  Kathy made a breakfast casserole for everyone the next morning.

Henry's Fish Restaurant

Henry's is a destination for many seaplanes.

Sunset shot taken from dinghy on 2 mile ride back to Echo Bay from Henry's.

After Taxes left Tuesday morning to go to  Parry Sound as they were still trying to catch up with the elusive GPS chip.  We did not need supplies so we opted for another night in lovely Echo Bay.  In the afternoon, we took the dink around to the northern arm of the bay and found a hideaway swimming hole surrounded by granite boulders and slabs.  Great fun.

Lighthouse at Pointe au Baril
This is where we left the small boat channel to run outside.

Wednesday we left Echo Bay and ended up at anchor in Hopewell Bay, around a 40 mile run.  The bay was very well protected from the NE wind blowing that day.  There were about 10 boats at anchor in the bay and plenty of swing room.  We would have stayed another day, but the forecast was threatening storms and high winds, so we decided to move on into Byng Inlet on Thursday.

Before leaving Echo Bay we had talked with some local boaters and picked up advice about two passages coming up on Thursday.  Following their advice we ran outside rather than go through Canoe Channel (very narrow) and Hang Dog Channel (possibly shallow).  We re-entered the small boat channel around mm 47 and followed it into Byng Inlet.

Green range lights shining the way into Byng Inlet

We stayed at Wrights Marina about a mile up Byng Inlet.  As predicted heavy rain came and stayed all day and night on Friday.  We used the time to catch up on tasks like cleaning, laundry, blog (yea! internet!).  Friday night we had a delicious meal at Little Britt Inn.  We were hoping another looper couple, Eileen and Larry aboard Moon River, could join us, but they had to drive back to Buckhorn to pick up a prop being repaired--an all too common occurrence here in Georgian Bay.  After dinner I challenged Tom to a game of shuffleboard in the boater's lounge and had him on the ropes 20-18 when I choked and lost!  Look at this picture and tell me now who the bad winner is!!!

Gloating!

Saturday the rain finally let up and After Taxes called to say they were on their way to Byng.  They pulled in around 4 p.m. which meant docktails at 5!  We were joined by Eileen and Larry aboard Moon River and Kathy's brother, Craig, and his wife,  Tess.  Craig was the official white house photographer during Reagan's administration, so he has some very interesting stories--including taking pictures as Reagan made the "This wall must come down" statement to Gorbachev.

Docktails at Byng with Eileen, Larry, Tom, Gary, Jimmy, Craig and Tess

That evening we attended a Lions' Club pig roast fundraiser for the Britt Lions' Club.  It was very well attended despite a slight drizzle.  Tom enjoyed swapping stories with some of the Lions in attendance.

This man was prominently displaying a Budweiser when he found out we were from near St. Louis.

The man on the left is a charter member of the Britt club.
The man on the right is the former owner of the marina
in which we stayed.  He too is a Lion.