Penetanguishine Ontario, and the AGLCA Rendezvous

We crossed part of Georgian Bay and headed out to sea, so to speak, at least for about two hours. With XPLORER leading the way, and SEAQUEL bringing up the rear, we had a wonderful, and smooth crossing of a significant body of water.

We arrived at Bay Moorings Marina in Penetanguishine, Ontario, on July 18, and plan to spend the next nine days here attending the America’s Great Loop Cruisers Association Rendezvous. The AGLCA meets three times a year, in Charleston, SC, in April, Joe Wheeler State Park AL, in October, and here in July.

A total of 125 people attended on 52 boats and some by car. The purpose of these get togethers is to eat, drink, and share information about the next leg of the Great Loop. Knowledgeable speakers are brought in, but just as much information is shared between the “Loopers” as we get from the speakers. Since this is our fourth rendezvous, it will be our last, unless we “do the loop” again.

We arrived a few days early to get the boat clean, refueled (that’s painful in Canada where diesel fuel is $4.01 a gallon), and do any needed maintenance. We did all that in a couple of days, and then explored the town with Mike and Cathy from XPLORER on our bicycles.

The city of Penetanguishine is an old city, being established during the War of 1812 with a British Naval Base that was established to fight off the Americans down south. It is really interesting to hear the history of this area from the Canadian point of view, which pretty much makes the War of 1812 a war of southern aggression that was started by those pesky Americans. All is forgiven though (I think), and the Canadians welcome us with open arms today.

Penetang, as the city is called by its residents, is built on a hill overlooking the Bay. If you look real fast, it almost looks a little like San Francisco, CA, just on a smaller scale.

On 22 July the AGLCA Rendezvous began with a wine and cheese party. The next three days will be filled with lectures, information sharing, meals, and fellowship with likeminded boaters who are either on the Loop, or wannabe’s who intend to start the Loop in the next year or so.

The last night of the Rendezvous we all took a dinner cruise as the closing event of the AGLCA Rendezvous. It was a lovely four hour cruise on Penetang Bay, which is spectacular in its beauty.

All in all, we had a great time at the Rendezvous. Thursday we will get the boat ready to head out into Georgian Bay for what is being called a “Flotilla.” Some very nice local people are taking 20 boats on a 10 day convoy-like cruise up through the 30,000 islands of Georgian Bay. They will take us to places that they as locals know about, but we would miss if they didn’t lead us there. This will be a continuation of our Great Adventure. with the sun setting on Georgian Bay, Stay tuned…..