tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348522562024-03-07T21:36:27.980-05:00The Voyage of Irish AyesMike and Pat began their "Great Loop" trip aboard their boat, Irish Ayes, on 6 October 2006. Irish Ayes is a 1986 Gulfstar, Wide Body Motor Yacht. Our voyage will take us from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Florida and the Bahamas in November, returning to Florida in December. In April 2007, we will aim the pointy end of the boat north up the east coast of the USA, stopping wherever looks interesting. We hope you enjoy our trip with us by way of this link. Mike and PatIrish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-58663245691069862142007-10-06T20:47:00.000-04:002007-10-06T21:32:39.371-04:00The Final Entry in Our Blog !!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs1aHZIje98qnyiHTPu1QIrnAXZAur5ZebkurwGjM56wVMTzv5r2UYr6pvc1Ry8MXg-KR9tVs01nD5ZF9phAAUDrnfNTIODR6GmvLz0jIGz1TZ1Ga17O018ixKkj509S6MDU21Q/s1600-h/Green+Turtle+Bay+toKnoxville+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118390715872389058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs1aHZIje98qnyiHTPu1QIrnAXZAur5ZebkurwGjM56wVMTzv5r2UYr6pvc1Ry8MXg-KR9tVs01nD5ZF9phAAUDrnfNTIODR6GmvLz0jIGz1TZ1Ga17O018ixKkj509S6MDU21Q/s320/Green+Turtle+Bay+toKnoxville+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> Green Turtle Bay (GTB) to Knoxville. GTB Marina is a very nice marina, and most Loopers find their way there. We stayed at GTB for about 10 days, and had a wonderful time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b-zLN4BYo1R2DIbFbh8L717zh5SIjAkeXHe9etqcP9XSK1kMMwW6XcbYAVnkHngQ_GKxdoJzmNMgUWV028tNGQNK2nGaPtyapxhOsoGGWyP834D6mz7_vfB1VEEvbdPLaaL8BA/s1600-h/Paducah+to+GTB+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118391755254474754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b-zLN4BYo1R2DIbFbh8L717zh5SIjAkeXHe9etqcP9XSK1kMMwW6XcbYAVnkHngQ_GKxdoJzmNMgUWV028tNGQNK2nGaPtyapxhOsoGGWyP834D6mz7_vfB1VEEvbdPLaaL8BA/s320/Paducah+to+GTB+026.jpg" border="0" /></a>We left IRISH AYES at GTB for a few days while we traveled to Las Vegas for a military reunion. While we were there, we took a side trip to Hoover Dam, an absolutely amazing sight. Eric from KENTUCKY WILDCATS was visiting from Florida so he got us to Nashville on Saturday so that we could catch a VERY early flight on Sunday to Las Vegas.<br /><br /><div>While at GTB we met Gary and Bobbie who live in Clarksville, another great Army Family. Gary and Bobbie were kind enough to drive all the way to Nashville airport to pick us up upon our return, put us up for the night at their home in Clarksville, TN, and then after breakfast on Friday morning, they got us back to our boat at GTB.<br /><br />Upon our return to GTB on Friday (21 Sept) Mike and Cathy on XPLORER were there. It was good to see them again. There were 15 looper boats there at GTB (at last count), many of them making their way to Joe Wheeler State Park for the Fall AGLCA Rendezvous in mid-October.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PiWCahc_TmKlZ9Cyq5nISuR6V3fNR057wOkJ5zq8EkJDRtXNcD28kdePx6N-wNuOqOYBgH6CqZpn6iIbj-53KAEm_npH8LFua_fIRHLFtbN7K-JSZ_ftN9934EAz0Q6yQbt2zQ/s1600-h/Green+Turtle+Bay+toKnoxville+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118391106714413026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PiWCahc_TmKlZ9Cyq5nISuR6V3fNR057wOkJ5zq8EkJDRtXNcD28kdePx6N-wNuOqOYBgH6CqZpn6iIbj-53KAEm_npH8LFua_fIRHLFtbN7K-JSZ_ftN9934EAz0Q6yQbt2zQ/s320/Green+Turtle+Bay+toKnoxville+012.jpg" border="0" /></a>We left GTB on Monday 24 Sept to begin our trek back to Knoxville. We began traveling with XPLORER again and made our way along some of the most beautiful scenery we have seen on this trip. If you have the opportunity to travel the TN River by boat, you will see that it is as beautiful as any waterway we have seen in our trip along the Great Loop.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKEdcgNguyWdNgsMdgCfB_dqiJfs4v7AveSu_JDL7IRcP6-UaRzsKs0fWj1Bigh993kIv_5_vw6XV6s5xhW0UiaIW9lFvB0AJ84XCqFSZ4b3YY4pRDC1bYPU57zk18_xwnwFTkA/s1600-h/Green+Turtle+Bay+toKnoxville+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118391338642647026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKEdcgNguyWdNgsMdgCfB_dqiJfs4v7AveSu_JDL7IRcP6-UaRzsKs0fWj1Bigh993kIv_5_vw6XV6s5xhW0UiaIW9lFvB0AJ84XCqFSZ4b3YY4pRDC1bYPU57zk18_xwnwFTkA/s320/Green+Turtle+Bay+toKnoxville+019.jpg" border="0" /></a>One of the more unusual sights we saw along the way was a mobile home built on stilts. Now that was a first. From GTB Bay to where the Yellow River and Tenn-Tom meet was all new to us, and it was absolutely beautiful. From there to Chattanooga was familiar territory to us, but the trip was no less beautiful than what we had previously seen. </div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_aqOeT7czSAjHEJ3fYFm6QbZG_c-4-h4m62OFX062enjWq3PyxQxI92BfSpRVrFRR2oA-XVOY90RInBDCYH9VUSnEJRbQCOgUN-aRsexq0kbz1kf-WJcTwkMkcFQeMRW6E9AWQ/s1600-h/Green+Turtle+Bay+toKnoxville+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118395861243209794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_aqOeT7czSAjHEJ3fYFm6QbZG_c-4-h4m62OFX062enjWq3PyxQxI92BfSpRVrFRR2oA-XVOY90RInBDCYH9VUSnEJRbQCOgUN-aRsexq0kbz1kf-WJcTwkMkcFQeMRW6E9AWQ/s320/Green+Turtle+Bay+toKnoxville+030.jpg" border="0" /></a>We traveled long hours for several days, but we did not mind so much on the river system. It’s quite different than traveling long days on blue water. The weather was beautiful and not too hot, and we made it through all 8 locks on the Tennessee River with no waiting. Now that is the first time that has ever happened for us!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3M-YXDLFzcMaz1AT1_v9a-nSSUMI5mhlmbn67JBgVq3b5mdTwcGV1xvSC6mIqB1W-xsSO_ZyicFw_xlrSCLNyjbL5otNTyIUJO8mgVPKV_HQqaERFuXfT59r3reirp_jeiA6kw/s1600-h/Crossing+our+wake+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118390887671080914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3M-YXDLFzcMaz1AT1_v9a-nSSUMI5mhlmbn67JBgVq3b5mdTwcGV1xvSC6mIqB1W-xsSO_ZyicFw_xlrSCLNyjbL5otNTyIUJO8mgVPKV_HQqaERFuXfT59r3reirp_jeiA6kw/s320/Crossing+our+wake+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>We were traveling with Mike and Cathy from XPLORER when we crossed our wake at the Yellow Creek and Tenn-Tom junction, and it was a moment of mixed emotions. At this point, we technically completed this great adventure that we set out to do on 6 October 2006.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzbR45SQfcjGixzOPY_qWPylJ4vAHMpCKarsQnRh9suVxrlCvdlFte7hZ0RfG5zqZuG_mQRMOWeuuLXHwtcBpkQlxT1mFeszpadQWXcCbJw4HK2kPvRSuV38fU2Eiw1vTQ_2w0g/s1600-h/Green+Turtle+Bay+toKnoxville+051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118392219110942738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzbR45SQfcjGixzOPY_qWPylJ4vAHMpCKarsQnRh9suVxrlCvdlFte7hZ0RfG5zqZuG_mQRMOWeuuLXHwtcBpkQlxT1mFeszpadQWXcCbJw4HK2kPvRSuV38fU2Eiw1vTQ_2w0g/s320/Green+Turtle+Bay+toKnoxville+051.jpg" border="0" /></a>We anchored at Densons Island at mile mark (MM) 125 on 24 Sept. From there we made it to Panther Creek at MM 218.1 and anchored the night of 25 Sept. On 26 Sept we left Panther Creek and anchored across from Elk River at Crutchfield Branch at MM 285. On 27 Sept we stayed at Goose Pond Marina in Scottsboro, AL, one of our favorite stops along the water way. We had dinner with Lou and Peggy, friends from Scottsboro, at the marina restaurant. This restaurant serves very good food and was very busy for a Thursday night. From Goose Pond Marina, we made it to the Chattanooga Yacht Club where we stayed for one night. Our last stop before making it back to Knoxville was Paint Rock Creek at MM 576, one of our long-time favorite anchorages.<br /><br />We made it back to our slip at Fort Loudoun Yacht Club at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, 30 September. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXhi9ZhPtk8gfjBijcyFMU_fYnMr1P75AZwUkZOXP-cDxTc01-UUgLmHwRjWP5pZltIhkckjxShR0g9OW9qKg6keHGfBzr2nrJgI5AXxejUIHq7l-B-fH_GYGT1qziDJKN0u1pw/s1600-h/Green+Turtle+Bay+toKnoxville+056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118395285717592114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXhi9ZhPtk8gfjBijcyFMU_fYnMr1P75AZwUkZOXP-cDxTc01-UUgLmHwRjWP5pZltIhkckjxShR0g9OW9qKg6keHGfBzr2nrJgI5AXxejUIHq7l-B-fH_GYGT1qziDJKN0u1pw/s320/Green+Turtle+Bay+toKnoxville+056.jpg" border="0" /></a>As we were beginning our turn into the marina, an unbelieveable, and ironic thing happened to us. On the radio we heard the song by John Denver, “It’s Good to be Back Home Again.” How about that for a welcome home! We were welcomed by several very good friends with a “Welcome Home” sign and food and libations. It was great to see old friends again and to share some of our adventures with them. We will have tales to tell for a long time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4xD2lbFLOm-2yR862Lx5PBipnyzC3XXIXyJYV9rxDlbNU4EsYtwrmT8IGry-UPOqle8SW3skx85Xu4gDsTDYSxb29vKXscf7H2f-i0gQ04bYzbj18qTKjoJFlYMqwWFGD4msMA/s1600-h/2007_0712TrentS50017+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118400336599132258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4xD2lbFLOm-2yR862Lx5PBipnyzC3XXIXyJYV9rxDlbNU4EsYtwrmT8IGry-UPOqle8SW3skx85Xu4gDsTDYSxb29vKXscf7H2f-i0gQ04bYzbj18qTKjoJFlYMqwWFGD4msMA/s320/2007_0712TrentS50017+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a>Mike and Cathy on XPLORER traveled with us all the way to Knoxville and will keep their boat here while they go home for a while. They will begin their travels again headed for Florida upon their return.<br /><br />We have to say that we are sorry to have this adventure come to an end. Over the last 12 months, we traveled 6,721 miles. We had no idea what we were in for when we began this trip, but it turned out to more, and better, than we ever imagined and was an adventure of a lifetime. </div><div> </div><div><br />So, for those of you who are still reading our blog, this is the end. We will miss our fellow Loopers, especially Mike and Cathy whom we have traveled with for 3 months. They have become more like family than friends, and we know that we will see them again. We will also miss being in a different place every few days and meeting new people and seeing new and different things almost daily. We will feel “Looper deprived,” as one fellow Looper called it, for some time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7p_1b2Et9OwLq-aVZgJ4zXhD4icqKRx6j4lGWeMZGr0O63J4F_D-cxKYP_FGeubsP5L3SGjIE3prCLRb79gZ6xkD1y1RdYRithgLAaWNict09Jfw0fQzCjvwVyFgC7nB_ZFChQ/s1600-h/Charleston+trip+07+125+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118394014407272482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7p_1b2Et9OwLq-aVZgJ4zXhD4icqKRx6j4lGWeMZGr0O63J4F_D-cxKYP_FGeubsP5L3SGjIE3prCLRb79gZ6xkD1y1RdYRithgLAaWNict09Jfw0fQzCjvwVyFgC7nB_ZFChQ/s320/Charleston+trip+07+125+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>Thank you for your good wishes, your prayers, and your friendship. We will miss you all. Fair winds and following seas to all of you.<br /><br />Mike and Pat Sullivan<br />October 6, 2007 </div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-43363426759278173492007-09-15T11:27:00.000-04:002007-09-23T17:20:47.579-04:00Kimmswick, MO to Green Turtle Bay Marina<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGQ944Rmf1mT0_1grnNl53MGjyCoVYhXsAq3HmQnn-GW620kX4PQch6uJpc155YTJObc-eTqE2q0CH-pxBb8pjE7SBGGBJsxcyxC8teRcmh36yp4vjBsGgVpVrC3xSjeED1SDdg/s1600-h/From+Alton+to+Hoppies+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113512406118246322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGQ944Rmf1mT0_1grnNl53MGjyCoVYhXsAq3HmQnn-GW620kX4PQch6uJpc155YTJObc-eTqE2q0CH-pxBb8pjE7SBGGBJsxcyxC8teRcmh36yp4vjBsGgVpVrC3xSjeED1SDdg/s320/From+Alton+to+Hoppies+027.jpg" border="0" /></a>We left Hoppies Marine early on September 10th, and had a pleasant day on the Mississippi River. We made it to Little Diversion Channel located at Mile 49 on the Mississippi River, about 110 miles, faster than we thought we would due to the swift current, and dropped the anchor for the night in this quiet and isolated anchorage.<br /><br />Getting into the anchorage was somewhat of a challenge due to the fast running current, which at that point was 4-5 miles an hour. Most of the day we had no less than a 3 mph push and at times a 5 mph push, so the captain went past the turn into the anchorage and then came back up river against the current. We got in with no problem and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the anchorage.<br /><br />The next morning we pulled up the anchor from Little Diversion Channel, and reentered the Mighty Mississippi. Less than 50 miles later we turned east into the Ohio River. At the junction of the Mississippi and the Ohio, there were so many<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1ORZv8Pp1dDdLpVUn7_LcyqjyL0CCXkQ5Ch5GASNAiJIWLEShqnnC8gDnHoqCC09FIO8kMvFFBHtTMG9dKWGx_1sYwU-UQ7rRG4jTY9KKf5vfOxUZooGEiALCxhbXS17NHbwNg/s1600-h/Hoppies+to+Paducah+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113454827786676050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1ORZv8Pp1dDdLpVUn7_LcyqjyL0CCXkQ5Ch5GASNAiJIWLEShqnnC8gDnHoqCC09FIO8kMvFFBHtTMG9dKWGx_1sYwU-UQ7rRG4jTY9KKf5vfOxUZooGEiALCxhbXS17NHbwNg/s320/Hoppies+to+Paducah+012.jpg" border="0" /></a> towboats pushing barges in every direction that it resembled the ramp on a busy Interstate Highway. Moving our little boat amongst these behemoths was high adventure, but we were able to get past and through them without incident. Once past that busy intersection we made our way through Locks 53 and 52 on the Ohio, and by 3pm we were in Paducah, KY.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKymcTDdT5nwuGzrYtRGILe3UfmYx46kS4Pb7jjzXSW2V97aPNOk9DindsfOAz5R_oJ3awLMdPdt4yyT7gp8EGIjVgBe1CbZxZt24iEDtJ_OAGB0LcjiCjm0Ub52htH_5nu8oTAA/s1600-h/Paducah+to+GTB+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113510237159761762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKymcTDdT5nwuGzrYtRGILe3UfmYx46kS4Pb7jjzXSW2V97aPNOk9DindsfOAz5R_oJ3awLMdPdt4yyT7gp8EGIjVgBe1CbZxZt24iEDtJ_OAGB0LcjiCjm0Ub52htH_5nu8oTAA/s320/Paducah+to+GTB+002.jpg" border="0" /></a>We stopped in Paducah, KY at the municipal dock. This dock is not very large, and will accommodate only about two boats our size. We were told by Fern at Hoppies that Loopers could now stay overnight at this dock, so we thought we would try it. We arrived about 3:00 p.m. and tied to the dock. There were people fishing off the dock, and they were not happy to see us there, since they had to pull in their fishing lines for a few minutes so we didn’t run over their lines. We stayed the night at the dock without being told by the Water Port Authority, the police, or anyone else to leave, and had a relatively peaceful night.<br /><br />While in Paducah we walked into town before dark and saw a beautiful <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhf512F3GZ_DOiEgGaK84PcZHJCBVEpa5u_lg6mIB24ouHGdOybZFOIfcLb63bWuUr4x98vAOfhantZW9jvLwXsRL6fGOV8ci0hts29AiDdeTl9Mh6jSyGkTFpYddoNHzS2r6yg/s1600-h/Hoppies+to+Paducah+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113452298050938610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhf512F3GZ_DOiEgGaK84PcZHJCBVEpa5u_lg6mIB24ouHGdOybZFOIfcLb63bWuUr4x98vAOfhantZW9jvLwXsRL6fGOV8ci0hts29AiDdeTl9Mh6jSyGkTFpYddoNHzS2r6yg/s320/Hoppies+to+Paducah+028.jpg" border="0" /></a>floodwall of murals, which were scenes from Paducah's historic past. There must have been 25 or more, larger than life size murals that were professionally painted on the walls. These murals depicted the history of Paducah, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvdsSvWyZZ6EmolISvpEyplmNovOYrVpJGxS_SD04Gy7kw0hlOcbco3owK7ycHlOU5TcY5pws4Ei1la94_b8CTlieiOmmHRxKoMlzuUc77L0Q6PACyS08thBks5bF83O3ZVyt8A/s1600-h/Hoppies+to+Paducah+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113452538569107202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvdsSvWyZZ6EmolISvpEyplmNovOYrVpJGxS_SD04Gy7kw0hlOcbco3owK7ycHlOU5TcY5pws4Ei1la94_b8CTlieiOmmHRxKoMlzuUc77L0Q6PACyS08thBks5bF83O3ZVyt8A/s320/Hoppies+to+Paducah+029.jpg" border="0" /></a>and are <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7DkPFcRZ6i3yPS6WFhOGL5jQLauCUv36IxjTuqu2wGvQpeDozRv80jhyqWmxPyiVz4PkmmbOJQQeat6ujcMYGobvHFVsd8lqnMFsbyLxAnVgeY1TOw2Mv0anvMHVbBZoR_NvLw/s1600-h/Hoppies+to+Paducah+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113452714662766354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7DkPFcRZ6i3yPS6WFhOGL5jQLauCUv36IxjTuqu2wGvQpeDozRv80jhyqWmxPyiVz4PkmmbOJQQeat6ujcMYGobvHFVsd8lqnMFsbyLxAnVgeY1TOw2Mv0anvMHVbBZoR_NvLw/s320/Hoppies+to+Paducah+038.jpg" border="0" /></a>absolutely beautiful. Other sights to see in Paducah are an old steam <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7W8HWWq951-UP72bLJ3bAzOPhek1nAaK2byLr9bYb1IkC9164aEIyoApo7bi1W0gmqsRGFR0OUiPL8bB8ycCP2rA19kfTFHQhu-WZgQhNo45gTr_nCAqOKip2eC8pLjEi4dnvxg/s1600-h/Hoppies+to+Paducah+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113453315958187826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7W8HWWq951-UP72bLJ3bAzOPhek1nAaK2byLr9bYb1IkC9164aEIyoApo7bi1W0gmqsRGFR0OUiPL8bB8ycCP2rA19kfTFHQhu-WZgQhNo45gTr_nCAqOKip2eC8pLjEi4dnvxg/s320/Hoppies+to+Paducah+031.jpg" border="0" /></a>locomotive, and the Center for Maritime Education,where many (if not most) of the river towboat captains learn their trade and<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX1N51ydb_LJqkXiYjdIx546OWFj2Se9HLEPGX58hbjYnfBoGPLu8PRn9dh24URncPOMj5jkqC8wIhyphenhyphentFJ3BCLIJ-6cZZUud7jaUMmDS1ZWoL7t-pbngif8XbjvANz-RCKVaQ3g/s1600-h/Hoppies+to+Paducah+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113453616605898562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX1N51ydb_LJqkXiYjdIx546OWFj2Se9HLEPGX58hbjYnfBoGPLu8PRn9dh24URncPOMj5jkqC8wIhyphenhyphentFJ3BCLIJ-6cZZUud7jaUMmDS1ZWoL7t-pbngif8XbjvANz-RCKVaQ3g/s320/Hoppies+to+Paducah+034.jpg" border="0" /></a> become certified to captain these massive vessels. We had a good stay in Paducah, although we are still not sure if we were really allowed to stay there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdJ3UtWf0fm9fZSd0VNWogA06ghdjGTDXhWkqIAabDOWOAN-JGcWu5ewOfCg1wrZho4up16KIMhdLhI1p_LkIB5SmSpePwZKYCxonqpSfgKO5cPKRI3Y4IHhx-79H10wTq8EAFw/s1600-h/Hoppies+to+Paducah+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113452989540673314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdJ3UtWf0fm9fZSd0VNWogA06ghdjGTDXhWkqIAabDOWOAN-JGcWu5ewOfCg1wrZho4up16KIMhdLhI1p_LkIB5SmSpePwZKYCxonqpSfgKO5cPKRI3Y4IHhx-79H10wTq8EAFw/s320/Hoppies+to+Paducah+040.jpg" border="0" /></a>The next morning, Jerry, Mike’s brother, left us to continue his trip to Cincinnati, and then back home to Yuma, AZ. We had a great time with Jerry onboard, and will miss him. He was a good crew member for the two weeks he was with us. We hope he enjoyed his trip down the Illinois and Mississippi and up the Ohio Rivers with us.<br /><br />From Paducah we continued our trip up the Ohio River about ten miles to the Cumberland River. There, we turned south and made our way about 35 miles up the River to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRm-ElgTwNMJCFp7fCnqg4q-p3ol5vX6rNWXdJzAHEQWXPc8FpNCWJrWtpeDSbGhxPS6kRmjfKkL34oDlwHx4rkKwpsQoNZI_C_Fj_Fey53QMhzEqheYIBqRsNzqRdp3siDJTpA/s1600-h/Paducah+to+GTB+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113510847045117826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRm-ElgTwNMJCFp7fCnqg4q-p3ol5vX6rNWXdJzAHEQWXPc8FpNCWJrWtpeDSbGhxPS6kRmjfKkL34oDlwHx4rkKwpsQoNZI_C_Fj_Fey53QMhzEqheYIBqRsNzqRdp3siDJTpA/s320/Paducah+to+GTB+005.jpg" border="0" /></a>Barkley Lock and Dam. After waiting about twenty minutes for a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7D7vb-K1S6jl2jF1VMpeamNegEKm1yJ4IHcmrtF4Hh-nH5EQFJZuVN396MZbk4TM_KzDI4GKBZ0yC6Msi3rhOdm_VNQtTWurkCwSbEImnRm_0S785TWBOotLash4rikzDMNKTA/s1600-h/Paducah+to+GTB+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113511186347534226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7D7vb-K1S6jl2jF1VMpeamNegEKm1yJ4IHcmrtF4Hh-nH5EQFJZuVN396MZbk4TM_KzDI4GKBZ0yC6Msi3rhOdm_VNQtTWurkCwSbEImnRm_0S785TWBOotLash4rikzDMNKTA/s320/Paducah+to+GTB+006.jpg" border="0" /></a>towboat to lock down, we entered the lock and were lifted about 45 feet to Lake Barkley. Less than two miles later we entered a beautiful cove in the Land Between The Lakes area and anchored for the night. It was quiet, peaceful, and a very nice anchorage.<br /><br />The next morning, September 13th, we pulled up the anchor and made our way about a mile to the entrance to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4saxPxQ4waQaP276eem7X2z2cwL0vAYyh4fPFvELuLjgOD7OghJZix-ylz_2aUaEpt0MH9_gj2Cb5QuX3fx-4KeIoJDB46FISZiYUx2M9YkPQXxz6ZYkz4s7ZSYe18Gs27Av_Q/s1600-h/Paducah+to+GTB+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113510602231981938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4saxPxQ4waQaP276eem7X2z2cwL0vAYyh4fPFvELuLjgOD7OghJZix-ylz_2aUaEpt0MH9_gj2Cb5QuX3fx-4KeIoJDB46FISZiYUx2M9YkPQXxz6ZYkz4s7ZSYe18Gs27Av_Q/s320/Paducah+to+GTB+012.jpg" border="0" /></a>Green Turtle Bay Marina, which is almost a must-see stop on the Great Loop. When we arrived there were several other Loopers here, to include Mike and Jean from JEANIE MARIE, whom we have seen on the Loop off and on for months. After getting into our slip it was time to give IRISH AYES a much needed bath.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>On Friday afternoon, Eric (our friend from Florida on KENTUCKY WILDCATS) met us at the boat, along with Gary and Bobbie who live in this area. Both are retired Army. Eric was in town on family business, and Gary and Bobbie live here. Eric will spend the night on the boat, and then give us a ride to Nashville, where we will catch a plane to Las Vegas for the Retired Military Police Officer’s Reunion we are attending. Gary and Bobbie have graciously offered to pick us up at the airport in Nashville when we return on September 20th. So, we will leave the boat in our assigned transient slip and make our way to Las Vegas for a few days. When we return, we will begin our final leg of our great adventure and travel the last 600 miles to Knoxville. Stay tuned……</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-67704285832664589572007-09-11T07:16:00.000-04:002007-09-13T10:37:20.704-04:00Alton, IL to Hoppies Marine, Kimmswick, MO<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinLoiIycZhyphenhyphenIe3djbK6bVHilquCQiUKZ0E0pPs6VsTP-gJlcXkIg_Z-iD9JKHPJoI3jPyAMDkbBsDubhjbCEDic9K6ToNQui5SrccPFpjVff-_JdaFosZeaUFhc7xfJVPyrjD-g/s1600-h/The+Bridge+at+Alton+Marina.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108904444304993426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinLoiIycZhyphenhyphenIe3djbK6bVHilquCQiUKZ0E0pPs6VsTP-gJlcXkIg_Z-iD9JKHPJoI3jPyAMDkbBsDubhjbCEDic9K6ToNQui5SrccPFpjVff-_JdaFosZeaUFhc7xfJVPyrjD-g/s320/The+Bridge+at+Alton+Marina.jpg" border="0" /></a>After an interesting ride down the first 20 miles of the Mississippi River, we arrived at our next stop on this great journey. We passed under the Clark Bridge in Alton, Illinois, and made an immediate U-turn as we made our way into Alton Marina on Friday, 7 Sept after a long day on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCENM3eCuRyV77jhxBBz24xjAzfbpGRbG7macYB_CwZ5jgHqFqrFpndNiErjtsUOGVKtlmGNVrtFqgJO51LuBLsqHsFeK74GjJOs8qYDRBw5wll-BOaSsqtjvY5OVsKHAlb616w/s1600-h/The+junction+of+the+Illinois+and+Mississippi+Rivers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108904624693619874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCENM3eCuRyV77jhxBBz24xjAzfbpGRbG7macYB_CwZ5jgHqFqrFpndNiErjtsUOGVKtlmGNVrtFqgJO51LuBLsqHsFeK74GjJOs8qYDRBw5wll-BOaSsqtjvY5OVsKHAlb616w/s320/The+junction+of+the+Illinois+and+Mississippi+Rivers.jpg" border="0" /></a>Most of the day was overcast with occasional rain which made for a comfortable day to cruise. However, as we approached the point where the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers join, we ran into a thunderstorm. It was raining so hard we could barely see the front of the boat (thank goodness for radar and a good chartplotter). Fortunately, the storm did not last long. However, the sun came out after the storm and it was very warm for the next several hours. The humidity was very high and something that we have not been exposed to in many, many months. We are spoiled by Canada and Michigan weather.<br /><br />We got fuel at Alton and then made our way to a T-dock at the marina. We later explored the town and made our way to a recommended restaurant, Fast Eddies Bon Air. The walk to this restaurant was almost a mile. We were beginning to think we had gone the wrong way. Well, we finally saw the sign directing us to Fast Eddie’s so we continued on and were looking forward to getting food and drink. The place was packed, loud music was playing that made talking to one another almost impossible, and the menu was very limited. Smoking must have been encouraged, since nearly everywhere we looked we saw cigarette and cigar smokers doing their thing. We were told that our drink orders would be taken at the table and we would have to order our food from the bar. We were there about ten minutes and no one ever came over to take drink orders, so we left. We later heard from several folks that the atmosphere at Fast Eddie’s is not great (and we agree), but that they have the best hamburgers. Oh, well. We talked to a guy Saturday evening who told us that it was dangerous to be walking in that part of town. He apologized to us that no one had given us that information before venturing in to town and told us to be careful when walking around Alton. We ended up eating at a fast food restaurant on Thursday before making our way back to the boat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_I_aLzp2tVvCBcMmDVVX5Ra9LOXc5Sipw0OwayD-KhYHbJX8ceVwSj7qnIMUnwTi-hlNFSWf7q5m8CInq7kFT58RKKP2-ew9UgtQkaJJ2xZ4BBalcvZrS4NYg3Au04ZgrmPMlpQ/s1600-h/Misc+2+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109116808962944274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_I_aLzp2tVvCBcMmDVVX5Ra9LOXc5Sipw0OwayD-KhYHbJX8ceVwSj7qnIMUnwTi-hlNFSWf7q5m8CInq7kFT58RKKP2-ew9UgtQkaJJ2xZ4BBalcvZrS4NYg3Au04ZgrmPMlpQ/s320/Misc+2+004.jpg" border="0" /></a>On Friday evening, we, as well as Jerry, Mike’s brother, and Mike and Cathy met Pat’s long-time friend Debby (Pat and Debby have known each other since first grade) at Gian-Tony’s for dinner. It was good to see Debby again and to enjoy a delicious meal at this popular Italian restaurant located on “The Hill” in St. Louis.<br /><br />On Saturday, Debby and I spent the day shopping at the ABC Trading Company, which is a great store for all sorts of jewelry, handbags, hats, scarves, sunglasses, etc., etc., etc., located in Chesterfield. This is a great store where one can spend hours looking at everything this store has to offer. We had lunch at Crown Candy Kitchen that was established in 1913 and still going strong. The Crown Candy Kitchen is famous for its malts, milkshakes, ice cream, homemade candies, and delicious sandwiches. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was something of time gone by. Also, if anyone can drink five malts in a half-hour, they will not have to pay for them. We did not take them up on this offer nor did we witness anyone who did, and I am not sure that I would want to. A fun and interesting little place.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZFaD4HOd8G5Rj6fXOuR8-0mr7VDOiq5QeKAJZzAXJM-3s-uXQL7ICcJzbQ8YsSQurCVxHln3MFYzo_h_gGNfWjThq26hHQbsJrc7cBa5q7plSgsq00bBmQJYe9Pf9yRqLf3EWA/s1600-h/From+Alton+to+Hoppies+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109465277264821410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZFaD4HOd8G5Rj6fXOuR8-0mr7VDOiq5QeKAJZzAXJM-3s-uXQL7ICcJzbQ8YsSQurCVxHln3MFYzo_h_gGNfWjThq26hHQbsJrc7cBa5q7plSgsq00bBmQJYe9Pf9yRqLf3EWA/s320/From+Alton+to+Hoppies+020.jpg" border="0" /></a>Mike and Jerry stayed behind to do boat chores today, so Debby bought Mike a container of Ted Drewe’s famous ice cream to enjoy at his leisure. This ice cream is sooooo good. If ever in St. Louis, you must try it. They did, and they loved it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGx5a3pdES6uiM-meqloMrmCTuKBPp3ICJQxzRUmhYYCixPx6SyQo8Q7XdCE7hfPPsjIwkV7YaJMcYlxhhBJS84ZTMRwO4snHblQOwRRG8grWE0QFEBfi0QhqQl06d6ziyI6k3yw/s1600-h/Misc+2+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109114051593940226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGx5a3pdES6uiM-meqloMrmCTuKBPp3ICJQxzRUmhYYCixPx6SyQo8Q7XdCE7hfPPsjIwkV7YaJMcYlxhhBJS84ZTMRwO4snHblQOwRRG8grWE0QFEBfi0QhqQl06d6ziyI6k3yw/s320/Misc+2+006.jpg" border="0" /></a>On Saturday afternoon, the strangest looking contraption made its way into Alton Marina for fuel. This thing had about 20 people on it, dressed in all sorts of attire. They, as well as the thing they were traveling on, looked as if they came right out of the hills of who knows where--unbelievable. We found out that this is a group of gypsy actors/musicians, and they have their own internet site. If you are interested in reading about this unusual group, go to the Internet and type in: The Miss Rockaway Armada. The Coast Guard have made marine radio announcements to be on the look out for an unsafe water vehicle on the river. This homemade vessel is truly dangerous. If the currents on the rivers don't break it apart, it will be a miracle!<br /><br />We left Alton on early Sunday morning (9 Sept), waving goodbye to Mike and Cathy, who will be there for another week, visiting friends and family. We have traveled with them for two and a half months, and it will not be the same traveling without them.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcKKaAWUYb1PUgr_FDCHsgwc2tAZ1e95C5eUEujM45ZKc3_2rsG4ShbYlHTBfbFy9J9Jz6LI8xK15hRYFVlWNnv7ZS3gsdabodwSR3yMywcZqOUCW-OLbsMGCJNhXxLg4qGeFuw/s1600-h/From+Alton+to+Hoppies+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109696316440575154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcKKaAWUYb1PUgr_FDCHsgwc2tAZ1e95C5eUEujM45ZKc3_2rsG4ShbYlHTBfbFy9J9Jz6LI8xK15hRYFVlWNnv7ZS3gsdabodwSR3yMywcZqOUCW-OLbsMGCJNhXxLg4qGeFuw/s320/From+Alton+to+Hoppies+002.jpg" border="0" /></a>As we left Alton Marina, we immediately came to our first lock, Mel Price. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BSLkZm8tEitiBCYb-qA4dPV5QH7NJIpnnn2_leclYJGrED5gWUf2vkX9mIAnaTiF0_J839PF8wKgsjm9QBTm0j29zaNj9znJgag9gWy_ioG_daAPscMj2eudsIK7Z63WEnCkOQ/s1600-h/From+Alton+to+Hoppies+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109112307837218018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BSLkZm8tEitiBCYb-qA4dPV5QH7NJIpnnn2_leclYJGrED5gWUf2vkX9mIAnaTiF0_J839PF8wKgsjm9QBTm0j29zaNj9znJgag9gWy_ioG_daAPscMj2eudsIK7Z63WEnCkOQ/s320/From+Alton+to+Hoppies+012.jpg" border="0" /></a>Our next lock was Chain of Rocks, where we had to wait an hour before being locked through. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3XFLowZyAz6YPMFaJ9s9_-85YW31STn-2Yvvprs4P4shEvFlJAVGX4Q14zxGCX92D52wU9ln2cwOuEZ37PF7pj2rOLadWdQSumI7ZWkGHv0eZObXIFXKpFUi-jSMVvFYqpyFFA/s1600-h/From+Alton+to+Hoppies+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108905114319891650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3XFLowZyAz6YPMFaJ9s9_-85YW31STn-2Yvvprs4P4shEvFlJAVGX4Q14zxGCX92D52wU9ln2cwOuEZ37PF7pj2rOLadWdQSumI7ZWkGHv0eZObXIFXKpFUi-jSMVvFYqpyFFA/s320/From+Alton+to+Hoppies+019.jpg" border="0" /></a>We locked through with a tow/barge with the permission of the tow captain. This tow with its barges was not very large. We also passed the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and numerous large tows/barges, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyK7i1oF08JD1vZuZS8Hv9bSZAL-AxtOpTc_ZeU43Ecd0k_Le5S68471NmTrUw8uOK4JoFI2l-9Vy6puyiH0msjjjtrcCOFLtprjdrCiPt5v3CU1it9i-oilGlJ3PYYsFl5gTsg/s1600-h/From+Alton+to+Hoppies+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108904903866494130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyK7i1oF08JD1vZuZS8Hv9bSZAL-AxtOpTc_ZeU43Ecd0k_Le5S68471NmTrUw8uOK4JoFI2l-9Vy6puyiH0msjjjtrcCOFLtprjdrCiPt5v3CU1it9i-oilGlJ3PYYsFl5gTsg/s320/From+Alton+to+Hoppies+006.jpg" border="0" /></a>as we made our way to Hoppie’s Marina in Kimmswick. Upon arrival at <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkVDccQDxFboaeUc1i59KmRrSP6KTC1YISLe9sspo_hARWF1AdvPzxsTb-8SVI6SSMtYyEesbtCpKX0WUGS3KZLgnBoJYWatYKioQWjXJERL4jLitc443DkKX_aayBRxRQNpwgQ/s1600-h/From+Alton+to+Hoppies+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109112505405713650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkVDccQDxFboaeUc1i59KmRrSP6KTC1YISLe9sspo_hARWF1AdvPzxsTb-8SVI6SSMtYyEesbtCpKX0WUGS3KZLgnBoJYWatYKioQWjXJERL4jLitc443DkKX_aayBRxRQNpwgQ/s320/From+Alton+to+Hoppies+023.jpg" border="0" /></a>Hoppie’s, we were greeted at the dock by the legendary Fern, the owner, who helped us get tied up. We have heard so much about her over the years, and we were finally glad that we got to meet her. Hoppie’s has been in business since 1935, first managed by Hoppie’s father and many years later was taken over by Hoppie and Fern. This marina has been in business for 72 years. Hoppie worked on the river as a lamplighter for years, long before powered lights were installed, and he may be the last living Mississippi River lamplighter. They seem to have a great thing going for boaters on this part of the Mississippi River.<br /><br />We walked to the Blue Owl Restaurant in Kimmswick for lunch. This is a great place to eat and they have wonderful desserts. This restaurant is famous for its breakfasts and lunches (they are not open for dinner), and now we know why. We got our briefing this afternoon from Fern on the remainder of the river system, which will be helpful as we continue on to to the Ohio and Tennessee rivers. We will leave Hoppies on Monday, 10 Sept. Stay tuned…</div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-35607149557645858332007-09-08T17:59:00.000-04:002007-09-09T10:17:42.450-04:00Chicago and other stops along the Illinois River<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkVwjgG7KD_tNfzThDhtj78GRSrcw0fRVsTG2I-oe1HrXUrjqLqhUsAUMqSz-ywqgo7XCtJzzVuOXEZggkVusjCJaIaM5lbJXotVMjHJUVBMKk8sbtoBBIgBvFyHpAEwlni1WDw/s1600-h/Misc+062.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108208200041540738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkVwjgG7KD_tNfzThDhtj78GRSrcw0fRVsTG2I-oe1HrXUrjqLqhUsAUMqSz-ywqgo7XCtJzzVuOXEZggkVusjCJaIaM5lbJXotVMjHJUVBMKk8sbtoBBIgBvFyHpAEwlni1WDw/s320/Misc+062.jpg" border="0" /></a>We enjoyed our stay in Chicago. Pat enjoyed being in a big city again and both of us would have liked to have stayed in Chicago a while longer, but we needed to be on our way if we were to be in Alton, IL, by next weekend. We had a "crew change" here in Chicago, with Mike's brother Tom and sister-in-law Sue getting off the boat, and Mike's other brother Jerry coming aboard for the trip back to Tennessee. We had a great time with Tom and Sue, and hope they enjoyed their time aboard IRISH AYES and the trip down Lake Michigan. We are looking forward to spending the next couple of weeks with Jerry.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCB7A2Z7jbTg8hgMKs1HDWRHsF8WIMS-jToIKi5BYxhDS0fmvyt6F6SoG8SjMuMHnKVz9gIvUsl5d0Zt-3rNnxOyHN3erl7iazxDblbVTEHsEMneghXjJfp0Onhh7Wm96VjCqsNQ/s1600-h/The+junction+of+the+Illinois+and+Mississippi+Rivers.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8P2vtSJZ6uI10jYrh8g1YHg_BGmZHnCAG7oqz5e33XO_Rkez3JoBPFRgRM-byOahSYMzNxkG2G0wR7at5bgtrZdt_1DYMEejnM7QAlvBLWfsoEg_iw77fJnG1gZtdpXWn2UvIzw/s1600-h/Misc+066.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107957193562827602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8P2vtSJZ6uI10jYrh8g1YHg_BGmZHnCAG7oqz5e33XO_Rkez3JoBPFRgRM-byOahSYMzNxkG2G0wR7at5bgtrZdt_1DYMEejnM7QAlvBLWfsoEg_iw77fJnG1gZtdpXWn2UvIzw/s320/Misc+066.jpg" border="0" /></a>One of the highlights of our stay in Chicago was Saturday evening spent with <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmtL41fZkbAqMuHgMtrXUYljNwGXSnqsehEYwu0hb5GLJGU6EoogKfvLYw_lvGjhh0OnUj8MmuFngodNPvrhBeWzZjL3mYFU7i0Zd_upkL1JYKCmjT2ziqJgGQLgxjX3Zm1EslA/s1600-h/Misc+064.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107958018196548498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmtL41fZkbAqMuHgMtrXUYljNwGXSnqsehEYwu0hb5GLJGU6EoogKfvLYw_lvGjhh0OnUj8MmuFngodNPvrhBeWzZjL3mYFU7i0Zd_upkL1JYKCmjT2ziqJgGQLgxjX3Zm1EslA/s320/Misc+064.jpg" border="0" /></a>Woody and Ellen<br />(DOUBLE SS) who hosted all “Loopers” who were staying in Chicago over the Labor Day Weekend. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZYINLm5WFcgEgX6klOWjE-UWv4vjRH3jYj-i0lZ2e820jU16TX8QHFZsPWXuQCz5sfhYCGSLbiwyzL-p1nEKniFLe8CIl2qb0_LsDFX8RnQNxU2A-kL2BFNjTDLn6MvsTxAXpQ/s1600-h/Misc+059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107957399721257826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZYINLm5WFcgEgX6klOWjE-UWv4vjRH3jYj-i0lZ2e820jU16TX8QHFZsPWXuQCz5sfhYCGSLbiwyzL-p1nEKniFLe8CIl2qb0_LsDFX8RnQNxU2A-kL2BFNjTDLn6MvsTxAXpQ/s320/Misc+059.jpg" border="0" /></a>They live in a beautiful high-rise condominium with breathtaking views of Chicago and the waterway. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzE_J6kWZWYneEdflk-GHYED9axMPFtuYiAjV3wEscnNOahyphenhyphenoc_Lo3b510ASWW_X3cWr3JIkSdFTJIrF6ixqZgTU5G2v4S6HHCr58m_Sr0IT6AD_sT1bSQ-BXS01ahnLXL2Ew4vQ/s1600-h/Misc+060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107957760498510722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzE_J6kWZWYneEdflk-GHYED9axMPFtuYiAjV3wEscnNOahyphenhyphenoc_Lo3b510ASWW_X3cWr3JIkSdFTJIrF6ixqZgTU5G2v4S6HHCr58m_Sr0IT6AD_sT1bSQ-BXS01ahnLXL2Ew4vQ/s320/Misc+060.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucsxd8EnCaK4U2c4a1ntOOVL3btcLPVgIRcPvgm-GdVSrKB_S7TR_1I3vHOhfrULABYZ91StL_7m62pYyoT72HonFN1w7d2Ovp4a_6stQRde1-__3fjwmL7jWR8lFQlS2iDnYog/s1600-h/Misc+065.jpg"></a>We truly enjoyed their hospitality and appreciate them having all of us in their lovely home.<br /><br />We took advantage of good weather and left Chicago Yacht Club on 2 September. The height of our boat did not allow us to go through downtown Chicago, so we had to take the Calumet Sag Canal. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwcwNKDz7Vks2nM813k9XCweAbZ3WFkPbBQ6NTElU7E_i8wElt_2pKhvWeaZNryPcVXDJSu73eNzh_7xpZrWn34QdRRm_OoXR-ubQJNnEuwtDF_c8lxUe1PpJO2Ad3P0iNI27Rg/s1600-h/Misc+101.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107962205789662290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwcwNKDz7Vks2nM813k9XCweAbZ3WFkPbBQ6NTElU7E_i8wElt_2pKhvWeaZNryPcVXDJSu73eNzh_7xpZrWn34QdRRm_OoXR-ubQJNnEuwtDF_c8lxUe1PpJO2Ad3P0iNI27Rg/s320/Misc+101.jpg" border="0" /></a>This canal is a large tow boat and barge staging and parking area. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qUehRJKaSGoISw4BwCIxWO7_AyZ6Bg1W4saDSueTel7Jaj67xLi8PC0Vx6hHwroFsrPwCuJH84qQJQ6pNJm8rahE0HIihsjwKmTCbyXzoCOwGWUxlxu6KCDgd0mThwDB1vPilw/s1600-h/Misc+106.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107961991041297474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qUehRJKaSGoISw4BwCIxWO7_AyZ6Bg1W4saDSueTel7Jaj67xLi8PC0Vx6hHwroFsrPwCuJH84qQJQ6pNJm8rahE0HIihsjwKmTCbyXzoCOwGWUxlxu6KCDgd0mThwDB1vPilw/s320/Misc+106.jpg" border="0" /></a>Barges were tied to the shore, leaving just enough room for oncoming barges to pass, which made for interesting moments when we met them in the channel. Many of then were moving barges around in this small area, so it was another day of high adventure in a small area.<br /><br />We went through two locks on Sunday (2 Sept). At the first lock we were allowed to tie IRISH AYES to the bollard inside the lock, which makes locking through much easier. At the next lock, we were thrown bow and starboard lines, which is a bit more difficult. Traversing these locks is much easier than those we experienced on the Erie or Trent Severn Waterways. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1gMRFcG_SrBcFCtC4aZ2UJa-HQUOsyXBnv7vvs2FLbnC0cuhcFkyDujg3UZ6HkyBtyTWxkvWCrUYotAprJBmxbvvZ0ZYDEFBK0EmQGbMmShxrOQipj6ERp24lvmwD0o-Cs1X9Q/s1600-h/Misc+089.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107961720458357810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1gMRFcG_SrBcFCtC4aZ2UJa-HQUOsyXBnv7vvs2FLbnC0cuhcFkyDujg3UZ6HkyBtyTWxkvWCrUYotAprJBmxbvvZ0ZYDEFBK0EmQGbMmShxrOQipj6ERp24lvmwD0o-Cs1X9Q/s320/Misc+089.jpg" border="0" /></a>We also went under numerous bridges today, most of which we did not have to have opened, thankfully.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIbBmHHKOsy-H5D02KsUC_88i0QXDzYr2iENRonxUrISZOTRVz8_Qp8oHlPqVMbjZaFMocvnGw2XDSDe72T5KIH9TjKfBw4QS43uSMFQ4BGEvWfoyKMZgqOY6pjUIJydvUtp7vQ/s1600-h/Misc+1+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107959474190461938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIbBmHHKOsy-H5D02KsUC_88i0QXDzYr2iENRonxUrISZOTRVz8_Qp8oHlPqVMbjZaFMocvnGw2XDSDe72T5KIH9TjKfBw4QS43uSMFQ4BGEvWfoyKMZgqOY6pjUIJydvUtp7vQ/s320/Misc+1+002.jpg" border="0" /></a>We, along with XPLORER, stopped in Joiliet, IL, at the Free Dock just below the Jefferson Bridge. Le GRACE, CAT HOUSE, FIRST AND TEN, and GREAT ESTATE were also at this dock for the night. All but GREAT ESTATE left on 3 September for points south on the Illinios River. Our plan to leave at 7:00 a.m. was delayed due to barge traffic. We finally left the free dock around 10:00 a.m. at the instruction of the lockmaster, but ended up waiting another hour and a half once we got to the lock. We arrived at our next lock at 1:00 p.m. and ended up waiting for two hours before being locked through. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZX-vzslflP7LfI1YKOpa-3M8Hzhuzcwty1p505y6p_dg277GpoCA-4Es8utfAZllZcZ7Co0jTr2fuDEeD3luJyA61kmVtzct0JEQrjJZq1sCGs2L4qqfyVvO8ll35_EGOGPsATg/s1600-h/Misc+1+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107961037558557714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZX-vzslflP7LfI1YKOpa-3M8Hzhuzcwty1p505y6p_dg277GpoCA-4Es8utfAZllZcZ7Co0jTr2fuDEeD3luJyA61kmVtzct0JEQrjJZq1sCGs2L4qqfyVvO8ll35_EGOGPsATg/s320/Misc+1+010.jpg" border="0" /></a>In addition, all of us were locked through with a tow boat with eight barges. This was exciting! The guys on the barge came out and tied our lines to the barges and we began our descent in the lock. We’ve been locked through with tows/barges before, but we had never been tied to the barge before.<br /><br />After a long day, we decided to anchor at Barry Island for the night, which turned out to be a quiet, peaceful anchorage. From Barry Island, we made our way to Chillicothe Free Dock on 4 Sept. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEseCq_14Mif3RiQ5Te4s8js84vzOVsV0sPaHC6TQZk2CnowhdMBIGtKUb6TuVN8gIvOWgyT1tn4Q9IMj-ZLxBxbLIDrHGKvMU0Ag3riRSAa74bDR4ThFY0TfbR8I-Z2Xgn-2nUw/s1600-h/IA+in+fog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107958735456086978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEseCq_14Mif3RiQ5Te4s8js84vzOVsV0sPaHC6TQZk2CnowhdMBIGtKUb6TuVN8gIvOWgyT1tn4Q9IMj-ZLxBxbLIDrHGKvMU0Ag3riRSAa74bDR4ThFY0TfbR8I-Z2Xgn-2nUw/s320/IA+in+fog.jpg" border="0" /></a>We started out in a lot of fog, which made for a tense morning with <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyZ0BFV28tXhgR2amBhyphenhyphenW7CHEFvrYgOMszCf73UlDFvVRp6963e5esvX85N-pGcdfp8wziJJ6vXRVToWtZRALs35HNKBz4mBQ_Nyt62Ru-wIO31BpFhi97nHPyAfbZwhyP8kxpA/s1600-h/Misc+1+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107964847194549362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyZ0BFV28tXhgR2amBhyphenhyphenW7CHEFvrYgOMszCf73UlDFvVRp6963e5esvX85N-pGcdfp8wziJJ6vXRVToWtZRALs35HNKBz4mBQ_Nyt62Ru-wIO31BpFhi97nHPyAfbZwhyP8kxpA/s320/Misc+1+016.jpg" border="0" /></a>tows/barges coming and going. Thank goodness for radar, a good chartplotter, and a competent captain. After getting settled at the Chillicothe Free Dock, we had to climb over the rail at the dock to get to the parking lot, because the end of the dock was still under water from the recent flooding they are experiencing in this area. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEevz4VgkC9VWyNaNHBWvRqaakGqy6jPg4QQkoqWQ_d13QYVvgeBogPE_w2bPpFB4F4TuFW3dCTcJUcWHWGgAUMTT9nU4IMo5yE_cDSIlB3MZj0fp-HmLZeV8gY1jLmd9dcMfgUw/s1600-h/Misc+1+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107960814220258306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEevz4VgkC9VWyNaNHBWvRqaakGqy6jPg4QQkoqWQ_d13QYVvgeBogPE_w2bPpFB4F4TuFW3dCTcJUcWHWGgAUMTT9nU4IMo5yE_cDSIlB3MZj0fp-HmLZeV8gY1jLmd9dcMfgUw/s320/Misc+1+025.jpg" border="0" /></a>In the parking lot is Banana’s Pub/Grille, so we went in for a drink and were greeted by dozens of folks who were sitting at the bar watching our show as we climbed over the rail. They greeted us with laughter and apologized for the high water level, as we entered the bar/grille. We talked to several of the locals for a while, then we walked to town for dinner at Bailey’s Irish Pub.<br /><br />On Wednesday, 5 Sept, we left Chillicothe Free Dock and headed to Eastport Marina to top off fuel, get a pump out, and get water. They ran out of diesel while fueling XPLORER, so we were not able to get fuel here. Thankfully, we can make it to Alton before we will need fuel.<br /><br />We saw the LST 325 tied to shore while leaving Eastport Marina. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNprE2B_ZJmlKz1SMbVH43cKnaYdPD_EE-cn1o3sxcsOTn0QOKab-Lm3_lGNaMUqCJtCjIeTw51mK8HqZjQVu67goj9cypjOMQIUi2dE1Gqmg8g52muOi6Pb0_Ssu_sKJnTvuoJQ/s1600-h/Misc+1+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107959083348437970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNprE2B_ZJmlKz1SMbVH43cKnaYdPD_EE-cn1o3sxcsOTn0QOKab-Lm3_lGNaMUqCJtCjIeTw51mK8HqZjQVu67goj9cypjOMQIUi2dE1Gqmg8g52muOi6Pb0_Ssu_sKJnTvuoJQ/s320/Misc+1+042.jpg" border="0" /></a>This ship was headed up river to Henry, IL, but had to turn around because it could not get under bridges due to the high water levels caused by the flooding last week. We later watched the ship pass under the Beardstown Railroad Bridge and the Beardstown dock on its way to Alton.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrhRt_oV4zMgZr3Db9V0XGBmUlY8jqoWCbuRAIHKWwMgufNLMvuZzFHu4pYKe-geNTjwMGVpF2svY9NwRKWmiHkzhKYDReYhRGJD1fKRU43XcubkonQlm4sUHKBrWeOjGglWjxg/s1600-h/Misc+1+044.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107961295256595490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrhRt_oV4zMgZr3Db9V0XGBmUlY8jqoWCbuRAIHKWwMgufNLMvuZzFHu4pYKe-geNTjwMGVpF2svY9NwRKWmiHkzhKYDReYhRGJD1fKRU43XcubkonQlm4sUHKBrWeOjGglWjxg/s320/Misc+1+044.jpg" border="0" /></a>We spent the night On 5 Sept, in Beardstown tied to a spud barge (for free) located at the Beardstown Riverlook. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPddLcOVcxL5ac1AVx8_15PGZif2nQtFV3i0TvowTOeJ8QMurqVCkSOS2BLo4Qc5PEOU5u_s_A1UZgWNGnoRxRIOWRnM627X4W0d7mFz-xHTo4zR0LRpWzBWUQ3vQA9I4JEkinQ/s1600-h/Misc+1+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107959298096802786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPddLcOVcxL5ac1AVx8_15PGZif2nQtFV3i0TvowTOeJ8QMurqVCkSOS2BLo4Qc5PEOU5u_s_A1UZgWNGnoRxRIOWRnM627X4W0d7mFz-xHTo4zR0LRpWzBWUQ3vQA9I4JEkinQ/s320/Misc+1+045.jpg" border="0" /></a>We explored the small town and had dinner at a Mexican Restaurant. According to a local businessman, the Corps of Engineers has granted approval for a marina to be built adjacent to where the barge is currently located. Who knows how long this will take, but a marina will be a great addition for this part of the river.<br /><br />We left Beardstown at daylight on 6 Sept and made our way to Alton, IL where we will be until Sunday, 9 Sept. Several Loopers were here when we arrived: WINNIE W, JEANNE MARIE, SKINWALKER, PUFFIN.<br /><br />While in Alton, Pat will visit with a long-time friend from her hometown who now lives in St. Louis. Stay tuned…Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-12225433738319816532007-09-05T20:56:00.000-04:002007-09-07T11:34:38.923-04:00Crossing Lake Michigan to Chicago<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_XCoLip5s2xac3rIcKRifOFQsfx4k9v8g6XMOtM5SI4yVE6XzRgR_5EZgvEAxs8ihDIi7LKFcjgVsKtyM7ZlddV9lOngAKb6M-najmpc_WdWOeb1-TsxLs4NXtUBHGo3qZt-yg/s1600-h/Misc+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107296825161198402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_XCoLip5s2xac3rIcKRifOFQsfx4k9v8g6XMOtM5SI4yVE6XzRgR_5EZgvEAxs8ihDIi7LKFcjgVsKtyM7ZlddV9lOngAKb6M-najmpc_WdWOeb1-TsxLs4NXtUBHGo3qZt-yg/s320/Misc+032.jpg" border="0" /></a>We departed South Haven, Michigan, at 7:30am EST on Friday, 31 August, to make the roughly 80 mile crossing of Lake Michigan. Once again we were a bit apprehensive about this part of the trip, because of the reputation this Lake had acquired over the years for being unpredictable and violent (listen once again to Gordon Lightfoot’s rendering of the Edmond Fitzgerald and you’ll understand what we mean).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3foza7m6Jo3bSfG2bcxL4LOw7RVO-gcMZU1Twbt0xJCYqczLsdfUehs9NRXdD0mVQXNFItKR3zbs03uG9d274Ah_ZM_pNQM8-Alyua4epeFoadOdAU7krfhq8FdroW6EASZjimw/s1600-h/Misc+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106889069556050658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3foza7m6Jo3bSfG2bcxL4LOw7RVO-gcMZU1Twbt0xJCYqczLsdfUehs9NRXdD0mVQXNFItKR3zbs03uG9d274Ah_ZM_pNQM8-Alyua4epeFoadOdAU7krfhq8FdroW6EASZjimw/s320/Misc+014.jpg" border="0" /></a>Adding to our nervousness were the weather conditions on the Lake on Thursday. We walked to the Lake Michigan shore and we can tell you it looked like the inside of a washing machine it was so rough. It is hard to believe that such a huge body of water can be so rough, and then 10 hours later be calm, but that is what the various weather forecasts we reference were calling for. We have come to have a healthy skepticism of weather predictions, to say the least. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1HGH22PIA44ljNUobXDckAmLoismV8nSBAEEQEZhLE7PXqJEjbQ5iD0G2xjzdm7zj0imrp7_WmU9Y0iFR4BwX_QWLqALnEQlu-HKsZ7Dosv1LRPw0s0OxJDzA1-n0Rlrp1psLQ/s1600-h/Misc+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106889284304415474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1HGH22PIA44ljNUobXDckAmLoismV8nSBAEEQEZhLE7PXqJEjbQ5iD0G2xjzdm7zj0imrp7_WmU9Y0iFR4BwX_QWLqALnEQlu-HKsZ7Dosv1LRPw0s0OxJDzA1-n0Rlrp1psLQ/s320/Misc+025.jpg" border="0" /></a>However, the rough water did not keep the die hard sail boaters from doing their weekly races.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZ01X36NwQSm0d-iOBjThV44y6NLc6AD4fBa5Ec0Euggb5mtB9Y2pD0KlCcMS-Gb5dfP0ykpgr7f9_9WY2F-AIVJPWvjqE3vhePIormoUao3oNgenu5iWTQyPwQ-8IvYD4OI7Sw/s1600-h/IA+Chicago+Skyline.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106889915664608002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZ01X36NwQSm0d-iOBjThV44y6NLc6AD4fBa5Ec0Euggb5mtB9Y2pD0KlCcMS-Gb5dfP0ykpgr7f9_9WY2F-AIVJPWvjqE3vhePIormoUao3oNgenu5iWTQyPwQ-8IvYD4OI7Sw/s320/IA+Chicago+Skyline.jpg" border="0" /></a>In any event, we (XPLORER and IRISH AYES) decided to depart South Haven and head to Chicago. Winds were (as predicted) fairly calm and out of the NNE. Seas (also as predicted) were 1-3 feet, which were on the starboard aft quarter. Those seas pushed us around a little bit, but it was not uncomfortable.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXTFg7_a97eA8Q3i4qTZ8qXwc-jam8IdW6ucrwiWaqW9NjJUs4YxOAA-qiMbiHRjOgKkLvlKHeXZMhoPxn3FOGvmWaOs3KTpTZHYnkrf6_vqZXwwhFcLYOtb1vaqG74R87hWS_g/s1600-h/Misc+071.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106890293621730066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXTFg7_a97eA8Q3i4qTZ8qXwc-jam8IdW6ucrwiWaqW9NjJUs4YxOAA-qiMbiHRjOgKkLvlKHeXZMhoPxn3FOGvmWaOs3KTpTZHYnkrf6_vqZXwwhFcLYOtb1vaqG74R87hWS_g/s320/Misc+071.jpg" border="0" /></a>We arrived in Chicago at the Chicago Yacht Club at around 2:30pm CST, concluding an uneventful eight hour transit of Lake Michigan. All in all it was a good crossing. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSI-gTiECN_lAS8ns8qZBuaFCxdl_QmsoOiUHJ_xzZPWqw6u87XiCjJeoEcLJpjS6MxIi2imoK86HAWkt9jNuvYVuiwqFiC4uXkSYyx5viFOfGWAQir4uZTEtuOVMmSESNvBPMg/s1600-h/IA+Chicago+Skyline3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107290253861235490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSI-gTiECN_lAS8ns8qZBuaFCxdl_QmsoOiUHJ_xzZPWqw6u87XiCjJeoEcLJpjS6MxIi2imoK86HAWkt9jNuvYVuiwqFiC4uXkSYyx5viFOfGWAQir4uZTEtuOVMmSESNvBPMg/s320/IA+Chicago+Skyline3.jpg" border="0" /></a>We will spend the next few days of this Labor Day Holiday Weekend in Chicago, allowing the flood waters to recede a little more, before we begin our trek down the Illinois River. Stay tuned….Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-54118494608928860712007-09-05T20:31:00.000-04:002007-09-06T23:17:34.400-04:00South Haven, MI<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDT7zp3nD9KrjSaopRAizPybj-_lxz-txDX0F9iGbYyIiBzceGWxOkc_6lFeIFHDxeYlKWspiv55QomrtM0wuYRmnbacTuwaP_XDy2GADaJUs6tTuyEJFOdyKm5O14p5euyhDBaw/s1600-h/Misc+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106887068101290706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDT7zp3nD9KrjSaopRAizPybj-_lxz-txDX0F9iGbYyIiBzceGWxOkc_6lFeIFHDxeYlKWspiv55QomrtM0wuYRmnbacTuwaP_XDy2GADaJUs6tTuyEJFOdyKm5O14p5euyhDBaw/s320/Misc+004.jpg" border="0" /></a>We left Saugatuck on 28 August and arrived at South Haven Municipal Marina. We stayed here for three nights, awaiting a good weather window to cross to Chicago.<br /><br />South Haven is a neat town with plenty of stores, restaurants, and just about anything you would need. As always when close to a town, we <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiK2KSFr-k6A4N_NOOs78XyzvwXCYJhrNRAPXihl6nBRy-kqaaSX6PHY0RL6ZqbJFNWcZcaV5V3XMb9LrKWaxFNG2oKuD6z1nB_NrHDDtwkd3-i2T5av0PSp_kP35CpLwZLUzEhw/s1600-h/Misc+024.jpg"></a>explored the town and got a feel for the layout of the area. In doing so, we found a wonderful bakery that we determined would be where we would have breakfast on Wednesday. The pastries were fresh and delicious! There is also a café attached that serves traditional breakfast, but the pastries are what lured us into this place. As many of you know, Mike has never seen a bakery that he didn’t fall in love with, and with Cathy from XPLORER just about as bad, we were destined to visit this place more than once, so yes, we ate breakfast there again on Thursday! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqpOqTqTtUy2kQ0VWpTzwoeRFusVA8bbNn_ugdgI4hmGonXW16cL7i7QlBYX8YngmEKg0qBBei-0psjiO-BFcPFxH_01C-VYFIuGDpD-mcnGZzWJFDVFia4rN6HcW9OqTd-PWoA/s1600-h/Sue+pics+2+090+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107295510901205810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqpOqTqTtUy2kQ0VWpTzwoeRFusVA8bbNn_ugdgI4hmGonXW16cL7i7QlBYX8YngmEKg0qBBei-0psjiO-BFcPFxH_01C-VYFIuGDpD-mcnGZzWJFDVFia4rN6HcW9OqTd-PWoA/s320/Sue+pics+2+090+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> Here we are outside the bakery.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4AU42e3fPVTSA0qOhshp-H_QTE92ERGvIRnNaK5SJWu5VIhF3maD3c0EqoM0nToNRQCC4OJtGOG30Efbxr__0ouPpPWhtI9JhfT3KDpXS3YwCeaqbzJJrkqAfvl-F7TRawZhvA/s1600-h/Saugatuck+069.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106883872645622466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4AU42e3fPVTSA0qOhshp-H_QTE92ERGvIRnNaK5SJWu5VIhF3maD3c0EqoM0nToNRQCC4OJtGOG30Efbxr__0ouPpPWhtI9JhfT3KDpXS3YwCeaqbzJJrkqAfvl-F7TRawZhvA/s320/Saugatuck+069.jpg" border="0" /></a>On Wednesday evening, all “Loopers” who were staying at South Haven Municipal Marina had happy hour before heading to Clementine’s for dinner, which is a popular <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi0lLyShCTyok6fjtoIoJ6WQQX8IzTPRp5-VOFwmnG1Ecf2fkhOQoWrHl-SyXFODHjZwfvYtaw4WZUBS3nqtCwydFRdZKcVXLM7Rtuo5SinPdhC6B6FiCzYVPnz4pNv1q0YKsIQ/s1600-h/Saugatuck+066.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106883619242551986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi0lLyShCTyok6fjtoIoJ6WQQX8IzTPRp5-VOFwmnG1Ecf2fkhOQoWrHl-SyXFODHjZwfvYtaw4WZUBS3nqtCwydFRdZKcVXLM7Rtuo5SinPdhC6B6FiCzYVPnz4pNv1q0YKsIQ/s320/Saugatuck+066.jpg" border="0" /></a>restaurant in South Haven with good surroundings and good food. The restaurant is housed in what was once a Citizens Bank building, built in the late 1800’s, as are many of the buildings in the downtown area. South Haven is a beautiful little town, and was one of our favorite stops on the Lake Michigan coast. We would definitely like to stop here again. Next stop Chicago.Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-46567095809620094032007-08-29T07:51:00.001-04:002007-08-30T12:54:38.051-04:00More Stops Along Lake Michigan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptVLTLmjuQThWw89aizFmKWq4AxNd5Qh6Fcb-JqyNZGeENh_8riZkxeMxKQ6T5fAxdH1Tv0qdX2UJT0oJOwOB9N61SQ6fCdwEX5UYQlv17EPktuKvXBUOgrPKghyFCAGK-pWY2g/s1600-h/Sue+Photos+005+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104209654208440978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptVLTLmjuQThWw89aizFmKWq4AxNd5Qh6Fcb-JqyNZGeENh_8riZkxeMxKQ6T5fAxdH1Tv0qdX2UJT0oJOwOB9N61SQ6fCdwEX5UYQlv17EPktuKvXBUOgrPKghyFCAGK-pWY2g/s320/Sue+Photos+005+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>We left Mackinaw City Municipal Marina and went under Mackinaw Bridge at sunrise on Sunday, August 19. We traveled to Petoskey, Michigan, and stayed one night. Today was another windy day and we had a bumpy ride for a while. After getting settled into our slip at the marina in Petoskey, we explored the town for the afternoon, had dinner in town, and then called it a night.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2Ku0n85l8nh7K4Kjen9ov1zBcMOSzq3PkBjFedLt5xWA3M57E-PEb8n8NhTNWUIDsTZap_VkIhguzAPK6ihiyMEUts-kkZ_kVLz10Kw7F1bK7RzZ3XHPwUIbVONsBq04ifMxhg/s1600-h/Sue+Photos+008+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104204792305461858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2Ku0n85l8nh7K4Kjen9ov1zBcMOSzq3PkBjFedLt5xWA3M57E-PEb8n8NhTNWUIDsTZap_VkIhguzAPK6ihiyMEUts-kkZ_kVLz10Kw7F1bK7RzZ3XHPwUIbVONsBq04ifMxhg/s320/Sue+Photos+008+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>Across from the marina in Petoskey was a sand castle that we were told was built by someone in one day. They had a sand castle building competition, and the one we saw was truly amazing.<br /><br />From Petoskey we headed south on Lake Michigan to Charlevoix (20 August). Our plan was to go to Leland from Petoskey, but Leland was having thunderstorms and could not guarantee us a slip once we got there, so we decided to scoot into Charlevoix and wait out the weather. This was another very windy day and, as always, a challenge getting into a slip. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BsxTVzVomL1RoCCKbt2BiHLNRP-M3EJRg-8MJ6VmzAiysKPm2nvks5NmRBaqNiNYFaCuv2kG_N3N-zOQAUEjqh_Ntx4j1xf5DTePThgjWAWjRyNG9vmyKGa7RL_7Odhd1ugoVQ/s1600-h/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104208490272303730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BsxTVzVomL1RoCCKbt2BiHLNRP-M3EJRg-8MJ6VmzAiysKPm2nvks5NmRBaqNiNYFaCuv2kG_N3N-zOQAUEjqh_Ntx4j1xf5DTePThgjWAWjRyNG9vmyKGa7RL_7Odhd1ugoVQ/s320/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+040.jpg" border="0" /></a>Plus, we competed with a tour boat, “Emerald Isle,” for space as we approached the Charlevoix swing bridge. Size does matter, and we moved over as much as we could so the tour boat could get past us before we attempted to go through the bridge. Thankfully, the captains on both boats were competent!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspJ8VAP7imZF22RQjRruU9V0o8EcHgV0WUx9eKulye-Sy1J-Uy1rZd6imZl4eDTXY5MmfKt1mFjdPvIFtXVkRIY9YsrytmWZZ9twoQeqeynvoXbRoOGNAhTd7uVQL1IftQSJRLA/s1600-h/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+043.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104209293431188098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspJ8VAP7imZF22RQjRruU9V0o8EcHgV0WUx9eKulye-Sy1J-Uy1rZd6imZl4eDTXY5MmfKt1mFjdPvIFtXVkRIY9YsrytmWZZ9twoQeqeynvoXbRoOGNAhTd7uVQL1IftQSJRLA/s320/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+043.jpg" border="0" /></a>In Charlevoix, there were beautiful homes along the shore line as you go under the lift bridge. One home is so beautifully landscaped it looks like a home that you would see in a Thomas Kincaid painting.<br /><br />Both Petoskey and Charlevoix were good stops with nice marinas and good restaurants in town, and convenient to just about anything needed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5qmzH6h1avlng1ZLyDlZWjaDupWUxLHGxluu5oOeUTMrX47XiuG_W0bcsFYCMlaUMQCJzRYFtOSe9zbPSKwf2Z-J_Pvy_WLr2OZBmdtBHCbID5KzHdjev4IfZ-6jqW5n41WxCA/s1600-h/Saugatuck+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104202095065999858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5qmzH6h1avlng1ZLyDlZWjaDupWUxLHGxluu5oOeUTMrX47XiuG_W0bcsFYCMlaUMQCJzRYFtOSe9zbPSKwf2Z-J_Pvy_WLr2OZBmdtBHCbID5KzHdjev4IfZ-6jqW5n41WxCA/s320/Saugatuck+001.jpg" border="0" /></a>We left Charlevoix on 21 August and made our way to Frankfort and stayed at Jacobson Marina for one night. This was another nice marina with friendly staff and clean facilities. We walked into town, which was within walking distance of the marina, window shopped, and had dinner.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSew6yQ2CZxMZu0HkBbQpLDI69FW74obHAhUKNASjMk0Sa3s3B52DuwuO0ygvE7frbVj2amvZfGdTiAK6s9WukznU9PNRT9A5gR-yp-sY_y5c2bw_ekFsC43WZOL4PgluNjErYxg/s1600-h/Sue+Photos+029+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104203946196904498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSew6yQ2CZxMZu0HkBbQpLDI69FW74obHAhUKNASjMk0Sa3s3B52DuwuO0ygvE7frbVj2amvZfGdTiAK6s9WukznU9PNRT9A5gR-yp-sY_y5c2bw_ekFsC43WZOL4PgluNjErYxg/s320/Sue+Photos+029+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> We were visited by an injured swan who hung around our boat for some time. As you can see, one of its legs appears to be injured. We say “appeared” because after Mike gave him/her a slice of bread, he/she put its leg down and swam away normally. We may have been conned by a bird!!!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJ57m04wcgU5eZx3VbedfiU9H3-srH8-GSDLIX3DQluYbj5jFl0-KVgs6-hEH3ONiINLDJjYoFl0YNqJX7GGTlzZavJSh42fwtE0K_dz8VUqkd5WsZAdPiecbqd4pg2eSNG5oSA/s1600-h/Sue+Photos+032+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104204341333895746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJ57m04wcgU5eZx3VbedfiU9H3-srH8-GSDLIX3DQluYbj5jFl0-KVgs6-hEH3ONiINLDJjYoFl0YNqJX7GGTlzZavJSh42fwtE0K_dz8VUqkd5WsZAdPiecbqd4pg2eSNG5oSA/s320/Sue+Photos+032+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>On Wednesday, 22 August, we headed to Pentwater, MI and stayed at Snug Harbor Marina for two nights because of rain and thunderstorms. We had a rough ride from Frankfort to Pentwater and were once again glad to be in a marina. There were several other “Loopers” here when we arrived. We all had happy hour later in the evening on picnic tables at the dock. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvr1JtKmrhyphenhyphenedok9G7R9sTfxRVJAD_GGxC5zgADKfXzXqFUCQrq1ERy4b5Dytx-qukphiPI82ls4aEyoREcxUnncl_wu0QntXBvjmdW60m3cTq7HxIcShKvFY36iBKM6yoUQ7Ijg/s1600-h/Sue+Photos+038+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104204573262129746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvr1JtKmrhyphenhyphenedok9G7R9sTfxRVJAD_GGxC5zgADKfXzXqFUCQrq1ERy4b5Dytx-qukphiPI82ls4aEyoREcxUnncl_wu0QntXBvjmdW60m3cTq7HxIcShKvFY36iBKM6yoUQ7Ijg/s320/Sue+Photos+038+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>The next evening, we enjoyed a band concert in the local park. These concerts are performed by local musicians, as well as visiting musicians, once a week at 8:00 p.m. during the summer months. There was a Farmer's Market in the park on Thursday, with a variety of home grown vegetables, home made cookies, herbs, and other goodies. Snug Harbor Marina had very nice facilities with a large, clean laundry. Large laundries at marinas are the exception rather than the norm.<br /><br />We decided to leave Pentwater for Grand Haven Municipal Marina on Friday, 24 August, at 8:00 a.m. Today was the roughest day we have had on the water since we began the trip. We were in 3 to 5 foot seas, and occasional 7 to 8 foot seas, most of the trip. Thank goodness, the wind was not howling to add to the discomfort. It also rained off and on the whole trip, and as our luck for today would have it, it was raining as we docked the boat. We made it to our slip and were exhausted after such a trying day on the water. We wanted to take pictures of the waves, but it would have been dangerous.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezRuH6BjfDZGWsbdnzdK_E8UaHDnFUoujbyKKAi0tqNQsUmORRJ2uRWpectk3gGnMbB1ALJR8R60cvd6v3hRadBgp8S7zN3HMIcqf-mUEwtjw_Rs3Xebs9vu7AUTtPb6Y06f15Q/s1600-h/Saugatuck+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104201927562275298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezRuH6BjfDZGWsbdnzdK_E8UaHDnFUoujbyKKAi0tqNQsUmORRJ2uRWpectk3gGnMbB1ALJR8R60cvd6v3hRadBgp8S7zN3HMIcqf-mUEwtjw_Rs3Xebs9vu7AUTtPb6Y06f15Q/s320/Saugatuck+014.jpg" border="0" /></a>While in Grand Haven, we were visited Friday afternoon by friends Ginger and Laura on STARGAZER, who finished the loop in July. In this picture you see Ginger and Laura in the blue shirts, Mike's brother Tom, and sister in law Sue, plus Mike and Cathy from XPLORER. Ginger and Laura live in Muskegon, which is not far from Grand Haven, so they drove over to see us on Friday afternoon. We went to dinner and had an enjoyable evening with them. We were very happy to see them again.<br /><br />Other boating friends we made while traveling along the Tenn-Tom, Keith and Becky from MORGAN’S DREAM, drove from Saugatuck to see us on Saturday. They were kind enough to drive us to a Super Wal-Mart to provision once again. We hope to see them again in Knoxville in late October or early November as they make their way back south for the winter. We can’t believe we failed to get a picture of them while they were with us. We were having such a good time we didn't even think about taking pictures.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylzu3rT3PvniPbTmDZZTs4rqbqRipZIMCmcmf6rS0mWQRn9UbO71ywnHqh1hGp3_PqXZsR8h448ETSW7mJfxSA6eiYka0-iEv-WcGvqp6YZt3YI81hytuP3aLHNYcddNp0nYWeA/s1600-h/Saugatuck+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104202455843252738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylzu3rT3PvniPbTmDZZTs4rqbqRipZIMCmcmf6rS0mWQRn9UbO71ywnHqh1hGp3_PqXZsR8h448ETSW7mJfxSA6eiYka0-iEv-WcGvqp6YZt3YI81hytuP3aLHNYcddNp0nYWeA/s320/Saugatuck+031.jpg" border="0" /></a>On Sunday, long-time Army friends, Mike and Pat, drove from Kalamazoo to visit with us. We were stationed together several times, and the two Mikes deployed together several times as well. It was so good to see them again. We have not seen them in nearly ten years, and it was good to catch up on everything with them. We are not going to wait ten years to see them again.<br /><br />One of the highlights of the town of Grand Haven is the musical light and water show on the waterfront every evening at 9:30pm. On a hillside overlooking the marina (we had front row seats), there is an area about 100 yards wide that has numerous water fountains and multi-colored lights installed. There is also a very good sound system. As music is played over the sound system, water is directed into the air about fifty feet, moving back and forth and up and down in sync with the music. The colored lights provide a surreal background for all of this, and the results are absolutely fantastic.<br /><br />We enjoyed our stay at Grand Haven, but we had to move on while the winds and seas were somewhat calm. So, we left Grand Haven Marina on Monday, 27 August and headed to Saugatuck for a night. Saugatuck is a fun town with many unique shops and arts and crafts, but the marina we stayed in left a lot to be desired.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeW-HTqwDeGf8vM5Zu7ZTh8-k3o6pezQb-HKQdtm-J-AXYiO6VzZR3XMLNlpPX1OyR2HZCdKsKab4Wzv-rBMMWh2OxdedloxVLo0zwPJcJHx8iK1tFDDyra38wauRk4f88SgzMw/s1600-h/Saugatuck+053.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104202932584622610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeW-HTqwDeGf8vM5Zu7ZTh8-k3o6pezQb-HKQdtm-J-AXYiO6VzZR3XMLNlpPX1OyR2HZCdKsKab4Wzv-rBMMWh2OxdedloxVLo0zwPJcJHx8iK1tFDDyra38wauRk4f88SgzMw/s320/Saugatuck+053.jpg" border="0" /></a>Across the harbor from Saugatuck in Douglas, MI, is the SS Keewatin, a retired Lake Michigan steamship. This ship was the last of the coal burning overnight passenger steamships that sailed the Great Lakes. This ship served the Great Lakes for 57 years. It was built in 1907, retired in 1965, and arrived in Saugatuck in June 1967. According to one of the locals, the ship was bought by the owner of Tower Marine, who had the ship dry docked and turned it into a museum. Unfortunately, we did not get to tour the museum.<br /><br />On 28 August, we arrived at South Haven Municipal Marina. We will be here until Friday, 31 August, at which time we will cross Lake Michigan to Chicago. We will spend Labor Day weekend in Chicago. We will also have a crew change in Chicago. Brother Tom and sister-in-law Sue will disembark Irish Ayes and head for Cincinnati for a few days until they fly back to California. Brother Jerry will come aboard with us for the trip back to Knoxville. Stay tuned…Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-78359899598726856982007-08-26T21:24:00.000-04:002007-08-27T21:55:27.242-04:00Drummond,MI to Mackinaw City, MIWe stayed one night at Drummond and then made our way to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWgOwSiqT6o4jUMZxDz5SxhAdreVXFxPCW_XExKrjnYB9HB-5gNhI0wPGOvfOc87XL1JaM3t2O9_KtKYlKG9YeNBVdKf7CoF4XqEFY7VDyWrEAnR6GWvCFt9IrcyiTo678BgT8A/s1600-h/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103188242265975202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWgOwSiqT6o4jUMZxDz5SxhAdreVXFxPCW_XExKrjnYB9HB-5gNhI0wPGOvfOc87XL1JaM3t2O9_KtKYlKG9YeNBVdKf7CoF4XqEFY7VDyWrEAnR6GWvCFt9IrcyiTo678BgT8A/s320/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+018.jpg" border="0" /></a>Mackinaw City, MI, on 14 August. The trip was a rough one, with very high winds and seas. We traveled with XPLORER, Sue-Z-Que, and Drifters across upper Lake Huron to Mackinaw. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe-y6CI9bWXQU4CL_o82didlFqd5dNO_AjRNd6R6CjLzlbbQ1-SgtRohxVHnNUFb3vyl7gVuF8o3nlURxpL-DlTCyETXOQIzlqvFi6byoPzW_AOGF37IOJCmbUqbk27sORiamTQ/s1600-h/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103549766843148722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe-y6CI9bWXQU4CL_o82didlFqd5dNO_AjRNd6R6CjLzlbbQ1-SgtRohxVHnNUFb3vyl7gVuF8o3nlURxpL-DlTCyETXOQIzlqvFi6byoPzW_AOGF37IOJCmbUqbk27sORiamTQ/s320/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMf1f8MuzMRD4ol3cYfv-AoySBjIoE6cTMsfOsO50qV6gi7qv2zu2hxgzvtwMs5WGrKtx0Y1eMapmC5CfLx4aqBqr1BaVUIbYrW_urU3XdzUC-uwHpOuJE_3JgPZouMPImpbHaA/s1600-h/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+025.jpg"></a>We got to our slip at Mackinaw Municipal Marina around 1:45 p.m. and were glad to be tied to a dock. We had had enough of rough waters and wind for the past couple of days.<br /><br />On Wednesday, we took a ferry to Mackinac Island and spent the day touring the island with the Cahill’s. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDL-ifb-RlMCEnB4_hiv9tpWWbxddBJVoxYgWVyiZ-egLcTkiynLJcGmww6qSrgrXybsLKk5hUb041Jf9TcMflnTFKNOYYgplQ7QUE5gmVAUcke8skE2HMnJLijPys9uuG33cQ1Q/s1600-h/To+Mackinaw+City+044.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103187052560034162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDL-ifb-RlMCEnB4_hiv9tpWWbxddBJVoxYgWVyiZ-egLcTkiynLJcGmww6qSrgrXybsLKk5hUb041Jf9TcMflnTFKNOYYgplQ7QUE5gmVAUcke8skE2HMnJLijPys9uuG33cQ1Q/s320/To+Mackinaw+City+044.jpg" border="0" /></a>We took our bikes over on the ferry and took an 8 mile bike ride around the island, since motor vehicles are not allowed on the island. You can either walk, take a carriage ride, rent a horse, rent a bike, or use your own bike to get around the island. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijU4whnMKXruD7RCoz1b7XcoKEXRQiTI2WR_bMSgLsrQ4oP_Ww5A1ui48ND5S9ndYywPK9xaSeo68JbszDtXdgzhdmEXV9Mg7FoaAEwjAd3YgrzT7hVqMXgBmPeSqT-6f1t9qwLQ/s1600-h/IMG_9193+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103186683192846690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijU4whnMKXruD7RCoz1b7XcoKEXRQiTI2WR_bMSgLsrQ4oP_Ww5A1ui48ND5S9ndYywPK9xaSeo68JbszDtXdgzhdmEXV9Mg7FoaAEwjAd3YgrzT7hVqMXgBmPeSqT-6f1t9qwLQ/s320/IMG_9193+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a> We also climbed 170+ steps to the Arch Rock that is 146 feet above the water and spans 50 feet at its widest point. According to geologists, this arch was formed over thousands of years by wind and water eroding soft rock below, leaving only the hard breccia rock that forms the arch. We definitely got our exercise today.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJqIYTp3tyniQsF4D5dPG2NBPm8qXGVZKFEclwxccXa3FJ50KStwl7AYj2h1iBxjCJL-7phVxYu4WGanjnAFrOGuc_M_DO45rtPog4BB7DdC25HWN75dX1eUkwrwu2N0ErGW9uA/s1600-h/IMG_9220.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103552696010844610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJqIYTp3tyniQsF4D5dPG2NBPm8qXGVZKFEclwxccXa3FJ50KStwl7AYj2h1iBxjCJL-7phVxYu4WGanjnAFrOGuc_M_DO45rtPog4BB7DdC25HWN75dX1eUkwrwu2N0ErGW9uA/s320/IMG_9220.JPG" border="0" /></a>We walked to the exclusive Grande Hotel where just to walk on the porch of this establishment will cost you $15. We did not walk on the porch! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVaYCjrVyNOjbDJyPOqWl90D0mtZvQhGCINd1ETEIm2Ntb4cnSToRW7uidQDJnwkwUnzMcO4l0CcBSvv_tNCoCdm2q0GgPmVsTD4d-rNoiFxWXz-6WiTScDUnKEy9jSlWXjeoNg/s1600-h/To+Mackinaw+City+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103553555004303826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVaYCjrVyNOjbDJyPOqWl90D0mtZvQhGCINd1ETEIm2Ntb4cnSToRW7uidQDJnwkwUnzMcO4l0CcBSvv_tNCoCdm2q0GgPmVsTD4d-rNoiFxWXz-6WiTScDUnKEy9jSlWXjeoNg/s320/To+Mackinaw+City+049.jpg" border="0" /></a>The grounds are gorgeous with many beautiful flowers and sculptured shrubs.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb91aQZxpeoexnvJJqzn-onPr0rIe3U5j2kK9vA0r-c9NZ9dut-iJ-Cbld9XIkRuBDjRqz9eII5FyEpLWBn9lWDszSoo0yHnvbMTIix2Kocs4eBIEfaVjz0xwwl_bsGv8wXDcHtQ/s1600-h/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103186489919318354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb91aQZxpeoexnvJJqzn-onPr0rIe3U5j2kK9vA0r-c9NZ9dut-iJ-Cbld9XIkRuBDjRqz9eII5FyEpLWBn9lWDszSoo0yHnvbMTIix2Kocs4eBIEfaVjz0xwwl_bsGv8wXDcHtQ/s320/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+016.jpg" border="0" /></a>We also enjoyed a trolley tour of St. Ignace on Friday, where we climbed to the top of Castle Rock. As you can see, it was another windy day. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-iAAfA5XW955Qbq6HnH5q1oz5scYzeqQHOM80Va9vyc5gZZFkfUadPFJYV2pmWdKF1abkUaqwGQiM5zVoxgvwQFxtfYD-xnodrzcEQQTMew9Rvlc-gH605EenYSX4V9M6cQSJw/s1600-h/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103186300940757314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-iAAfA5XW955Qbq6HnH5q1oz5scYzeqQHOM80Va9vyc5gZZFkfUadPFJYV2pmWdKF1abkUaqwGQiM5zVoxgvwQFxtfYD-xnodrzcEQQTMew9Rvlc-gH605EenYSX4V9M6cQSJw/s320/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+012.jpg" border="0" /></a>Castle Rock rises almost 200 feet above the surrounding area like an ancient castle of the middle ages. From the top of this rock you get a great view of Mackinac Island, Lake Huron and St. Ignace. </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmZsYuPzWRr0gIS1QLR-qMBpFyjCm_2dpmPa-9aN7mIp_r2Cqy-HuzHouvgRwk-ZieDmF42ASYyliac6HSvuK0sPL0kWlZ5E0C52CCw7RRly8VX7h_vwt3etX3Cce7gPscrzWVg/s1600-h/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103186017472915762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmZsYuPzWRr0gIS1QLR-qMBpFyjCm_2dpmPa-9aN7mIp_r2Cqy-HuzHouvgRwk-ZieDmF42ASYyliac6HSvuK0sPL0kWlZ5E0C52CCw7RRly8VX7h_vwt3etX3Cce7gPscrzWVg/s320/Mackinaw+City+toFrankfort+003.jpg" border="0" /></a>Also at St. Ignace is the Mackinaw Pointe lighthouse that is being returned to its original state.<br /><br />Mike’s brother Tom and our sister-in-law Sue joined us in Mackinaw on Saturday to travel with us to Chicago.<br /><br />We were in Mackinaw until 20 August. We left at sunrise and headed to Petoskey. Stay tuned. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-73707938947430203902007-08-22T05:45:00.000-04:002007-08-27T20:57:10.704-04:00Little Current, Ontario, to Drummond Island, Michigan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABqGFf0XSWNJMoTLjV6iXrIt0eCOaflHmxAW72NcgSDBMjBzIpl6fii5vy_XUbvkJ6WrMZj1vKr8JNGCE5vbkivuQ-a1VJXr8wb8L6wkIZuKaGnM0wFOrTgMYAS4CvYHc5FiQxg/s1600-h/To+Mackinaw+City+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101692799078017298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABqGFf0XSWNJMoTLjV6iXrIt0eCOaflHmxAW72NcgSDBMjBzIpl6fii5vy_XUbvkJ6WrMZj1vKr8JNGCE5vbkivuQ-a1VJXr8wb8L6wkIZuKaGnM0wFOrTgMYAS4CvYHc5FiQxg/s320/To+Mackinaw+City+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> We left Spider Bay Marina early Monday, 13 August, destination Drummond, MI. We decided to make the long trip today (100 miles) since the weather was fairly good for traveling, and the long range forecast for the rest of the week was not so good.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF95OcnwKcZVrcBmEIrsQepwvH0Sp754gK9QfjEC_XxG3lhMTmo2LgTfBucwhRssvRlhge1i0mRco_xyzH9HT1BonAaLXL7DCr8TOUDnQEzgAF1sJdN4N7RybfCZISmGLZSk7BKg/s1600-h/To+Mackinaw+City+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101691944379525346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF95OcnwKcZVrcBmEIrsQepwvH0Sp754gK9QfjEC_XxG3lhMTmo2LgTfBucwhRssvRlhge1i0mRco_xyzH9HT1BonAaLXL7DCr8TOUDnQEzgAF1sJdN4N7RybfCZISmGLZSk7BKg/s320/To+Mackinaw+City+015.jpg" border="0" /></a>The first part of the day was not too bad, but by noon the winds picked up and the water became choppy, much choppier than we like. We had a rough ride across Georgian Bay but made it into Drummond Yacht Haven about 5:45 p.m. The wind was howling as we came into our slip, but we made it in safely and without any problems.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzGyuxzAYGQ8MO-3F_dxvz4bvZvdiAnTa0QW294Jpm1TRew_yU2sLpAtECG_G1NOg_lCuMyvNB_iDBvS0ytJ2prHa9eV_y1dVT3RLNMeSSZT6upi0fiODSrHQJdREf7KTO2j9dA/s1600-h/To+Mackinaw+City+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101693039596185890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzGyuxzAYGQ8MO-3F_dxvz4bvZvdiAnTa0QW294Jpm1TRew_yU2sLpAtECG_G1NOg_lCuMyvNB_iDBvS0ytJ2prHa9eV_y1dVT3RLNMeSSZT6upi0fiODSrHQJdREf7KTO2j9dA/s320/To+Mackinaw+City+023.jpg" border="0" /></a>We were soon greeted by the Customs Agent who boarded our boat. He was a nice guy and fortunately an experienced agent. Our experience getting back into the USA was a good one. He asked a few questions and was on his way. After one night at Drummond Island, we were on our way to Mackinaw Island the next morning.<br /><br /><div></div><div></div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-54960140446686831812007-08-20T06:01:00.000-04:002007-08-20T19:55:26.197-04:00Back to Little Current<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU9b8_ASLvJllnyruwxeQvH23sDPetYpeYSTgYkqN8ZtB0zZLCYBFIPwFOdl7kt6ETxAgcWZsnQosGko4XefxA7P3KM6XICkReESyQtEyctfrqyOZ0bEw1NuUtVMlxuw885V1SQ/s1600-h/To+Mackinaw+City+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100721874476116114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU9b8_ASLvJllnyruwxeQvH23sDPetYpeYSTgYkqN8ZtB0zZLCYBFIPwFOdl7kt6ETxAgcWZsnQosGko4XefxA7P3KM6XICkReESyQtEyctfrqyOZ0bEw1NuUtVMlxuw885V1SQ/s320/To+Mackinaw+City+006.jpg" border="0" /></a>We left Heywood Island on 11 August and went back to Little Current. This time we stayed at Spider Bay Marina. We did our laundry, went to Anchor Inn to check our e-mail and have lunch and dinner, and provisioned once again before making our way west to Drummond Island. We had to stay at Spider Bay on Sunday due to thunderstorms and high winds. We left Little Current on Monday, 13 August, headed to Drummond. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCHAtuJ52u4-DV_Osg9TVS6bfbqtEXxtEVG8gWeYEYmpQsmojbLVlC3WjOVywZlqm6uwxjqhNkx8v9sgn6IgWPZaueOSo2F5i9nLHgny-srxQxv3FEj6eqjUZevMOGUAhoybCVg/s1600-h/To+Mackinaw+City+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100934462472366290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCHAtuJ52u4-DV_Osg9TVS6bfbqtEXxtEVG8gWeYEYmpQsmojbLVlC3WjOVywZlqm6uwxjqhNkx8v9sgn6IgWPZaueOSo2F5i9nLHgny-srxQxv3FEj6eqjUZevMOGUAhoybCVg/s320/To+Mackinaw+City+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RZL9_M03apA5BfH-iHEmLqi3ACn0IghnT9bdENuvfKqoJOMNB5wwOotKmoODyvxs00VIJ-SQcQkx13fBC7gwt5r6KOOXheVM2rF-5HQSWaWq1gZAVHsz4SbPOW4ClTBOb_Do5Q/s1600-h/To+Mackinaw+City+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100722007620102306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RZL9_M03apA5BfH-iHEmLqi3ACn0IghnT9bdENuvfKqoJOMNB5wwOotKmoODyvxs00VIJ-SQcQkx13fBC7gwt5r6KOOXheVM2rF-5HQSWaWq1gZAVHsz4SbPOW4ClTBOb_Do5Q/s320/To+Mackinaw+City+009.jpg" border="0" /></a>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-31458837122693243622007-08-20T05:41:00.000-04:002007-08-20T06:00:27.241-04:00Haywood Island<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNTboHiWNibnrJORYAM86tNRQJZSilY8C4iJh2TJdlNEFIhDvvCET5q_GdLIChDFk_x-nEHj2eRgOoonIl1r2nwt8vY8h3FXQ3EV5-iv0LATCMd05wivlaN7XQcvW2Pv5VcJW/s1600-h/To+Mackinaw+City+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100717008278169570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNTboHiWNibnrJORYAM86tNRQJZSilY8C4iJh2TJdlNEFIhDvvCET5q_GdLIChDFk_x-nEHj2eRgOoonIl1r2nwt8vY8h3FXQ3EV5-iv0LATCMd05wivlaN7XQcvW2Pv5VcJW/s320/To+Mackinaw+City+001.jpg" border="0" /></a>We headed to an anchorage at Heywood Island on 10 August and anchored for one night. This was a quiet, isolated, but beautiful anchorage. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCkWEOHX7P_kbDW2sfnKpW9FR5SMDR9xPTDABfURIVI602Zay8rtHxDp3VkRdxdcCCXAR1mTnsxI0tB4V4SXkABHQItMHx5aRjeM52Rg5n0q1w5XnDOKK9Q_AK8iIB1IYzEfUEg/s1600-h/To+Mackinaw+City+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100719267430967346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCkWEOHX7P_kbDW2sfnKpW9FR5SMDR9xPTDABfURIVI602Zay8rtHxDp3VkRdxdcCCXAR1mTnsxI0tB4V4SXkABHQItMHx5aRjeM52Rg5n0q1w5XnDOKK9Q_AK8iIB1IYzEfUEg/s320/To+Mackinaw+City+004.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8s4n-XyKM36etZAou_KD-LbZGhpaTcQKQUPnIaSQGRwG-wK0h2Xk_xGnWowB9K7_z8jmxSMb3DJtwJqs9v9aCXQVbQ-DN-vXJAYENoITti9CyHIFIK7QUIrH6HnwRAj_LpqJRQ/s1600-h/To+Mackinaw+City+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100720117834491986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8s4n-XyKM36etZAou_KD-LbZGhpaTcQKQUPnIaSQGRwG-wK0h2Xk_xGnWowB9K7_z8jmxSMb3DJtwJqs9v9aCXQVbQ-DN-vXJAYENoITti9CyHIFIK7QUIrH6HnwRAj_LpqJRQ/s320/To+Mackinaw+City+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VhJr_Z92ltzyk_jze7MctGe0dG6rm6iUbSPUNmNaNpQ5xNzyTqZZMq_wsKmWvUJkLsufN8HJdAoEEFdKxS49znoJF7gAJaMD59n8QQs0rJ2ePq2qbAEUKkbOp1I38Hxwp0wG/s1600-h/To+Mackinaw+City+003.jpg"></a></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-ZpxqDqizTx2vC_4q7igoARR4yRMU2sl1UDG7aNZxUPE51jHtdSawfPIoNQXheGeWPfQjFK-ATXttbrykj3Hyt0PULka6SjMmxtPHu0hwmTbkP9hl1Voz7zj7KiQwV_NkKgiAg/s1600-h/To+Mackinaw+City+005.jpg"></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-44389068368970849642007-08-19T21:29:00.001-04:002007-08-19T21:45:39.314-04:00Covered Portage Cove<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjLKFa2Kv62P7S_UPWqpY7ccWZiOdiYhujFifJom515zy0qvNREyUd-JEAoDSgmwaruNGCBi-h4EkgUuA2QhUMRLqQgNoMQoI5MZo8bv3l0oubWn1TCjonNgEa1NctH5wm6h0/s1600-h/Irish+Ayes+from+top+of+rocks+on+Covered+Portage+Bay+3+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100592402686977986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjLKFa2Kv62P7S_UPWqpY7ccWZiOdiYhujFifJom515zy0qvNREyUd-JEAoDSgmwaruNGCBi-h4EkgUuA2QhUMRLqQgNoMQoI5MZo8bv3l0oubWn1TCjonNgEa1NctH5wm6h0/s320/Irish+Ayes+from+top+of+rocks+on+Covered+Portage+Bay+3+037.jpg" border="0" /></a>We left Baie Fine on 8 August and went to Covered Portage Cove, another beautiful anchorage, for two nights. This cove is a popular anchorage and is oftentimes filled with 40 or more boats. There were ten to 12 boats at anchor while we were there. We took a short dinghy ride to shore and walked to the top of the rocks to get the spectacular view of the cove. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmS6EiJcUl3Kw4lyNtj40T6pB9lJY_C30ipBL0bAF6fYCg8iN8OrASirtLDxVBV3h3YkKmU7Q8FZqNk9tetgIdCZtU_NX1nSyd9j3_6NNaW4L3Nc5EqICpe5q8AU-gINyJai-Q/s1600-h/IMG_9067+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100592067679528882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmS6EiJcUl3Kw4lyNtj40T6pB9lJY_C30ipBL0bAF6fYCg8iN8OrASirtLDxVBV3h3YkKmU7Q8FZqNk9tetgIdCZtU_NX1nSyd9j3_6NNaW4L3Nc5EqICpe5q8AU-gINyJai-Q/s320/IMG_9067+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqlpEJYRkaLPVjFj1bhEeqFkGRKsYjYrUZRWj792v_tha6eShwqSpsNlGIbSsAC6rRTKI_uo9KrIiCGJAHeSFbGfscqbg3IjzGvoGabl_P3d2Z9WH4UgBFDocCWgtf1OQ_ZO2/s1600-h/Cahills+and+Mike+at+top+of+rocks+in+Covered+Portage+Bay+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100590010390194050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqlpEJYRkaLPVjFj1bhEeqFkGRKsYjYrUZRWj792v_tha6eShwqSpsNlGIbSsAC6rRTKI_uo9KrIiCGJAHeSFbGfscqbg3IjzGvoGabl_P3d2Z9WH4UgBFDocCWgtf1OQ_ZO2/s320/Cahills+and+Mike+at+top+of+rocks+in+Covered+Portage+Bay+049.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmP_QzYPr5g2fOr_QSbXkciLRz9Y9FAid3Go5NCcfIZYfpRkaAA1jUJ3WlCwfxMV5UXDCjuB5wYoou2dYdj600IVNfJCFijDXOVI427T3HcqpFsfnDj5QvurVNDfA7dO2o8Se/s1600-h/View+from+top+of+rocks+in+Covered+Portage+Bay+051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100591809981491106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmP_QzYPr5g2fOr_QSbXkciLRz9Y9FAid3Go5NCcfIZYfpRkaAA1jUJ3WlCwfxMV5UXDCjuB5wYoou2dYdj600IVNfJCFijDXOVI427T3HcqpFsfnDj5QvurVNDfA7dO2o8Se/s320/View+from+top+of+rocks+in+Covered+Portage+Bay+051.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjba07NB9hPmr6zSDygU8mHSzLIoxdobUYbr4FIBWhZFDxnLcfHy6_zT0hMsWbzD6s1ktBaC-jboBinqslifqBUgd_Oz5bZoMO7rM5hnQteuY1l6WxhTYtD6C8AEO4fAuFJV6wf/s1600-h/Boats+in+Covered+Portage+Bay+3+041.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100591530808616850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjba07NB9hPmr6zSDygU8mHSzLIoxdobUYbr4FIBWhZFDxnLcfHy6_zT0hMsWbzD6s1ktBaC-jboBinqslifqBUgd_Oz5bZoMO7rM5hnQteuY1l6WxhTYtD6C8AEO4fAuFJV6wf/s320/Boats+in+Covered+Portage+Bay+3+041.jpg" border="0" /></a>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-87133582190197226022007-08-19T21:10:00.000-04:002007-08-19T21:27:49.837-04:00Baie FineXPLORER and IRISH AYES spent the next few days in beautiful anchorages with breathtaking scenery. Our first stop after leaving Little Current on 6 August was Baie Fine (pronounced Bay Fin). Mike and Pat on LIBATIONS were at anchor there, so we anchored with them for the night. We met Mike and Pat at the Penetang Rendezvous.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCxojwXue6NVGOczZ4JEwxQntjtcg1dhyphenhyphenD3DNBfzGqOO7QElwG1xMZxg-dfpRtGWfsv21QOEQh6-552COGjL2nZqRw_-o9dccf3xfa4fPexWfpawB8aaOqxeNwCk8IEKx1tvD/s1600-h/Dinghies+at+the+Pool+leading+to+Lake+Topaz+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100585453429892930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCxojwXue6NVGOczZ4JEwxQntjtcg1dhyphenhyphenD3DNBfzGqOO7QElwG1xMZxg-dfpRtGWfsv21QOEQh6-552COGjL2nZqRw_-o9dccf3xfa4fPexWfpawB8aaOqxeNwCk8IEKx1tvD/s320/Dinghies+at+the+Pool+leading+to+Lake+Topaz+027.jpg" border="0" /></a>Once settled, all of us got in our dinghies and took about a 10 mile dinghy ride to the “Pool” in Baie Fine. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3qAC_10iDC0sYzb-83vSgIsUnUOe-91fICAYKyoa99SLnV4opK1V8igqX8JO9S0PRP430liRBDI0Le4A86KcSRLhjLh8fE45YyjN9MKP4OjUy5zlsm_iqh9Ym-9zhi615qeL/s1600-h/IMG_4727+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100585693948061522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3qAC_10iDC0sYzb-83vSgIsUnUOe-91fICAYKyoa99SLnV4opK1V8igqX8JO9S0PRP430liRBDI0Le4A86KcSRLhjLh8fE45YyjN9MKP4OjUy5zlsm_iqh9Ym-9zhi615qeL/s320/IMG_4727+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a>From here, we took about a 30 minute hike up a small mountain to Topaz Lake. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1BiUzdUrbRvkB3JpIKCruRRzA6Xjb7JqOE4HiNqLxC8dOiYSGXsrqYnS7E8helY1S2ouJSyyqkvfZZEnqGN9RxbvFGglqFkFUGpeNkTiLsDLtR2IMZ5ULvelFYUQP2lCcLDC/s1600-h/Lake+Topaz+Trail+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100587626683344754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1BiUzdUrbRvkB3JpIKCruRRzA6Xjb7JqOE4HiNqLxC8dOiYSGXsrqYnS7E8helY1S2ouJSyyqkvfZZEnqGN9RxbvFGglqFkFUGpeNkTiLsDLtR2IMZ5ULvelFYUQP2lCcLDC/s320/Lake+Topaz+Trail+026.jpg" border="0" /></a>The trek was somewhat difficult, but it was well worth the trip. The lake water here is a gorgeous topaz blue. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnWMXtiz9ACP-z3UQigOXww2_BQDj4Hg8wsA7hmhDo578P9HzyW7npcJwq2teSElniaMH5mSYhwYG5mfZrdiWAYWIEK_dMiSJMRLF-ebjiqGXfuO1Lciq3QXXRatieilQrIt_/s1600-h/Cahills,+Mike+and+Benevilles+leaving+Lake+Topaz+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100584594436433714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnWMXtiz9ACP-z3UQigOXww2_BQDj4Hg8wsA7hmhDo578P9HzyW7npcJwq2teSElniaMH5mSYhwYG5mfZrdiWAYWIEK_dMiSJMRLF-ebjiqGXfuO1Lciq3QXXRatieilQrIt_/s320/Cahills,+Mike+and+Benevilles+leaving+Lake+Topaz+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDZd6OayYD4YBiZBHVF1bTaDeIXrTZMjBX43fRy3Phjql75fREFugfcoPWmeioqVC044OyLwZp3qiGDCrJCabqNHxAfpGGGDtwJKSvbJxlRHHy6pXp5xrqrH8EhaIVAwNRfLV/s1600-h/Cahills,+Mike+and+the+Benevilles+at+Lake+Topaz+in+Baie+Fine+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100586982438250338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDZd6OayYD4YBiZBHVF1bTaDeIXrTZMjBX43fRy3Phjql75fREFugfcoPWmeioqVC044OyLwZp3qiGDCrJCabqNHxAfpGGGDtwJKSvbJxlRHHy6pXp5xrqrH8EhaIVAwNRfLV/s320/Cahills,+Mike+and+the+Benevilles+at+Lake+Topaz+in+Baie+Fine+019.jpg" border="0" /></a>We stayed in Baie Fine for two nights and moved on to Covered Portage Cove.Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-105607624007050242007-08-16T20:29:00.000-04:002007-08-16T21:13:42.021-04:00Killarney to Little Current, OntarioWe left Sportsmen’s Inn on Friday, 3 August, at 6:40 a.m. so that we could be on the water and to our destination in Little Current before the winds were predicted to pick up later in the morning. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-gT2O67SK836Ja6Pwo4i_Bqxz97IASmsk0CJKlCQRRN1M0v7PBEUc3lWCkDpnbNAy9QqwWIETWeoPTbzTO9YAq2vG5fMuAjpmlkVg6Xs4HpnzGBrPO2KfKM5szc5sr_UzLrl/s1600-h/To+Mackinaw+City+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099467529277318946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-gT2O67SK836Ja6Pwo4i_Bqxz97IASmsk0CJKlCQRRN1M0v7PBEUc3lWCkDpnbNAy9QqwWIETWeoPTbzTO9YAq2vG5fMuAjpmlkVg6Xs4HpnzGBrPO2KfKM5szc5sr_UzLrl/s320/To+Mackinaw+City+008.jpg" border="0" /></a>We arrived at Little Current Marina about 9:30 a.m. While the current was strong, getting the boat docked was nothing like getting into Sportsmen’s Inn on Thursday. However, those boaters who waited later to arrive, had difficulty getting in. We watched from shore as our fellow boaters fought the current and the wind to get to their assigned slip. We are happy to say that everyone got in without causing any damage to their boats or to other boats. <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuAPlsatu9u-oj1Voc7eBqqlL12Wk0WlKDyemhxf2oGK6PorXXJg24kWKqc48qMo-DmzLhUmyBYB3NBcfeMljC3cGevRx48mNVBHwfRUNjRafhp4YImROGMkNeG8pg53s-6qs/s1600-h/View+2+of+swing+bridge+at+Little+Current+093.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099466893622159106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuAPlsatu9u-oj1Voc7eBqqlL12Wk0WlKDyemhxf2oGK6PorXXJg24kWKqc48qMo-DmzLhUmyBYB3NBcfeMljC3cGevRx48mNVBHwfRUNjRafhp4YImROGMkNeG8pg53s-6qs/s320/View+2+of+swing+bridge+at+Little+Current+093.jpg" border="0" /></a>Little Current is located between Goat Island and the northeast tip of Manitoulin Island. It is the largest community on Manitoulin Island, with a population of 1,500. <br /><br />We spent three nights in Little Current, sightseeing, provisioning, doing boat chores, and having a great time. The town is large enough for several banks, grocery stores, numerous places to eat, and free internet at the bar at Anchor Inn, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfkqUvQVFJ6iM15gtD2ILVkKePxO9XwLS23Z3Tnnkf2ai7neJdaZgRjvMuGD_1En1M8D4zJ9JF5WygQGCkkPq2dbK3LZTwsOLYb8kFWFK_rt9ECpSHpeblHIuEjn-xZIke8Kj/s1600-h/Anchor+Inn+Bldg+in+Little+Current+105.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099463363159041666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfkqUvQVFJ6iM15gtD2ILVkKePxO9XwLS23Z3Tnnkf2ai7neJdaZgRjvMuGD_1En1M8D4zJ9JF5WygQGCkkPq2dbK3LZTwsOLYb8kFWFK_rt9ECpSHpeblHIuEjn-xZIke8Kj/s320/Anchor+Inn+Bldg+in+Little+Current+105.jpg" border="0" /></a>meaning we can drink a cold beer and have access to free internet at the same time. There are not many of these kinds of places in Canada.<br /><br />We were in Little Current for their annual Hawberry Festival. Streets were <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevl2DZj9AUTPGC54yZWx9Xj9JIH5hKaaSqMz-wem5Q5tJ4bvKy-C12TCU7fi0xkc9UI8HIIIkll__bXQctVKewtCzRpSwApWI5gpSYxTwtAVkHXkw0l3aSH9Fhacs8-VGy1Nl/s1600-h/Downtown+Little+Current+on+day+of+Hawberry+Festival+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099463732526229138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevl2DZj9AUTPGC54yZWx9Xj9JIH5hKaaSqMz-wem5Q5tJ4bvKy-C12TCU7fi0xkc9UI8HIIIkll__bXQctVKewtCzRpSwApWI5gpSYxTwtAVkHXkw0l3aSH9Fhacs8-VGy1Nl/s320/Downtown+Little+Current+on+day+of+Hawberry+Festival+040.jpg" border="0" /></a>closed and vendors lined the street, selling locally made goods and other assorted stuff. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUHCD8e8_JdJ2DVSxHmezE8DH8NpIzq3AdSkIVop9Ic4uISjYzYIUxXAfEEnJAFMX_V_vglTiInog-wMwd_rHMuQqh6xFbVa-HYcUjYoLiwCb81I4VqRrwEZ2a2p4hIhOgwTu/s1600-h/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+To+Little+Current+096.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099465579362166482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUHCD8e8_JdJ2DVSxHmezE8DH8NpIzq3AdSkIVop9Ic4uISjYzYIUxXAfEEnJAFMX_V_vglTiInog-wMwd_rHMuQqh6xFbVa-HYcUjYoLiwCb81I4VqRrwEZ2a2p4hIhOgwTu/s320/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+To+Little+Current+096.jpg" border="0" /></a>There were bands playing and all sorts of activities to watch. Later in the evening there was a lighted boat parade (no, we didn’t participate) that had the most beautifully decorated boats we have ever seen. After that, came the fireworks. This time though, the fireworks were pretty spectacular.<br /><br />On Sunday, we were given a free bus tour of Manitoulin Island, compliments of the Little Current Chamber of Commerce. We were driven past the only school on Manitoulin Island, which has only 500 students, and it is a 1 ½ hour trip both ways for a lot of these children to attend school each day. Our next stop was Northern Marina in Kagawong. We met Bob, the owner who did the Great Loop last year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaSgbMydYw04e3PD9t1qfwC1E6bujGQwttqEix8BCJR4XceZPJdht8QlpQf6bf5boACSQlfEd6amsgKLm15MJh3CM0F-KSKmh59I5vh-ez-JzXnUw_dGk6XvkaLEM2p1Hc8tQ/s1600-h/Sign+2+of+Bridal+Veil+Falls+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099462040309114466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaSgbMydYw04e3PD9t1qfwC1E6bujGQwttqEix8BCJR4XceZPJdht8QlpQf6bf5boACSQlfEd6amsgKLm15MJh3CM0F-KSKmh59I5vh-ez-JzXnUw_dGk6XvkaLEM2p1Hc8tQ/s320/Sign+2+of+Bridal+Veil+Falls+025.jpg" border="0" /></a>From here many of us took about a 15 minute walk through the woods to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfnK3K1fE4iTFGbAuSu6r7djgnDHSeIqmnD38lAKcUesztPgBksZ7w1CxoGDGU65EnKTG6yIoxDsfzP-Sklv7RBioqRSpKz0XcEUbYgRnDYeDQTA9W2jiZdB8LTxvLdFW529z/s1600-h/View+7+of+Bridal+Veil+Falls+on+Manitoulin+Island+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099464741843543730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfnK3K1fE4iTFGbAuSu6r7djgnDHSeIqmnD38lAKcUesztPgBksZ7w1CxoGDGU65EnKTG6yIoxDsfzP-Sklv7RBioqRSpKz0XcEUbYgRnDYeDQTA9W2jiZdB8LTxvLdFW529z/s320/View+7+of+Bridal+Veil+Falls+on+Manitoulin+Island+018.jpg" border="0" /></a>Bridal Veil Falls. We were told the falls were not as pretty<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJqohSwt9QdzzBw8j0SCaC2xs0lGv5E2YFIeE4Lis7xrZ7wUWpkS_OWcXdYAvsDa7HcpmCtZ4FjRpe0KrZ2C80jzgjyMScPuYHkRVcJJJYx6zzGjfhqe6Nu8QEqcLefHtE-3K/s1600-h/View+2+of+Bridal+Veil+Falls+on+Manitoulin+Island+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099462448331007602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJqohSwt9QdzzBw8j0SCaC2xs0lGv5E2YFIeE4Lis7xrZ7wUWpkS_OWcXdYAvsDa7HcpmCtZ4FjRpe0KrZ2C80jzgjyMScPuYHkRVcJJJYx6zzGjfhqe6Nu8QEqcLefHtE-3K/s320/View+2+of+Bridal+Veil+Falls+on+Manitoulin+Island+011.jpg" border="0" /></a> this year due to the lack of rain, but we enjoyed going there.<br /><br />From here, we had lunch alongside the bay on picnic tables. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibb1QYDdfWNp3LoV1b1J6lUbHdhcdv17YEBt5X0Q9IBX3muCkqWjFL3qGwwKJlEbrKXDaoSSu9gdprs6MxJzurMvu7F1ExJavADFWrbSw1My_yRatJ8lAbH6srQMjXeXtCplh1/s1600-h/Little+Current+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099466584384513778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibb1QYDdfWNp3LoV1b1J6lUbHdhcdv17YEBt5X0Q9IBX3muCkqWjFL3qGwwKJlEbrKXDaoSSu9gdprs6MxJzurMvu7F1ExJavADFWrbSw1My_yRatJ8lAbH6srQMjXeXtCplh1/s320/Little+Current+028.jpg" border="0" /></a>Then it was a short walk to the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation for those who wanted to visit the museum. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TWLUB84Am089QmspsvthpcqQszAQ0RJ0fTinPY0Lz6uPGrUNDdIKLhVs09icfrOMIl9kaatHtjRzCHmOmlqVIazbLPlQP1lChTbVgpnmduIbakU7qrSA4aWIZL2m_2X_x_Dt/s1600-h/Little+Current+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099465862830008034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TWLUB84Am089QmspsvthpcqQszAQ0RJ0fTinPY0Lz6uPGrUNDdIKLhVs09icfrOMIl9kaatHtjRzCHmOmlqVIazbLPlQP1lChTbVgpnmduIbakU7qrSA4aWIZL2m_2X_x_Dt/s320/Little+Current+029.jpg" border="0" /></a>We then went to Ten Mile Point. The highlight of this stop was the beautiful view of many of the islands <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrx0q0iVcJehwr8gg0-XbEv7bomCmFG_dnsDugrY5Q2TEaWNa_LR-V5ZEpK6ImuaiuAYP36QBtwZME6DQre6FMxGj8gXrpcS-2CGOMNWlW_eCFGth_kFqnK0B8CicGMInAUNlL/s1600-h/View+2+from+Ten+Mile+Point+on+Manitoulin+Island+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099465154160404162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrx0q0iVcJehwr8gg0-XbEv7bomCmFG_dnsDugrY5Q2TEaWNa_LR-V5ZEpK6ImuaiuAYP36QBtwZME6DQre6FMxGj8gXrpcS-2CGOMNWlW_eCFGth_kFqnK0B8CicGMInAUNlL/s320/View+2+from+Ten+Mile+Point+on+Manitoulin+Island+034.jpg" border="0" /></a>that we had already visited or were going to visit once the “Flotilla” came to an end. It was an enjoyable day and, once again, we have Bob and Karen to thank for setting this tour up for us.<br /><br />Our “Flotilla” came to an end in Little Current, and on Monday morning, 6 August, all of the Loopers moved on, either in small groups or by themselves, to continue on the Great Loop. Along with Mike and Cathy on XPLORER, we decided to go east and see some of the anchorages that we bypassed on the way to Little Current. We had heard that they are spectacular, and we still had time before we need to be in Michigan, so we took off to anchor out in what we are told are some of the most beautiful anchorages in Georgian Bay. Stay tuned…..</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-43824464600309417372007-08-12T12:41:00.000-04:002007-08-12T12:57:41.898-04:00Britt, Ontario to Killarney<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xABJ_m9trxt95gutgOH9BXP7tCSxA16mZCHZbfTdOpRTdXbMXjlR3TogiO0rOnqKye6I2vIlKzV8DyYpb8aMGA6FZPriivUxnFilfxih-5TbTwZFpOrGbODry77EgDFVun5U/s1600-h/Xplorer+on+way+to+Killarney+064.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097857900806340626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xABJ_m9trxt95gutgOH9BXP7tCSxA16mZCHZbfTdOpRTdXbMXjlR3TogiO0rOnqKye6I2vIlKzV8DyYpb8aMGA6FZPriivUxnFilfxih-5TbTwZFpOrGbODry77EgDFVun5U/s320/Xplorer+on+way+to+Killarney+064.jpg" border="0" /></a>Today, (Thursday, 2 August) was a long travel day. We experienced some choppy, but not too uncomfortable water as we crossed the open water of northern Georgian Bay. The day was beautiful and sunny, and it was another breathtaking day on the water.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iquryHvmUPNGV3Mqtcv8kNejKtjdyNZguphwAlZYiu9JYMjWixnEUds3cDiA4nD8_KVxneemImh9MX4menwoUh-YoUwJeHtDh2wTEe8YivF-YnyDjJ35fkJrP-cRkI60-JHG/s1600-h/Xplorer+in+Collins+Inlet+070.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097857664583139330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iquryHvmUPNGV3Mqtcv8kNejKtjdyNZguphwAlZYiu9JYMjWixnEUds3cDiA4nD8_KVxneemImh9MX4menwoUh-YoUwJeHtDh2wTEe8YivF-YnyDjJ35fkJrP-cRkI60-JHG/s320/Xplorer+in+Collins+Inlet+070.jpg" border="0" /></a>Our journey today took us through two gorgeous passages—Cunningham Cut and Collins Inlet. We were protected from the winds and enjoyed the scenery as all 22 boats traveled through. There was, once again, shallow water and narrow channels, but that has been the norm so far in the “Small Boat Channel” of Georgian Bay.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81HjfOzqZOC4jDw_OIenw4zySkSw-3z6uR06ImLdZEUq-DZIP6qP_imI26Hw_9NsW7nFhQ46gbs4TBThIAicgWHWHY4w5qX-PrlNh6eZE6gF6RfaMONQepYChZrNLXkZua3zn/s1600-h/Sportsmen's+Inn+in+Killarney+075.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097856870014189522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81HjfOzqZOC4jDw_OIenw4zySkSw-3z6uR06ImLdZEUq-DZIP6qP_imI26Hw_9NsW7nFhQ46gbs4TBThIAicgWHWHY4w5qX-PrlNh6eZE6gF6RfaMONQepYChZrNLXkZua3zn/s320/Sportsmen's+Inn+in+Killarney+075.jpg" border="0" /></a>Our destination today is Sportsman’s Inn in Killarney. Sportsman’s Inn was an Inn and a large Marina at one time, providing many services. It had closed within the last year, but reopened just a couple of weeks ago under the management of a new owner, providing docking for boaters once again. The Inn and other services, such as fuel and pump outs, are not available at this time, and the docks are in need of major repair. From what we observed, the new owner has a lot of work to do to get this marina and Inn going again.<br /><br />Killarney is a small town with a population of 430. It is located on the north shore of Georgian Bay, on the northeast end of Manitoulin Island. Killarney was once a busy commercial fishing village but now relies mostly on tourism. It is also a popular boating destination and a great place to provision before heading to the North Channel.<br /><br />We made it to Sportsman’s Inn late afternoon and the wind and current were horrible. Everyone seemed to have trouble, some more than others, getting into their assigned slips. We made several attempts to squeeze in next to a 45 foot Cruiser and finally got in after a half dozen tries. The wind and the current were pushing us in the same direction, and getting into the slip was perpendicular to the current and wind. The owners of the Cruiser were nervous as were we, trying to get in the slip without hitting the Cruiser or the dock. In the seven years that we have owned this boat, this was the most challenging docking experience we have had. Our objective was to get IRISH AYES into our assigned slip without hitting the dock, or the new yacht next to us, and we accomplished both. It was not pretty, but we made it. All of us in the Flotilla had trouble docking, and the owners of the small boats in other docks enjoyed the entertainment provided by all of us “Loopers,” as we struggled getting into our slips.<br /><br />Once we settled down from our docking experience, we took the water taxi, Tinkerbell, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1Z8ZK-ZLRIe1hwyBwk_cDJ7IORvywy85AL0WrRInjdKSYiqF3dEuF5Y5uxgRw8FWO4fHnoBjPSM7e9MJGIYpL1pNhyphenhyphenIqbgDuZKeNwt64hIBjsr1pfHO1m-OFGgaKH-BZlmB3/s1600-h/Water+Taxi+in+Killarney+at+Sportsmen%27s+Inn+Marina+080.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097857359640461298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1Z8ZK-ZLRIe1hwyBwk_cDJ7IORvywy85AL0WrRInjdKSYiqF3dEuF5Y5uxgRw8FWO4fHnoBjPSM7e9MJGIYpL1pNhyphenhyphenIqbgDuZKeNwt64hIBjsr1pfHO1m-OFGgaKH-BZlmB3/s320/Water+Taxi+in+Killarney+at+Sportsmen%27s+Inn+Marina+080.jpg" border="0" /></a>across the way and had dinner at Herbert Fisheries’ Mister Perch, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBaVva7IgAVuvkbAJndpgRxILJSDyWFEkaOVv3AqnBGd9RRLsJsqV4om7AWFIFTJTfg7-4PSoW35RkvHUN3YohLvKwLWsJEbY3zb2FXSPDZ0_vKGaakuKZA535qP4sDCl5Hx9/s1600-h/Herbert+Fisheries+in+Killarney+3+079.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097857037517914082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBaVva7IgAVuvkbAJndpgRxILJSDyWFEkaOVv3AqnBGd9RRLsJsqV4om7AWFIFTJTfg7-4PSoW35RkvHUN3YohLvKwLWsJEbY3zb2FXSPDZ0_vKGaakuKZA535qP4sDCl5Hx9/s320/Herbert+Fisheries+in+Killarney+3+079.jpg" border="0" /></a>which is a world famous fish and chips takeout restaurant housed in a bus at the public dock. This is another example of one of those “gold mine” kind of businesses, requiring not much overhead and doing very well. Picnic tables are located next to the bus and we enjoyed our meal while overlooking the harbor.<br />Our next stop on 3 August is Little Current. Stay tuned...Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-26228353025916301492007-08-11T20:30:00.000-04:002007-08-11T21:20:07.168-04:00Parry Sound to Killbear IslandNote: To better see the pictures, double click on the picture to enlarge it. To get back to the blog, click the back arrow in the top left hand corner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CcgczRRJ65Kuc2Ouvf83AFtP55NK-wbh7AMjht3CxRxqm3hzRH6TGc2wzc2KfR0yzyB3ipvt4dVfc1kyOTRRFk9WLk36mkneOj9GfmJvVTLLbZoNUYGyUHV2bifqwIuUMfKf/s1600-h/DSC03918.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097605571477700418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CcgczRRJ65Kuc2Ouvf83AFtP55NK-wbh7AMjht3CxRxqm3hzRH6TGc2wzc2KfR0yzyB3ipvt4dVfc1kyOTRRFk9WLk36mkneOj9GfmJvVTLLbZoNUYGyUHV2bifqwIuUMfKf/s320/DSC03918.JPG" border="0" /></a>After a short meeting to go over charts this morning (31 July), everyone began making preparations to leave Parry Sound, heading to Killbear Island. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPaGG71mhcUNJbQNjBrn_5OJ2-Uelz0ddKMZFcVGWglk_joeoLTMGotgo4QIFFc-cwLCGndQdohfnEiK5UTyAaiCtxNEszplq0sxo7qFBiNbCsiRL3c6dj2njadD8tCu8eUG_/s1600-h/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+To+Little+Current+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097609870739963826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPaGG71mhcUNJbQNjBrn_5OJ2-Uelz0ddKMZFcVGWglk_joeoLTMGotgo4QIFFc-cwLCGndQdohfnEiK5UTyAaiCtxNEszplq0sxo7qFBiNbCsiRL3c6dj2njadD8tCu8eUG_/s320/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+To+Little+Current+012.jpg" border="0" /></a>Some of the folks stopped along the way at one of the MANY anchorages to swim for a while before making their way in to Killbear Marina. Today is another warm and gorgeous day in Canada, and a great day to be on the water.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7UM3PlOI9N5U_gYuroo5W1YmbzTcQ4ghKGBWtowlFf-A6gFXRfeiau6qoLcm_M4ERog3YkYvs60nAqEr02NPsY2eJAmA8mkTgYqrQ9G1gk3dWQCWUKFO9y29u9J69KrOI2oc/s1600-h/DSC03852.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097605382499139378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7UM3PlOI9N5U_gYuroo5W1YmbzTcQ4ghKGBWtowlFf-A6gFXRfeiau6qoLcm_M4ERog3YkYvs60nAqEr02NPsY2eJAmA8mkTgYqrQ9G1gk3dWQCWUKFO9y29u9J69KrOI2oc/s320/DSC03852.JPG" border="0" /></a>We traveled through “Hole-in-the-Wall” passage this morning. This passage was another NARROW passage, but there was plenty of water under the boat, which was a change from previous passages that we have encountered. The passage was short, but beautiful.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTGkY2DMgDlihbxftfBDaZNGI-sfrgyk3c_4z9C5Cl7hxp9gK4ZPXlewji7QosT9wxL2_Wp-gGa1p_Zs_caXWhuJcDWf2BLDQTeiY1fQozhiPy9SPWanIpv2TWgRgm9Wgiana/s1600-h/Kilbear+Marina+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097606503485603682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTGkY2DMgDlihbxftfBDaZNGI-sfrgyk3c_4z9C5Cl7hxp9gK4ZPXlewji7QosT9wxL2_Wp-gGa1p_Zs_caXWhuJcDWf2BLDQTeiY1fQozhiPy9SPWanIpv2TWgRgm9Wgiana/s320/Kilbear+Marina+015.jpg" border="0" /></a>At Killbear Marina there is an office and a separate store and restaurant. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5v3BBy_z9ekV4BCPEadJcnm0THYWmleykkZZfVVAZ6qsNNW3OT-uMrcBy3jcFFA2_CfofkIu1w-u_agMKg4qtzl_TZs_CJ9zrS37QG37pdPFjd_j_jFfy74qTTasN0zNmuYQ8/s1600-h/Kilbear+Marina+in+Kilbear,+Ont+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097606310212075346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5v3BBy_z9ekV4BCPEadJcnm0THYWmleykkZZfVVAZ6qsNNW3OT-uMrcBy3jcFFA2_CfofkIu1w-u_agMKg4qtzl_TZs_CJ9zrS37QG37pdPFjd_j_jFfy74qTTasN0zNmuYQ8/s320/Kilbear+Marina+in+Kilbear,+Ont+014.jpg" border="0" /></a>That’s about all there is here, and there is not anything within walking distance. Today will be a good time to catch up on boat chores since there is nothing around to distract us. The restaurant has been reserved for the Loopers this evening for dinner.<br /><br />We will leave early Wednesday morning (1 August) and cruise inside to Pointe au Baril; then outside to Byng Inlet and stay at Wright’s Marina in Britt, Ontario, for a night. This trip will be about 50 miles.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjkj63UpWZ6f3FVuu6TWjE-YvsVmRQzKtWVON2JZ62GpISyPf3JYGhyphenhyphenAaL5uXP9plZTXFc9so0hyATQuR8q4kab_Y944wwBFX1831uEAKX5BycTAIH6uytP2bChlu_nKMJIdQ/s1600-h/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+To+Little+Current+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097607963774484386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjkj63UpWZ6f3FVuu6TWjE-YvsVmRQzKtWVON2JZ62GpISyPf3JYGhyphenhyphenAaL5uXP9plZTXFc9so0hyATQuR8q4kab_Y944wwBFX1831uEAKX5BycTAIH6uytP2bChlu_nKMJIdQ/s320/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+To+Little+Current+025.jpg" border="0" /></a>We passed several lighthouses and many more islands and cottages today.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkska0NMymaRTp9ojlqHJdeyRsom7t-3Rtw2MSAp7JY8Bq-agruM9bR3XoyoSBOkq8Q7rWlDi_wxOseiX-qehfeAfnDijDoCi7pOU6qNTwAujE4JQ3koZrvYcjxCxRV-8oIrE/s1600-h/Another+view+of+Wright%27s+Marina+in+Britt,+Ont+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097606726823903090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkska0NMymaRTp9ojlqHJdeyRsom7t-3Rtw2MSAp7JY8Bq-agruM9bR3XoyoSBOkq8Q7rWlDi_wxOseiX-qehfeAfnDijDoCi7pOU6qNTwAujE4JQ3koZrvYcjxCxRV-8oIrE/s320/Another+view+of+Wright%27s+Marina+in+Britt,+Ont+039.jpg" border="0" /></a>We arrived at Wright’s Marina around 1:30 p.m., and were assigned our slip. If we haven’t said this before, marinas in this part of the country are not marinas as we know them. Oftentimes, the marinas are outfitted for much smaller boats, so that means we don’t always have the 50 amp power we need, or a slip long enough for the boat, so we often hang out over the end of the slip. However, we have made it just fine and consider this one of the adventures of this trip.<br /><br />Late afternoon there was another gathering of the Loopers at the restaurant for drinks and finger foods. After dinner, Bob and Karen Jantz, the Canadians who are leading us on this part of the adventure, were presented a gift as a small token of appreciation for making this trip possible. They are great people and a joy to be around.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div>The morning we departed Wright's Marina, there was a huge fuel tanker passing through<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8tZYtFvpg2D6j5eNLa_qYepzx9fpgeZgG801AjPKgxVsDUmXU7tayaWURLo5120iA_EBsJGuuBkgMLGQJzPIOMVrjYae61FFdGCFA4sDrO0Ds4M_m1v2oaudLUtvrxb3AY2u/s1600-h/Tanker+passing+Wright%27s+marina+in+Britt,+Ont+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097607482738147218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8tZYtFvpg2D6j5eNLa_qYepzx9fpgeZgG801AjPKgxVsDUmXU7tayaWURLo5120iA_EBsJGuuBkgMLGQJzPIOMVrjYae61FFdGCFA4sDrO0Ds4M_m1v2oaudLUtvrxb3AY2u/s320/Tanker+passing+Wright%27s+marina+in+Britt,+Ont+042.jpg" border="0" /></a> the narrow channel. We later heard that this tanker provides fuel for all the marinas in the area. </div><div><br />Tomorrow we will be on our way to Killarney. Stay tuned…</div></div></div></div></div></div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-81140921459393436762007-08-04T11:18:00.000-04:002007-08-04T12:05:25.111-04:00More on Georgian Bay - Port Rawson Bay to Parry Sound<div>Note: To better see the pictures, double click on the picture to enlarge it. To get back to the blog, click the back arrow in the top left hand corner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzubz8Iu2yBxuppBpArlHnYE0EIKdNpDpb6gFIn12l0qE77dPXL3sC7GyGWV-_ety8Y3bqscyORHORFJ10G5tQFgAzIpBAfy9_1ZmLNoQovRqtCSCBW1evQsWadgK_CDAzzGeJ/s1600-h/Boats+leaving+anchorage+at+Port+Rawson+Bay+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094866541984022018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzubz8Iu2yBxuppBpArlHnYE0EIKdNpDpb6gFIn12l0qE77dPXL3sC7GyGWV-_ety8Y3bqscyORHORFJ10G5tQFgAzIpBAfy9_1ZmLNoQovRqtCSCBW1evQsWadgK_CDAzzGeJ/s320/Boats+leaving+anchorage+at+Port+Rawson+Bay+005.jpg" border="0" /></a>We left Port Rawson Bay anchorage on Sunday, 29 June. There was a good bit of work to be done to prepare for leaving anchorage. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWl0JFu2H56SeGtsbRzlRH2axStfgEts950RT3uFm6IgbSFXVhKSSwGYZLEmaiEFkpMZlJ6iFghGBHcfk4P7xKZbR5MFGoU2UlIl_1J44Q_z-otIlL-R-Ebqy6uUg8IzvUIAwh/s1600-h/Bob+Jantz+and+Mike+pulling+up+stern+anchors+in+Port+Rawson+Bay+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094871988002553570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWl0JFu2H56SeGtsbRzlRH2axStfgEts950RT3uFm6IgbSFXVhKSSwGYZLEmaiEFkpMZlJ6iFghGBHcfk4P7xKZbR5MFGoU2UlIl_1J44Q_z-otIlL-R-Ebqy6uUg8IzvUIAwh/s320/Bob+Jantz+and+Mike+pulling+up+stern+anchors+in+Port+Rawson+Bay+002.jpg" border="0" /></a>Bob needed some help retrieving stern anchors, so Mike volunteered, along with Mike on Xplorer, to help Bob get all anchors up. This job is not always easy and takes some time to accomplish the job, but Bob has done this so many times, he has a method that works.</div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094866705192779282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoX5OMGeSGLlZvOMR7wZHdAxWlkKPVlGseBn9Ix-dDEkMPBJjF2eXqR9RIQl8Rr7dfUTLeZlYtB2mDoQYAz9DloRUkfeSBzyveIfOOE7DotHM8dcaKD3Uan0fojJFvnvIO7yS/s320/Big+Sound+Marina+in+Parry+Sound+063.jpg" border="0" />Next stop was Big Sound Marina for two nights on Parry Sound <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDJ82GZRlEA5JyfMwUupEw1tQ_-pam3nNDxMMZC08zgT46Zxg_GwXW9OPPJX1W-A03_m3SeuqjYs7tSJHZT-omM0AxAzYWbHfuCVbgTYkfw9xp-_-_PV6MI3hNP3r8bJTzPN8/s1600-h/Welcome+sign+in+Parry+Sound+061.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094876291559784226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDJ82GZRlEA5JyfMwUupEw1tQ_-pam3nNDxMMZC08zgT46Zxg_GwXW9OPPJX1W-A03_m3SeuqjYs7tSJHZT-omM0AxAzYWbHfuCVbgTYkfw9xp-_-_PV6MI3hNP3r8bJTzPN8/s320/Welcome+sign+in+Parry+Sound+061.jpg" border="0" /></a>where we could explore the town of Parry Sound, relax, and provision once again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHX1BaU3Tt6ZJ19F1MPtogKn7FZV_QdQvAMGPyTX3_KhD1xHeoRC6-vx1iWYcsuMYPpaRk9G4RKeKELfcqAuYoFE_ewgyE7GgUnM9T9d2PpDj9ses-jnLlGqOaLKkCDoV66K0/s1600-h/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094872623657713394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHX1BaU3Tt6ZJ19F1MPtogKn7FZV_QdQvAMGPyTX3_KhD1xHeoRC6-vx1iWYcsuMYPpaRk9G4RKeKELfcqAuYoFE_ewgyE7GgUnM9T9d2PpDj9ses-jnLlGqOaLKkCDoV66K0/s320/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+036.jpg" border="0" /></a>We have been so fortunate with the weather. We’ve had nothing but sunny skies and great temperatures. There were lots of Canadian boaters on the water, enjoying the day.<br /><br />The scenery here in Georgian Bay is stunning in its beauty. If you have never visited here you should consider it. There are “Cottages” as the Canadians call them, all over the place, many on their own separate island, and can be rented. Pat and I are considering renting one summer. We certainly cannot tell you what the area looks like inland, but the view from the water is beautiful.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6mzaKy5CBS7ljhfqarWsbXyjPYWZmsUrC2Tqk2FwhMdUkVq6e16wkuf6GiyrhYcrknSbxXWKqbWOFy1jBX35wGp_AGELh6LeN2fVXK29-5afX_pQ5dUZ_rzb4rNiEjcvJLKE/s1600-h/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094867538416434754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6mzaKy5CBS7ljhfqarWsbXyjPYWZmsUrC2Tqk2FwhMdUkVq6e16wkuf6GiyrhYcrknSbxXWKqbWOFy1jBX35wGp_AGELh6LeN2fVXK29-5afX_pQ5dUZ_rzb4rNiEjcvJLKE/s320/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+035.jpg" border="0" /></a>The trip from the anchorage at Port Rawson to Big Sound Marina was great. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdD4hP5svDEH3sqkDSIRhhCKNH62oM5Nfb3ziq6xUwmN0gLLyeA4rOBCIEfkAPoheCKAnb7roZE6uMZPJsObzNc_wDXeYNxiOUi1hmZcWiKTyqOdKTi_qISvRdbnUhgJhfYtI/s1600-h/More+Loopers+at+Henry%27s+Restaurant+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094867748869832274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdD4hP5svDEH3sqkDSIRhhCKNH62oM5Nfb3ziq6xUwmN0gLLyeA4rOBCIEfkAPoheCKAnb7roZE6uMZPJsObzNc_wDXeYNxiOUi1hmZcWiKTyqOdKTi_qISvRdbnUhgJhfYtI/s320/More+Loopers+at+Henry%27s+Restaurant+026.jpg" border="0" /></a>We stopped along the way at a place called Henry’s Fish Camp, which is an interesting place. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyy4TYew6WAjmZ4221ssFU-PXC5cxiPhH550ESX4yAvZ0KVZK1JgPeRIX5ONRH-Z2TBslfhVdvFkdEWrvA3rFlDISMFaiOaZaUNKKs7loNu3dvnSPYaLnWPEOOi_B4mUyHjgK/s1600-h/Seaplane+at+Henry%27s+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094868040927608418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyy4TYew6WAjmZ4221ssFU-PXC5cxiPhH550ESX4yAvZ0KVZK1JgPeRIX5ONRH-Z2TBslfhVdvFkdEWrvA3rFlDISMFaiOaZaUNKKs7loNu3dvnSPYaLnWPEOOi_B4mUyHjgK/s320/Seaplane+at+Henry%27s+031.jpg" border="0" /></a> Henry’s is a seaplane dock in addition to a marina, and there were seaplanes vying with boats for space on the water. It was fun to watch them take off and land among the many boats. The food was good too.<br /><br />It is a good thing that we have knowledgeable Canadians leading us on this “Flotilla.” We have taken routes over the past few days that we would never have attempted on our own.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXU2nzhVSbcZq0p81q3UcOLk1_XmhlITWj4ZnBSXsO_JiEMCInPoFFJKV4nYH__jr1Ar6AnQTGNOFurXjtZxObqHw_GgSYcTyjtOa1m7S3t9pWLcGVE-pqqrI9cBfxnA8rf-YU/s1600-h/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094868440359566962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXU2nzhVSbcZq0p81q3UcOLk1_XmhlITWj4ZnBSXsO_JiEMCInPoFFJKV4nYH__jr1Ar6AnQTGNOFurXjtZxObqHw_GgSYcTyjtOa1m7S3t9pWLcGVE-pqqrI9cBfxnA8rf-YU/s320/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+040.jpg" border="0" /></a>The marina where we are staying is within walking distance of the city of Parry Sound. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlW-Iv9VA5tG7aqF8WmBJ2K0FocDMdYhteQw7JG_lcOq07TuViyOOJOCJztQrzlJw_LirBtYwmesFL6a2Li9kXMu9_cef4kWLUzUmtYuP7iK581LeYcpEd9oMC6qCtYNvSzfZZ/s1600-h/Fitness+Trail+sign+in+Parry+Sound+059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094874247155351298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlW-Iv9VA5tG7aqF8WmBJ2K0FocDMdYhteQw7JG_lcOq07TuViyOOJOCJztQrzlJw_LirBtYwmesFL6a2Li9kXMu9_cef4kWLUzUmtYuP7iK581LeYcpEd9oMC6qCtYNvSzfZZ/s320/Fitness+Trail+sign+in+Parry+Sound+059.jpg" border="0" /></a>Pat and I did some much needed PT yesterday morning along a fitness trail that was built to honor and Algonquin Regiment, a Canadian Army unit that was formed in World War I, consisting of all Algonquin Indians. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilm9faM624yc4vYrI1A0OrovetaWloEbDqplx8Qyjtni2mys6BiUq1ig-OCaW7LmNXG_A4L1w0YshRE7JCPTiUcWfZ6vZCbmN3YREKN41MDLLObqiEluSkEaudJEJMwDQB7DBP/s1600-h/Algonquin+Regiment+Plaque+in++Parry+Sound+058.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094875149098483474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilm9faM624yc4vYrI1A0OrovetaWloEbDqplx8Qyjtni2mys6BiUq1ig-OCaW7LmNXG_A4L1w0YshRE7JCPTiUcWfZ6vZCbmN3YREKN41MDLLObqiEluSkEaudJEJMwDQB7DBP/s320/Algonquin+Regiment+Plaque+in++Parry+Sound+058.jpg" border="0" /></a>They had a heroic and distinguished war record in both WW I and WW II, and after WW II were assimilated into the regular Canadian Army.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Nfgx0aXO5FxfVPxhi6aavfKA0dsYBxmsYccbK37HhtosVkfQ2K3bEMMRtyy_AWQLo2aOQ5pZ3lwyUVzeNAiNXqKU2VsBNDdqDY_jHksdNgQVNH03PbpReiwSDUWspNe28uUx/s1600-h/Bear+traps+in+Parry+Sound+057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094869591410802338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Nfgx0aXO5FxfVPxhi6aavfKA0dsYBxmsYccbK37HhtosVkfQ2K3bEMMRtyy_AWQLo2aOQ5pZ3lwyUVzeNAiNXqKU2VsBNDdqDY_jHksdNgQVNH03PbpReiwSDUWspNe28uUx/s320/Bear+traps+in+Parry+Sound+057.jpg" border="0" /></a>Along the fitness trail was a sign informing the public about black bears that are found in that area. Later we saw bear traps that were stored next to the Ontario Provencial Police Station. Fortunately, we did not encounter one of these bears while on the fitness trail.<br /><br />We had dinner at a local Pub, and breakfast yesterday at a bakery, with Mike and Cathy of XPLORER, one of Mike’s favorite places to eat. Where there are pastries, you will find Mikey. He is blessed that he can eat all these delicious, but bad for you foods, and maintain his weight and continue to have great cholesterol levels. Is Pat envious—you bet!! </div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E-eU2yfsIYc-adT2nuqxPUhqDqrT4VwdI6WenaGLTwXr5CGk5Ni125QV6mbK7OxSz-al4ZgOKfVXcSP963KeK7sbu_Mnqv4Nj7-WklDGG99kVKSGPAdUo_VronHvk2lYNwSE/s1600-h/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094870927145631442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E-eU2yfsIYc-adT2nuqxPUhqDqrT4VwdI6WenaGLTwXr5CGk5Ni125QV6mbK7OxSz-al4ZgOKfVXcSP963KeK7sbu_Mnqv4Nj7-WklDGG99kVKSGPAdUo_VronHvk2lYNwSE/s320/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+051.jpg" border="0" /></a> Monday afternoon, Karen and Bob hosted a wine and cheese gathering on the lawn adjacent to the marina. Everyone had a good time and enjoyed the fo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluHnDT40vxVGywRxeXv-S7o4uvnponxZYrGSIkol6TCitcqG3QDhsGdCMX5Fs4JJyETBxk1rzVI_VXwLSF-49VqM4vWdNwIgig7YV9Hn7oMK4KekOKxBkxv0VQTV0e7cCtG03/s1600-h/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+047.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094869836223938226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluHnDT40vxVGywRxeXv-S7o4uvnponxZYrGSIkol6TCitcqG3QDhsGdCMX5Fs4JJyETBxk1rzVI_VXwLSF-49VqM4vWdNwIgig7YV9Hn7oMK4KekOKxBkxv0VQTV0e7cCtG03/s320/Port+Rawson+To+Parry+Sound+047.jpg" border="0" /></a>od and beverage provided by Karen and Bob. These two have put a lot of work into making this trip a lot of fun for us all.<br /><br />Today (31 July), we will leave Parry Sound and travel about 12 miles to a marina at Killbear Island. Stay tuned…</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-85033166135437444182007-07-30T14:31:00.000-04:002007-07-30T15:14:22.191-04:00Our First Few Days on Georgian BayPenetanguishene to Port Rawson Bay<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmFJ0Zx-SajZnvvwxGLuHf6GkkWEulJXR1PqGX-abnqwEAqZJS0sekuu0JJ8qsQVERHej3F2eBu4FWse5Nk5dEYlMCbF10_UQzuQir08fXUwPxy6slnSyQbCmTy4xOHXVIkXf/s1600-h/Flotilla+in++Port+Rawson+Bay+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093060138868866418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmFJ0Zx-SajZnvvwxGLuHf6GkkWEulJXR1PqGX-abnqwEAqZJS0sekuu0JJ8qsQVERHej3F2eBu4FWse5Nk5dEYlMCbF10_UQzuQir08fXUwPxy6slnSyQbCmTy4xOHXVIkXf/s320/Flotilla+in++Port+Rawson+Bay+050.jpg" border="0" /></a>On 27 July, there were a total of 22 boats that rafted off one another in Port Rawson Bay. All of us left Penetanguishene a little before 8:00 a.m., led by Bob and Karen Jantz, Canadians who volunteered to take us on a 10 day trip to areas that most boaters would not know about if you aren’t a local. Karen and Bob are also members of the America Great Loopers Cruisers’ Association, and completed the loop a couple of years ago.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><div>On 28 July, Bob and Karen led us on a dinghy excursion from Port Rawson Bay anchorage to Moon River Falls. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEzjtuTeKEceI0r4wht2_vpaUOf80E9EBJsEi76XYspPEkYvwu6CSsDhe_2TpHsE9l0zoXkYFFf4_xO7krSloBysSXiv6JcyqO4-tjSqXeUQgN8QZudIufDAhkmary7dGe5AF/s1600-h/Another+view+of+Moon+River+Falls+082.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093059962775207266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEzjtuTeKEceI0r4wht2_vpaUOf80E9EBJsEi76XYspPEkYvwu6CSsDhe_2TpHsE9l0zoXkYFFf4_xO7krSloBysSXiv6JcyqO4-tjSqXeUQgN8QZudIufDAhkmary7dGe5AF/s320/Another+view+of+Moon+River+Falls+082.jpg" border="0" /></a> The trip was a lot of fun. Even on a dinghy we went through areas where the engines had to be lifted some in order to get through without hitting the rocks. All of us held our breath and went through very slowly until we were clear--another exciting and challenging adventure. </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNMKT6QrYNCDxdxqO0oVEIpmdA3fPc6gmexsDZlOLEP9BeelaNbJq8dSWrSHuyVul1lVoqD666sD3-0mH65VoldKPRJXv5z750pEaEaXatbswYv-N80_d43d2VGS0EYJ789dy/s1600-h/All+of+us+at+Moon+River+Falls++075.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093061161071082914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNMKT6QrYNCDxdxqO0oVEIpmdA3fPc6gmexsDZlOLEP9BeelaNbJq8dSWrSHuyVul1lVoqD666sD3-0mH65VoldKPRJXv5z750pEaEaXatbswYv-N80_d43d2VGS0EYJ789dy/s320/All+of+us+at+Moon+River+Falls++075.jpg" border="0" /></a>We tied the dinghies to rocks along the shore, and everyone found a rock and had a picnic lunch. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxZN9kz7v1UhDZUFkYSEZ_dEValjniqCE6U-jEIzBYg4ZbXoawJCEL21m9u3D5zO3q8Qj8BQgRuLTpAz7nHaSkiGBjOyMBa8PbF1AbcmlZSyxb4FgngT0NZGqSOEXFB8vqMRT/s1600-h/Mike+in+water+at+Moon+River+Falls+088.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093061491783564722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxZN9kz7v1UhDZUFkYSEZ_dEValjniqCE6U-jEIzBYg4ZbXoawJCEL21m9u3D5zO3q8Qj8BQgRuLTpAz7nHaSkiGBjOyMBa8PbF1AbcmlZSyxb4FgngT0NZGqSOEXFB8vqMRT/s320/Mike+in+water+at+Moon+River+Falls+088.jpg" border="0" /></a>Afterward, everyone walked to the falls, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU1kTLqf_ib-1v0K39Xfob5VlRpc0B-e4NobXgB6wE2kisQjArk8tiMpmpUKiJ3f4LK0ekqMFmJON0l_JtTjlL2mLbMQx6k87-IivV_Ff8pSFrb-ywA0L5Dr2n_cO009TQa6K/s1600-h/Pat+and+Mike+at+Moon+River+Falls+079.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093061023632129426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU1kTLqf_ib-1v0K39Xfob5VlRpc0B-e4NobXgB6wE2kisQjArk8tiMpmpUKiJ3f4LK0ekqMFmJON0l_JtTjlL2mLbMQx6k87-IivV_Ff8pSFrb-ywA0L5Dr2n_cO009TQa6K/s320/Pat+and+Mike+at+Moon+River+Falls+079.jpg" border="0" /></a>where some folks, to include Mike, swam while others observed. It was a fun afternoon. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuyUipLQ6XABBxryOX5DtjG4jkzAalXem2izlclItLYUjvIi96K8szz7oAHLCQo0EgABxF_yx5W0lJfS7tAcJ5hUzuJHRXkjR2yPf1pVCcUIPbhq2JHbankkNKYEx4kL8aO4R/s1600-h/Seaquel+coming+into+narrow+cut+from+Georgian+Bay+to+Port+Rawson+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093062728734146018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuyUipLQ6XABBxryOX5DtjG4jkzAalXem2izlclItLYUjvIi96K8szz7oAHLCQo0EgABxF_yx5W0lJfS7tAcJ5hUzuJHRXkjR2yPf1pVCcUIPbhq2JHbankkNKYEx4kL8aO4R/s320/Seaquel+coming+into+narrow+cut+from+Georgian+Bay+to+Port+Rawson+039.jpg" border="0" /></a>We had a beautiful day for cruising. Once again, the scenery and the water along the route were breathtaking, with more narrow areas to get through. These areas require a security call to warn other boaters that boats are entering from the opposite side. For those boaters with radios, they probably panicked to hear that 22 boats were making their way through these areas.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoRdmXWviX2WRyHDgyEOIsWgM3xJl6RViE3gD98LML3H65ZL3hMdy0ZTPAMFqMQwo10mZeABM3AhYGuSdkivdI_pk1PD0ZGm-0uW4h8QN9cyIEpkHai_6ob8HDLt5zCllhtz0/s1600-h/Island+where+Champlain+landed+in+1615+from+Georgian+Bay+to+Port+Rawson+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093062045834345938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoRdmXWviX2WRyHDgyEOIsWgM3xJl6RViE3gD98LML3H65ZL3hMdy0ZTPAMFqMQwo10mZeABM3AhYGuSdkivdI_pk1PD0ZGm-0uW4h8QN9cyIEpkHai_6ob8HDLt5zCllhtz0/s320/Island+where+Champlain+landed+in+1615+from+Georgian+Bay+to+Port+Rawson+008.jpg" border="0" /></a>We even saw the place where in 1615, Champlaine stopped during his exploration of this part of North America that is now Canada.</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>We only wish that our description and pictures could capture the beauty of this part of the country. Included are pictures that we took on our way to Port Rawson Bay, at the bay after we were all rafted together, and at Moon River Falls. We were at Port Rawson Bay anchorage for two nights and had a wonderful time before moving on to our next destination. Stay tuned…</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-78231514542270910372007-07-09T07:29:00.000-04:002007-07-26T16:18:32.846-04:00Trent-Severn Waterway--Peterborough, Ontario, to Lakefield, Ontario<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpgKKComm6aDb_pIidrY_cyMLo9hHWdLxDyE2CG88FDtb1ca0mFRWWDD4DaE00ZlFvMC0SkXOncP_Dw8pmgdKyYC4UZcEAOs0ISp-kg-zc_LJ8NfW0-elGwpRxK23WFU-HmBk/s1600-h/Peterborough+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085158245342526594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpgKKComm6aDb_pIidrY_cyMLo9hHWdLxDyE2CG88FDtb1ca0mFRWWDD4DaE00ZlFvMC0SkXOncP_Dw8pmgdKyYC4UZcEAOs0ISp-kg-zc_LJ8NfW0-elGwpRxK23WFU-HmBk/s320/Peterborough+001.jpg" border="0" /></a>We hung around Peterborough on 3 July to find out if our mailed arrived, and it did not, so we dropped the dock lines at noon and headed through Lock 20 in Peterborough. We had heard earlier in the morning from SEAQUEL and XPLORER, who left around 9:00 a.m., that the Peterborough Lift Lock was having mechanical problems and could possibly be inoperable for 3 hours or more. Once we got to Lock 20 (which was right around the corner from the Peterborough Marina), the Lockmaster told us that he would lock us through, but if the Peterborough Lift Lock was to close for repairs, all boats would have to turn around and come back through Lock 20. We decided to take our chances and go on through the lock and hang out on the wall at Lock 21 until it was determined whether or not the Lock would be closed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwqXs830j4uqBJn0nuglEm-eyD-6KO2iyZ29hyphenhyphennfPWFBQ799tZOjBnmMfWfrMvm_aFgUDtjOXeWzlZamdzK03mu0M6oKSwoUewdxIyiFdRCe_kVPTqGhWQ-CkFZB2HqqNJHNL/s1600-h/Peterborough+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085158541695270034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwqXs830j4uqBJn0nuglEm-eyD-6KO2iyZ29hyphenhyphennfPWFBQ799tZOjBnmMfWfrMvm_aFgUDtjOXeWzlZamdzK03mu0M6oKSwoUewdxIyiFdRCe_kVPTqGhWQ-CkFZB2HqqNJHNL/s320/Peterborough+007.jpg" border="0" /></a>After only 15 minutes of being tied to the wall, all boats were told to get ready to lock through. Boy, were we lucky! We were somewhat anxious about getting into this Lock, knowing it wasn’t operating properly, but we were putting our faith in the Lockmaster and his crew that they knew what they were doing. We were manually locked through rather than hydraulically, with four other boats.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJN6jLAdw2NfBV8waRNgvR2i6cnPYcbyV_T4c7op6MR0LR8AuxNUex2FZwLHpYNRmBtnY1GGrt0s26j-ZI4-XJy0Cvq-eXrto4iBzILB8Ktn0Ycf_LfSMvi1LkoEpJ5pxZl-O/s1600-h/Bobcaygeon+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085158941127228578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJN6jLAdw2NfBV8waRNgvR2i6cnPYcbyV_T4c7op6MR0LR8AuxNUex2FZwLHpYNRmBtnY1GGrt0s26j-ZI4-XJy0Cvq-eXrto4iBzILB8Ktn0Ycf_LfSMvi1LkoEpJ5pxZl-O/s320/Bobcaygeon+001.jpg" border="0" /></a>Four feet from the top of the lock, the lift stopped, and we had to sit there for 30-45 minutes until the Lockmaster and his crew could get the lock going again. We were thankful that it was a beautiful, warm day, with not much wind! Since we were the last boat in the "Pan" we had an interesting view out the back of the lock, some 60 feet below to the water. Interesting !!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_uMHqUsUBhkRTe5qhyrWi6WpIoNI9_qQKQNzZ2_8xBKrBIeLcIV2XR12VuvQp7jPDSpRSe6im7oY49oU4u1QO58QHjqqvKs5DulFaxTEOxck17An1vI_xj0s06Cg2wsUGVn9/s1600-h/Peterborough+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085159177350429874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_uMHqUsUBhkRTe5qhyrWi6WpIoNI9_qQKQNzZ2_8xBKrBIeLcIV2XR12VuvQp7jPDSpRSe6im7oY49oU4u1QO58QHjqqvKs5DulFaxTEOxck17An1vI_xj0s06Cg2wsUGVn9/s320/Peterborough+019.jpg" border="0" /></a>Now, let us tell you about the Peterborough Lift Lock, which is the first of its kind that we have experienced on this trip. The Lock was completed in 1904 and is an engineering marvel. There are two huge pans for boats to enter—one for boats going up and the other for boats going down. Each of the two pans weighs 1300 tons when filled. With one pan going up and the other pan down, the two balance each other. It does not matter how many boats are in either pan. A boat displaces its own weight in water, so no matter how many boats are in each pan, they still weigh 1300 tons. When it comes time to lower one pan and raise the other, one extra foot of water (130) tons of water is allowed to enter the upper pan. This extra weight allows the upper pan to push down and raise the lower pan to the top level. The two pans are locked in place and the extra water is let out of the lower pan. Boats enter and exit the upper and lower pans, and the process is repeated. It somewhat resembles a huge Ferris Wheel. A VERY interesting experience.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SsIbvajslIaBoZ5IuJjpFk-lyaplWITpLN0lsejrRgh9CITQqFp4a0dsge7e0pKd1i19dZ7il3DRWrT4eiA_DVBHlGF3vw7-5_UWSMD8sraNeSZSxF2Ea6pkIvYTgcB0xhbj/s1600-h/Bobcaygeon+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085159589667290306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SsIbvajslIaBoZ5IuJjpFk-lyaplWITpLN0lsejrRgh9CITQqFp4a0dsge7e0pKd1i19dZ7il3DRWrT4eiA_DVBHlGF3vw7-5_UWSMD8sraNeSZSxF2Ea6pkIvYTgcB0xhbj/s320/Bobcaygeon+029.jpg" border="0" /></a>We traversed six locks today, and tied to the lock wall above Lock 26 in Lakefield, Ontario, for the night. SEAQUEL and XPLORER stayed at the Lakefield Marina about 10 minutes (by boat) from the Lock. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiF90MDcl9XZWEPjUPe3VdX9Y33X80Ypy8Qax2y7n_EMSeAC6FswInKhmAUObjz2XEewU1vnbcODxPbRQbvGYC8f7P6CROjfeEY2UK0iAGmnqKR3B7YxJUh1vvc7NktannIGin/s1600-h/Bobcaygeon+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085159744286112978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiF90MDcl9XZWEPjUPe3VdX9Y33X80Ypy8Qax2y7n_EMSeAC6FswInKhmAUObjz2XEewU1vnbcODxPbRQbvGYC8f7P6CROjfeEY2UK0iAGmnqKR3B7YxJUh1vvc7NktannIGin/s320/Bobcaygeon+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifo0FF6ClFyz_UJALU_uGsWyx5JmZHT5zZe4hP1UUuw2smWTC1TxPeNY2CKZZUm9Qg4AcPvNkZAF9HbAdHY1kBRVP80UXh7z8A-vLhXle2TROkfjlgk7RQRO_a6Ey4Z3ERRhLc/s1600-h/Bobcaygeon+033.jpg"></a>We stayed an extra night in Lakefield on the Lock wall due to predicted rain and thunderstorms on Wednesday (4 July). It did rain, but not bad enough to keep us from taking a 10 minute walk into town to meet everyone at the town library to check e-mails and then for lunch at Hamblins. After lunch we went our separate ways to check out the various stores in the town. Mike and I eventually made it back to the boat and did some reading and napping before walking to Lakefield Marina to join Mike and Cathy on their boat for a delicious home cooked meal with Barry and Sheryl.<br /><br />We will leave Lock 26 on Thursday, 5 July, headed to Buckhorn, Ontario. Our plan is to tie to the Lock wall above Lock 31 for the night. Stay tuned…</div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-18927715685878027112007-07-20T07:53:00.000-04:002007-07-26T16:16:47.140-04:00Trent-Severn Waterway, Peterborough to Buckhorn, Ontario to Bobcaygeon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCF4IHxdTbVSf_UICcNtAPN_CMVayR3fxbAz3xUbpUpoOZo2kwXr5_aiuPwL70-9Ef-KcQRF_e5zBWSBDDBgYMdgvTNW4_DczMpetbbABd40ytdGghGIwj3R_lqq_IRNr0OXaq/s1600-h/Irish+Ayes+and+Xplorer+in+Buckhorn+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089253507068497090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCF4IHxdTbVSf_UICcNtAPN_CMVayR3fxbAz3xUbpUpoOZo2kwXr5_aiuPwL70-9Ef-KcQRF_e5zBWSBDDBgYMdgvTNW4_DczMpetbbABd40ytdGghGIwj3R_lqq_IRNr0OXaq/s320/Irish+Ayes+and+Xplorer+in+Buckhorn+033.jpg" border="0" /></a>We arrived in Buckhorn, Ontario, at about noon on 5 July. IRISH AYES and XPLORER tied to the lock wall at Lock 31, and SEAQUEL went into Buckhorn Yacht Harbor about a mile from us. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dtavR8wX2ImnoJnibpOxQC4XVlhqYO5s_9GxSyIXTxukngw6BwIesJEGbNTvKHB_o9QWLOfrXhOSDUhMmk84FyO9vy72t-NDPnD15GuI6aBy4ffK2r9RkyBD6fk2R76H65xx/s1600-h/Cahill+Photos+105.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090832390872037714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dtavR8wX2ImnoJnibpOxQC4XVlhqYO5s_9GxSyIXTxukngw6BwIesJEGbNTvKHB_o9QWLOfrXhOSDUhMmk84FyO9vy72t-NDPnD15GuI6aBy4ffK2r9RkyBD6fk2R76H65xx/s320/Cahill+Photos+105.jpg" border="0" /></a>After getting settled, we all walked (through the woods) to the marina to meet Barry and Sheryl, drank an adult beverage with them, and then walked into Buckhorn. Not a big town, but typical of the small Canadian towns that are situated near locks. After a brief walk around the town, we all went back to our boats for dinner, boat chores, and rest. Tomorrow, we head to Bobcaygeon.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3JURc6lq-a2ENE2aLJP7U4nCRt0wGppZhU12H4oWDEm-6RzdJSwf_9p8V71y4TBBaAAgvcRmedSI0IIlV3K9Dqo2yWtaLPzg3toWxPosAI-gmrqMsw_MewuWZOI5nAhshyphenhyphennu/s1600-h/Bobcaygeon+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089247068912520226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3JURc6lq-a2ENE2aLJP7U4nCRt0wGppZhU12H4oWDEm-6RzdJSwf_9p8V71y4TBBaAAgvcRmedSI0IIlV3K9Dqo2yWtaLPzg3toWxPosAI-gmrqMsw_MewuWZOI5nAhshyphenhyphennu/s320/Bobcaygeon+031.jpg" border="0" /></a>One of the interesting boats we have encountered at locks in Canada is this tour boat. It barely fits in the lock, and lengthwise it is too long, so they have to fold up the bow in order to close the lock doors. There are only inches to spare when it is in the lock.<br /><br />It’s about 20 miles from Buckhorn to Bobcaugeon, and we covered that distance in about two hours, since we had only one lock, Lock 32, to get through. We were tied to the lock wall by 11:30, and were ready to go see the town.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqbkXqyewJdZSjGn2s3u8mc0GdWzLzoq54CcxBjqAgrGbrvWfvp0NF-EhzQ8kS0SD1OUXqtLWALtbJUZtc0zbLKiohg5B7isVPj_dtpLHpuec_Hl86U1Cuh988HQWoGK9kIsY/s1600-h/Another+island+home+on+Kawartha+Lake+Bobcaygeon+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089246922883632146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqbkXqyewJdZSjGn2s3u8mc0GdWzLzoq54CcxBjqAgrGbrvWfvp0NF-EhzQ8kS0SD1OUXqtLWALtbJUZtc0zbLKiohg5B7isVPj_dtpLHpuec_Hl86U1Cuh988HQWoGK9kIsY/s320/Another+island+home+on+Kawartha+Lake+Bobcaygeon+014.jpg" border="0" /></a>The trip from Buckhorn to Bobcaygeon was breathtaking. The day was overcast, but the lack of sunshine did not take away from the beauty of this area. We traveled through the Kawartha Lakes, which is a series of lakes joined by canals and locks. This area is an outdoorsman’s paradise. If you are a nature/water lover, you can boat, fish, ski, canoe/kayak, swim, windsurf, camp, and enjoy other recreational activities. We were told that this part of the trip would be one of the highlights of Canada, and it was true. We traveled Clear Lake, Stony Lake, and Hells Gate and saw spectacular scenery. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizigLNivs-ePwijxe1cgSIP6Rn3tRFUTYTkyf7fL4Y2zoOkrS5469_vcEnhYORvAL2W9zg-yTLzXysbkB3ptovRJC53dQRmVwX9nUDdI88_ZlRkNOv8004T5Cy0EykapeGYjFR/s1600-h/Island+Church+on+Kawartha+Lake+Bobcaygeon+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089251771901709474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizigLNivs-ePwijxe1cgSIP6Rn3tRFUTYTkyf7fL4Y2zoOkrS5469_vcEnhYORvAL2W9zg-yTLzXysbkB3ptovRJC53dQRmVwX9nUDdI88_ZlRkNOv8004T5Cy0EykapeGYjFR/s320/Island+Church+on+Kawartha+Lake+Bobcaygeon+018.jpg" border="0" /></a>There were numerous lakeside homes and cottages with single homes/cottages and a church on islands accessible only by boat. The church holds services during the months of July and August only. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcUacpayjMsv-Nv1KSiJ8_kXfMrxknif5mk0hZPvtNwc9bSHvVrfOLGqOYDqcuZ4zleib45Qp9mJ2Wog4a1si1yRcnHXzl1rTqLXgo_ffPKEYyqJscKyvaThqtsuLvkRP7QoB/s1600-h/View+of+rocks+in+water+at+Bobcaygeon+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089255603012537570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcUacpayjMsv-Nv1KSiJ8_kXfMrxknif5mk0hZPvtNwc9bSHvVrfOLGqOYDqcuZ4zleib45Qp9mJ2Wog4a1si1yRcnHXzl1rTqLXgo_ffPKEYyqJscKyvaThqtsuLvkRP7QoB/s320/View+of+rocks+in+water+at+Bobcaygeon+050.jpg" border="0" /></a>These areas are also known for being very shallow with rocks both above and below the surface, hence the name Hells Gate, so we watched our charts carefully through here and made it just fine.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrAv8n-PKIuvrdjPGbtqnW9nd-eoSxCiJMmcDEM9tca984GWSUjPlY56U-GElY8wEqwRtmg8-tetvl-Go3e7sXB9phcC9PKufboaV0kY_JMUEbr-HYGkDQBTDXtWsSlgTFUEW/s1600-h/Boats+going+through+lock+34+in+Bobcaygeon+047.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089247704567680066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrAv8n-PKIuvrdjPGbtqnW9nd-eoSxCiJMmcDEM9tca984GWSUjPlY56U-GElY8wEqwRtmg8-tetvl-Go3e7sXB9phcC9PKufboaV0kY_JMUEbr-HYGkDQBTDXtWsSlgTFUEW/s320/Boats+going+through+lock+34+in+Bobcaygeon+047.jpg" border="0" /></a>Bobcaygeon is a bit larger than Buckhorn and Lakefield, and the lock is right in the center of town. There’s nothing like a large audience as you are trying to get into a small lock with three other boats, and look like you know what you are doing. We had a good lock through and were thankful that we had only one lock to go through today. The past few days we have gone through several locks in a day, which can be very tiring and stressful if the weather conditions are not good, such as high winds!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrjgnaYLMpCfwCL1feFkMCnnUXvoeMKpFOExBveS0enQ9_Hqjev34tioz0kJqHq1IGtqZ-hIu2EWMF3TrwNpgQkRS57KGlQrd2P91h84pdCYMZL-sDGTUeXOWr9bKfkQO0O73/s1600-h/Sign+in+yard+in+Bobcaygeon+043.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089248305863101538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrjgnaYLMpCfwCL1feFkMCnnUXvoeMKpFOExBveS0enQ9_Hqjev34tioz0kJqHq1IGtqZ-hIu2EWMF3TrwNpgQkRS57KGlQrd2P91h84pdCYMZL-sDGTUeXOWr9bKfkQO0O73/s320/Sign+in+yard+in+Bobcaygeon+043.jpg" border="0" /></a>The crew from SEAQUEL rode their bikes from their marina over to the lock wall, and then we all walked into Bobcaygeon to see the city. As you can see from this picture, the town folks don't like other people's dogs to mess in their yards. </div><div></div><br /><div>The first place we visited was an ice cream store, which has become an obligatory stop for us in each town. Canadians seem to love ice cream even more than we do, and there are numerous places to get it in each town, no matter how small. Our cholesterol levels are going to be off the charts after this trip!!<br /><br />After a visit to a hardware store and other shopping places, we all headed back to our boats for some R & R. We all met again at 6pm for dinner at the El Toro Family Restaurant. Based on its name, we thought it might be a Mexican restaurant, but it was not. Just a local family restaurant that served an average menu, and the only item that could be called Mexican was Fajitas. After dinner we walked around town for a while, and then headed back to the boats for the night.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRZEVeOmhEb92KSqFrVWzSfZu2IsPDAn1WXdF3usYwxbns8QWHj4nfW_sXYlKqOsl97k6tunEiWsgzNXByK0O7j7AVgbkS1OPhvTqnX2vBRw5kBO44Z2WWTGIAJinLy94pZaD/s1600-h/Grany's+Home+Baking+in+Bobcaygeon+053.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089247992330488914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRZEVeOmhEb92KSqFrVWzSfZu2IsPDAn1WXdF3usYwxbns8QWHj4nfW_sXYlKqOsl97k6tunEiWsgzNXByK0O7j7AVgbkS1OPhvTqnX2vBRw5kBO44Z2WWTGIAJinLy94pZaD/s320/Grany's+Home+Baking+in+Bobcaygeon+053.jpg" border="0" /></a>On Saturday morning, we, and Mike and Cathy from XPLORER, walked into town to Grany’s, which is a bakery with a wide variety of homemade pies, cakes, breads, pastries, etc., that made your mouth water just looking at them. We checked out this store on Friday as we were scoping out the town, and decided at that point that we would definitely make it there on Saturday for breakfast. We are happy to report that we were not disappointed--the pastries were delicious.<br /><br />We have a tentative travel plan for the next week thanks to the two Mikes and Barry who met early afternoon on Saturday to come up with a plan. We don’t have to be in Penetanguishene, on Georgian Bay, until 20 July, so we have plenty of time to make it there without rushing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwN48IsYRYQrLEneFsnTE68G4eT3SHnNhNNDz7BUiDmATSAODFcF0IU499Nw63MUEk1pF6tCHNwb2hn4_IcMSbvKdwuOoI_-d_32fHqTAF9W2QaRF3qtL_nCP_0dW1Nna9nTP7/s1600-h/Mike+and+Cathy+Cayhill+and+Mike+in+Bobcaygeon+055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089250522066226322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwN48IsYRYQrLEneFsnTE68G4eT3SHnNhNNDz7BUiDmATSAODFcF0IU499Nw63MUEk1pF6tCHNwb2hn4_IcMSbvKdwuOoI_-d_32fHqTAF9W2QaRF3qtL_nCP_0dW1Nna9nTP7/s320/Mike+and+Cathy+Cayhill+and+Mike+in+Bobcaygeon+055.jpg" border="0" /></a>We ended the day by grilling out on Saturday evening and eating dinner on a picnic table outside our boat, with Mike and Cathy. I hate to admit that, afterwards, we walked to Kawartha Dairy for what else, an ice cream. Do you get the idea that we really like this ice cream?</div><div></div><br /><div>Next stop Fenelon Falls, Lock 34. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-29900111795125026022007-07-02T16:18:00.000-04:002007-07-26T16:06:52.157-04:00Hastings, Ontario, to Peterborough, Ontario<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6S05kk2Yrf4qK-fxyLye6xZ5_x_8jx9_6W2yYglOaYD69VWqidgO2D-F7Zlb_DXRA74aqMnjbc4PAfh9Z2Ba7VxUOZurauXevEVmrTSl9tdyN5weqS9dm-VcHFAh3dPvFhYUu/s1600-h/Trenton+to+Peterborough+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082698637831191666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6S05kk2Yrf4qK-fxyLye6xZ5_x_8jx9_6W2yYglOaYD69VWqidgO2D-F7Zlb_DXRA74aqMnjbc4PAfh9Z2Ba7VxUOZurauXevEVmrTSl9tdyN5weqS9dm-VcHFAh3dPvFhYUu/s320/Trenton+to+Peterborough+042.jpg" border="0" /></a>We arrived in Peterborough, Ontario, on 29 June. The trip from Hastings (Lock 18) to Peterborough was beautiful. We only had one lock to get through, and the day was perfect. We crossed Rice Lake, and then returned to the canal, and it is hard to describe the beauty of the water and its surroundings. The water is clear, clean, and on this particular day, calm and smooth.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hZB4Ksin40urOj4C2x2gvhtL9bzvFhW2Vo19jMsJrSXVQsikT8u6Zr_EGnH6-NGvwEJfy7lWpqaPdy-zvXDZt3CGDy2d7MPCS3v-bql9bhFiRX5D6zkos7hHjtqfDQG-0t38/s1600-h/Trenton+to+Peterborough+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082697757362895954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hZB4Ksin40urOj4C2x2gvhtL9bzvFhW2Vo19jMsJrSXVQsikT8u6Zr_EGnH6-NGvwEJfy7lWpqaPdy-zvXDZt3CGDy2d7MPCS3v-bql9bhFiRX5D6zkos7hHjtqfDQG-0t38/s320/Trenton+to+Peterborough+045.jpg" border="0" /></a>We spent the Canada Day holiday weekend at the Peterborough Marina. We were advised by nearly everyone we talked with, to include all of the lock operators, to be safely tied to a dock during Canada’s Independence Day, which is 1 July. Canada is 140 years old this year. Similar to the 4th of July in the USA, Canada Day is a huge holiday here, and anyone with a boat will be on the water. We took their advice.<br /><br />As with many of the locks and marinas in Canada, the Peterborough Municipal Marina is located right in the middle of town, which makes sight seeing and obtaining supplies quite easy. It is also collocated with the Peterborough Municipal Park, which is where the Canada Day celebration was held.<br /><br />The festivities began on Saturday, 30 June, with a concert in the park, attended by untold thousands of residents of Peterborough. We could, and did, watch the concert from our boats, mainly because it was too cold to stand and watch from the park. Later, we watched fireworks from SEAQUEL. The fireworks were beautiful, but did not last long at all. They were nothing like what we are accustomed to in the US. Yes, it is cold here in Canada this time of year. Cold enough to wear long pants, sweatshirts and a jacket.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5E5OEqY5845RTKwdWzMfIqZPhJIkgxgSiu3oz7RWcHWlmKOGV7UpqBxDjIFcI7nEckC-KptJxkS0Lw0DQaDYkq7l5KZzrKp9UhetkOg6XDOVDvtuhBtQrD9GD5viMnBcQt_HF/s1600-h/Peterborough+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082698083780410466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5E5OEqY5845RTKwdWzMfIqZPhJIkgxgSiu3oz7RWcHWlmKOGV7UpqBxDjIFcI7nEckC-KptJxkS0Lw0DQaDYkq7l5KZzrKp9UhetkOg6XDOVDvtuhBtQrD9GD5viMnBcQt_HF/s320/Peterborough+027.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sunday we watched the Peterborough Canada Day Parade, which was reminiscent of a small town parade in the USA. Farmers and politicians were equally represented, as were civic organizations and scout troops. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1FM0OC0ckLDxdcCAqr6y5tzkQrWSiSMJZCwMwXv0wVKBMghyphenhyphenF0n2No-Pksav-bwLdqEmsk19ykp3JkSP8uJXmvTRHUcHHfyNQ-C5slTOqG9XM8LGm5_ls-ZjhyAO4V18FhLi/s1600-h/Peterborough+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082697216197016626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1FM0OC0ckLDxdcCAqr6y5tzkQrWSiSMJZCwMwXv0wVKBMghyphenhyphenF0n2No-Pksav-bwLdqEmsk19ykp3JkSP8uJXmvTRHUcHHfyNQ-C5slTOqG9XM8LGm5_ls-ZjhyAO4V18FhLi/s320/Peterborough+022.jpg" border="0" /></a>We even saw a real live member of the Royal Canadian Mounted police. It was fun to watch. In the park there was also an arts and crafts show and international food festival on Sunday. All of these festivities were right here at the park adjacent to the marina.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_W4OucxfvSTgGaB4lH9S5N0T-_2yb5Xljs1Lq74yvpzcFbH0zQBAnFmccVIqh3DXB_SE-Ymjf7nK6gG9m6DQ_fqKNqNoLWGcf4LYUSo5xTJO18ZmIy4tZEYAbAgTxYrGIz3g/s1600-h/Peterborough+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082697091642965026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_W4OucxfvSTgGaB4lH9S5N0T-_2yb5Xljs1Lq74yvpzcFbH0zQBAnFmccVIqh3DXB_SE-Ymjf7nK6gG9m6DQ_fqKNqNoLWGcf4LYUSo5xTJO18ZmIy4tZEYAbAgTxYrGIz3g/s320/Peterborough+009.jpg" border="0" /></a>We enjoyed the weekend with the crews of SEAQUEL, STARGAZER and XPLORER. Ginger and Laura of STARGAZER departed on Saturday, headed for Muskegon, Michigan, which is home. Since they are this close, they are anxious to close the Loop and get home to friends and family. We will see them again as we make our way south on Lake Michigan. All of us biked to Peterborough Liftlock to witness Ginger and Laura pass through the lock. This lock is over 100 years old and is quite intimidating.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORsPDn-mpCOft3H18ZOkLGdZ2htGLS1dLTkanLa4_CLuA9YP9oq7AqxxQArrG0g4D1CkYtkzCc88y27y_7QIH1BqUaWEiElW9fosaIN915l_Fiv0s8unNNwi3sJRxeTIrllg8/s1600-h/Peterborough+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082697396585643074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORsPDn-mpCOft3H18ZOkLGdZ2htGLS1dLTkanLa4_CLuA9YP9oq7AqxxQArrG0g4D1CkYtkzCc88y27y_7QIH1BqUaWEiElW9fosaIN915l_Fiv0s8unNNwi3sJRxeTIrllg8/s320/Peterborough+042.jpg" border="0" /></a>Being in a marina is nice for a few days. We enjoyed hanging out with Barry and Sheryl of SEAQUEL, and Mike and Cathy from XPLORER. We had dinner together a few times, and drinks aboard either their boats or ours each evening. If we haven’t said it before, one of the greatest parts of this adventure is meeting a lot of wonderful people along the way. We also took advantage of the time to do some laundry and for Mike to change the oil, check batteries, and do some preventive maintenance in the engine room.<br /><br />By the way, we are updating this blog at a coffee shop in Peterborough that has a wifi connection. Since we can’t use our Verizon Air Card here in Canada, we have to take advantage of wifi sites that are available now and then. We plan to update the blog as often as we can this way.<br /><br />Tomorrow we will move on, heading west on the Trent Severn Waterway, provided our mail from the US catches up with us. Stay tuned…..</div></div></div></div></div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-89890020863875369492007-07-26T02:34:00.000-04:002007-07-26T15:53:54.507-04:00The End of the Trent-Severn Waterway<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84QIVWEltAnVZktklTpgj72K0J6C7CiX9oAYTv1kcHxazgfcsZMXg_xcGnn9g13PjBEWeMQcMWFL0ISlJjY3_QkN3Ja0hOK6qx5VfFZXT48TKHHWItL6lp0zAptRJN7ANHjgn/s1600-h/Kirkfield+to+Orillia+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091454688683555986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84QIVWEltAnVZktklTpgj72K0J6C7CiX9oAYTv1kcHxazgfcsZMXg_xcGnn9g13PjBEWeMQcMWFL0ISlJjY3_QkN3Ja0hOK6qx5VfFZXT48TKHHWItL6lp0zAptRJN7ANHjgn/s320/Kirkfield+to+Orillia+046.jpg" border="0" /></a> We enjoyed our stay in Orillia, Ontario. We stayed there for three days getting resupplied with food, beer, rum, and other important stuff. Oh yes, did we mention that everywhere we stop there are at least two or more ice cream shops within a minute’s walk from the lock? It seems that Canadians love their ice cream, and so do we. We also had an impromptu "Looper" get together at the marina's gazebo, and we all had a great time sharing food and drink.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdy2x8_nNN2oM0jiqggMrPfKakLJ2a1jMFRB3Iq3vIB16ROpQ3NrxL0tonM7J6S8DWzIuXxfQ3gxvvB0kbvDfaaF78w46R5SZ0t-AVNVvVj8uYu8MlRGTech8kKAB9g_ZCqR0g/s1600-h/Orillia+to+Port+Severn+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091452021508865042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdy2x8_nNN2oM0jiqggMrPfKakLJ2a1jMFRB3Iq3vIB16ROpQ3NrxL0tonM7J6S8DWzIuXxfQ3gxvvB0kbvDfaaF78w46R5SZ0t-AVNVvVj8uYu8MlRGTech8kKAB9g_ZCqR0g/s320/Orillia+to+Port+Severn+028.jpg" border="0" /></a>Our next stop was Lock 44, the Big Chute Railway Lock. All of us were anxious about getting through this lock. Believe it or not, we drive the boat onto a railway car that then takes the boat out of the water on a railroad track, up over a hill, and then puts the boat back in the water. Amazing!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQx9eLylk6_Bk2obbYnjjD1cz4q5Brqy4dOkbbIFEdFcZR3Jp3htT2iE6dz5wumDWTsyEbL6AXAB_Ru-haxfjceiyznLp2FKINKtlFhifT3aLTH2TtLEtXWfWLaTL_62UnGRS/s1600-h/Cahill+Photos+167.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091539733330984258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQx9eLylk6_Bk2obbYnjjD1cz4q5Brqy4dOkbbIFEdFcZR3Jp3htT2iE6dz5wumDWTsyEbL6AXAB_Ru-haxfjceiyznLp2FKINKtlFhifT3aLTH2TtLEtXWfWLaTL_62UnGRS/s320/Cahill+Photos+167.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdGsL2QAzT0qTV8Vs9YvEgVC_C6EBaB812xUzEMxyD8sqyOpSiZvMgT1AmTwJ9rsF5C22BmHszcKyRRCcVoT2CJxk3tIGjeEGs3axDcJgg82TOHs5VbuVf30wRCnFi861Iu7b/s1600-h/IA+in+Lock+44+Big+Chute.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091452485365333042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdGsL2QAzT0qTV8Vs9YvEgVC_C6EBaB812xUzEMxyD8sqyOpSiZvMgT1AmTwJ9rsF5C22BmHszcKyRRCcVoT2CJxk3tIGjeEGs3axDcJgg82TOHs5VbuVf30wRCnFi861Iu7b/s320/IA+in+Lock+44+Big+Chute.jpg" border="0" /></a>More amazing is that it was ever built. Can you imagine the staff meeting where this idea was presented? In today’s world, the person who came up with this idea would end up in a rubber room for life.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7HtvQCS0RLgDPmIUUcZslLs0GnGXmCzT2P5PRZcTeBMYWehr0-16eyN5iL0wOFyNnW22xo4kxo-WXYmzLR598m3VU5dOOAEolZHnKbog0kRyd0-gb8H7P9xGhV-X1iRy-Ie9/s1600-h/Orillia+to+Port+Severn+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091452180422655010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7HtvQCS0RLgDPmIUUcZslLs0GnGXmCzT2P5PRZcTeBMYWehr0-16eyN5iL0wOFyNnW22xo4kxo-WXYmzLR598m3VU5dOOAEolZHnKbog0kRyd0-gb8H7P9xGhV-X1iRy-Ie9/s320/Orillia+to+Port+Severn+027.jpg" border="0" /></a>So, there we are, waiting our turn to drive the boat onto this rail car, and we can’t believe we are actually going to do this. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCm6WGTTB-Qd2NPdH4MYKCR3D4tf1X8EIAp8qFef-liCMEHQOUbQbpFncEAzKOlfO_sOCk72L9BmmdLUfAcJlAw25GGawzfSbyFtz2xF3tdTyh7lAtq9hhVzYc6nA3R6O31LA8/s1600-h/Orillia+to+Port+Severn+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091452743063370818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCm6WGTTB-Qd2NPdH4MYKCR3D4tf1X8EIAp8qFef-liCMEHQOUbQbpFncEAzKOlfO_sOCk72L9BmmdLUfAcJlAw25GGawzfSbyFtz2xF3tdTyh7lAtq9hhVzYc6nA3R6O31LA8/s320/Orillia+to+Port+Severn+031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>As it turned out though, it was surprisingly simple. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VxUJf2qv9KXqXZ9Wfc2J-tOQiG6teRJaSRFRdqQ34dNj9CqzaufiDutpSWPrvxJie5lw8hxD7hgQTz9_U4xDleC4OJe8JW0XyIPf-BxBu319_Op8KwN8PkWmU3Ob4n33zoMs/s1600-h/Orillia+to+Port+Severn+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091453314294021202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VxUJf2qv9KXqXZ9Wfc2J-tOQiG6teRJaSRFRdqQ34dNj9CqzaufiDutpSWPrvxJie5lw8hxD7hgQTz9_U4xDleC4OJe8JW0XyIPf-BxBu319_Op8KwN8PkWmU3Ob4n33zoMs/s320/Orillia+to+Port+Severn+039.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KrWce-XyQoe7wWJBQnPAgOG9Kcqzf_xNu4rcg1iM8i0CC3mCPWrUxn4JECehb38C4rdNwI261eK4uFBkU0tYK6WlkhmyvrYcAW7ZdPYRLg4tpz3lRdXugdtn8zA-_JQrbX_r/s1600-h/Orillia+to+Port+Severn+058.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091453988603886706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KrWce-XyQoe7wWJBQnPAgOG9Kcqzf_xNu4rcg1iM8i0CC3mCPWrUxn4JECehb38C4rdNwI261eK4uFBkU0tYK6WlkhmyvrYcAW7ZdPYRLg4tpz3lRdXugdtn8zA-_JQrbX_r/s320/Orillia+to+Port+Severn+058.jpg" border="0" /></a>From the time we moved the boat from the staging area, onto the rail car, were moved up over the hill, and then launched back into the water, was about seven minutes. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj245niUJ7oaAxOX2ehq0YeLVponKgKNHBz1u5aRfoW8rj_iZYCIz0nN9PCRto1o_gMp_vp9TSJaTgZIjho3GlaqFsoisElGu_RpsC4cg_kWUalRBKvkfeoYtnl-HbJFZyFrTzK/s1600-h/Orillia+to+Port+Severn+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091453769560554594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj245niUJ7oaAxOX2ehq0YeLVponKgKNHBz1u5aRfoW8rj_iZYCIz0nN9PCRto1o_gMp_vp9TSJaTgZIjho3GlaqFsoisElGu_RpsC4cg_kWUalRBKvkfeoYtnl-HbJFZyFrTzK/s320/Orillia+to+Port+Severn+042.jpg" border="0" /></a>Simply amazing.<br /><br />This brings to an end our three weeks plus on the Trent-Severn Waterway, and we are sorry to leave this wonderful place. Our descriptions of the places we have seen and people we have met in the Trent-Severn have not done justice to the reality of this jewel of Canada. It has been 240 miles and 44 locks that allowed us to see the majesty of this Canadian treasure, and we now have memories and friends that will stay with us from here on.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMp1oC2EbkOUa9TAlt9sTrZ2mcpW0_UJopUC0PEeEMR_WT1cAJ4hxFMMJqzMyEsYULnu5k5fR9MKe1TJIC6piulIP5Cq3JxyctvOMysgOWTUN7sLO5v87U_-2rNzHxXDboWAuC/s1600-h/Georgian+Bay+6.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091454405215714434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMp1oC2EbkOUa9TAlt9sTrZ2mcpW0_UJopUC0PEeEMR_WT1cAJ4hxFMMJqzMyEsYULnu5k5fR9MKe1TJIC6piulIP5Cq3JxyctvOMysgOWTUN7sLO5v87U_-2rNzHxXDboWAuC/s320/Georgian+Bay+6.JPG" border="0" /></a>We crossed the southern part of Georgian Bay, which was just as beautiful and majestic as the great Canal we are leaving. We are headed to Penetanguishine, Ontario, to the America’s Great Loop Cruisers Association summer rendezvous at Bay Moorings Marina. Stay tuned….</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-82340200876595213092007-07-26T07:42:00.000-04:002007-07-26T15:50:46.863-04:00Penetanguishine Ontario, and the AGLCA Rendezvous<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcENqPnNTgKMxuaNJ0aQ_g3jDpwR6KHzNaazRT8YhwrWhjmPvMGdlaZyuADQu7H573w-68xD_HSx50AucAfW34W4-fZa78kdnBj666cRbG9BJOiEn2uB2y1tL-MODpMDHr3ucd/s1600-h/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091470558587714738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcENqPnNTgKMxuaNJ0aQ_g3jDpwR6KHzNaazRT8YhwrWhjmPvMGdlaZyuADQu7H573w-68xD_HSx50AucAfW34W4-fZa78kdnBj666cRbG9BJOiEn2uB2y1tL-MODpMDHr3ucd/s320/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+022.jpg" border="0" /></a>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.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMD9e9VvZQc8wMoLlxkN8OEUAPChSLc7lBkG_08Rw0MsjqwOGzqws4ZOjB7enN8tj2WiQ7WknNJCBVlfDB4eXELVdpRd1l7BlsaGjRMlj0bY_ul5Uvq-F0A5xnlhcXuIYFkCf/s1600-h/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091470197810461858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMD9e9VvZQc8wMoLlxkN8OEUAPChSLc7lBkG_08Rw0MsjqwOGzqws4ZOjB7enN8tj2WiQ7WknNJCBVlfDB4eXELVdpRd1l7BlsaGjRMlj0bY_ul5Uvq-F0A5xnlhcXuIYFkCf/s320/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+039.jpg" border="0" /></a>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.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwgJefRUl3UXq0DIb89whKrSLH63MoaWedpOeia3O0cquN7lyGUuw-t4UI3__5oE4CAzF1XdKEGK_y6612Rv0HfTo6iDI8qXO0dzTU60Dlacv_-YvxkErFTJqDxZXmnfFddwk/s1600-h/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091471606559735026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwgJefRUl3UXq0DIb89whKrSLH63MoaWedpOeia3O0cquN7lyGUuw-t4UI3__5oE4CAzF1XdKEGK_y6612Rv0HfTo6iDI8qXO0dzTU60Dlacv_-YvxkErFTJqDxZXmnfFddwk/s320/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+048.jpg" border="0" /></a>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.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswfNqF2lL_uCfBuBCtRJNlOOnbt0659-1kDqsdV14007nYP0xwmVKZfrpODuSAqKO6-wUItKETreEfnDjiugn2e4nHJ7LIiN5cGcRhEO_-l7wS0smNErn8G5CzvivQiLpvTxl/s1600-h/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091471018149215426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswfNqF2lL_uCfBuBCtRJNlOOnbt0659-1kDqsdV14007nYP0xwmVKZfrpODuSAqKO6-wUItKETreEfnDjiugn2e4nHJ7LIiN5cGcRhEO_-l7wS0smNErn8G5CzvivQiLpvTxl/s320/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+030.jpg" border="0" /></a>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.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibT2IN1Nsx6g0m1y1I70S36wE-UVYCMvDprUzm1bQBdHk1frNgs7a2ZFCJZHXC-bcB9j1gHyzkgtiC3CokklM4qr5FQS-GTcA8bxaUbdg0J2M8DNR3Uzm9NH0ohfWiKlGrYGWk/s1600-h/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091471464825814242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibT2IN1Nsx6g0m1y1I70S36wE-UVYCMvDprUzm1bQBdHk1frNgs7a2ZFCJZHXC-bcB9j1gHyzkgtiC3CokklM4qr5FQS-GTcA8bxaUbdg0J2M8DNR3Uzm9NH0ohfWiKlGrYGWk/s320/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+033.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>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.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8QXedn9tDw4E2nFZJ34FS6imaa7RO_Tx19vixW1N8QMUmeNWiUc9IJsGMSvgaFCn2Zi4bfrK0FDyx3fY1m9DCe2pwNc3Uzbk3rctowXSYD-kDKKhJBQAfw8jXJfeMlNtJ05F/s1600-h/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091471241487514834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8QXedn9tDw4E2nFZJ34FS6imaa7RO_Tx19vixW1N8QMUmeNWiUc9IJsGMSvgaFCn2Zi4bfrK0FDyx3fY1m9DCe2pwNc3Uzbk3rctowXSYD-kDKKhJBQAfw8jXJfeMlNtJ05F/s320/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+049.jpg" border="0" /></a>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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpsTUg_m23lrvOnQ1B90DEqyY3uzSBEmXACSJRbo7ztInlmMvDJMboJc5x73EbwJx-6uCx6RbBTvQZ6CiMlju5dvPvAZvCOrmSlCWZKTlKFBiAfWkdlSzN_7E-ozboLmj1Mzl/s1600-h/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091471743998688514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpsTUg_m23lrvOnQ1B90DEqyY3uzSBEmXACSJRbo7ztInlmMvDJMboJc5x73EbwJx-6uCx6RbBTvQZ6CiMlju5dvPvAZvCOrmSlCWZKTlKFBiAfWkdlSzN_7E-ozboLmj1Mzl/s320/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+056.jpg" border="0" /></a>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.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugxkcMVNDGhW-Txa9wbnPCCKy9L7GFaiG216iC4gfu5WfHHF8-t7UEpeaQmZzU2BheDtQ1UMO1iIo1tye9kqtLa9XhOYTkGb136-xGRcfir4gtbBze4LORfOhS5y1tDF9BtNv/s1600-h/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+080.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091471997401758994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugxkcMVNDGhW-Txa9wbnPCCKy9L7GFaiG216iC4gfu5WfHHF8-t7UEpeaQmZzU2BheDtQ1UMO1iIo1tye9kqtLa9XhOYTkGb136-xGRcfir4gtbBze4LORfOhS5y1tDF9BtNv/s320/Port+Severn+to+Georgian+Bay+080.jpg" border="0" /></a>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…..</div></div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-82817051204690628082007-07-25T13:15:00.000-04:002007-07-26T12:53:33.759-04:00Kirkfield to Orillia, Ontario<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EquJwBXVx1mF6Ls-qkt66-rcJukazlk6iblXhTiSFtqRBqluI0hej2TEq4qc662eLRJOzGgUZUNFiLVzuavezHz2dLEUpy1jUsQmxmfJcZ9_5L6_EGiapwjFlVK5yRSm5Npd/s1600-h/Kirkfield+to+Orillia+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091377731459546082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EquJwBXVx1mF6Ls-qkt66-rcJukazlk6iblXhTiSFtqRBqluI0hej2TEq4qc662eLRJOzGgUZUNFiLVzuavezHz2dLEUpy1jUsQmxmfJcZ9_5L6_EGiapwjFlVK5yRSm5Npd/s320/Kirkfield+to+Orillia+021.jpg" border="0" /></a>On Thursday, July 12, we left Lock 36 and headed to Sunset Cove Marina to meet Barry and Sheryl and begin our next leg of the trip. We said our hellos and chatted for a while before making our way through Locks 40 and 41 to begin our Lake Simcoe crossing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hh6vmSP7nfIz2sHFlzHHqQK6GewW0pzdgc7xgX25jvAeSEyuI2elb2PBkS-wyh0EpGQEqPcg5qkbafr_NL5JvF9VX-VPp7ri2FS_pQ9bX0R95eldLnpbXa-_Nd0wzU5vO3GB/s1600-h/Kirkfield+to+Orillia+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091376013472627586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hh6vmSP7nfIz2sHFlzHHqQK6GewW0pzdgc7xgX25jvAeSEyuI2elb2PBkS-wyh0EpGQEqPcg5qkbafr_NL5JvF9VX-VPp7ri2FS_pQ9bX0R95eldLnpbXa-_Nd0wzU5vO3GB/s320/Kirkfield+to+Orillia+022.jpg" border="0" /></a>The weather on Lake Simcoe was predicted to be 15 knots with waves at one meter (a little more than three feet). Following IRISH AYES was XPLORER, SEAQUEL, and SEA KNIGHT. The day was overcast and VERY windy. We had narrow and shallow water before entering and after crossing Lake Simcoe, which has been common throughout our trip in Canada.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYWcg9iTqZ0TPxoOMulbhYoEarJXNjFtqu_vyiXNAQeyM86H28964SR0Zx25dgJxVx5llyDZVvPx11FcwXcp40dOAMxdbMFVfiAWMJAzta4O9HGQDIWXQT6w9qgtagSsJ5C1X/s1600-h/Kirkfield+to+Orillia+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091376305530403746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYWcg9iTqZ0TPxoOMulbhYoEarJXNjFtqu_vyiXNAQeyM86H28964SR0Zx25dgJxVx5llyDZVvPx11FcwXcp40dOAMxdbMFVfiAWMJAzta4O9HGQDIWXQT6w9qgtagSsJ5C1X/s320/Kirkfield+to+Orillia+028.jpg" border="0" /></a>The water here is so clear you can see the bottom most of the time. It is rather disconcerting to see huge rocks and plant growth beneath the boat as you move along, not really knowing how close to our keel they really are.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8sg6zwnV7Vr6QpHQP-Adby3yMTQ_0fSxfy1KSZZRdj9l8hJWhWh-CwlJB1822AGP7QKGcGcY0ohlZMXnx9s0BKvwAOfVRwWiOKC0EZg-HJTotry1C_vI7vcMx6F38CQT5t4C/s1600-h/Cahill+Photos+160.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091533862110690594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8sg6zwnV7Vr6QpHQP-Adby3yMTQ_0fSxfy1KSZZRdj9l8hJWhWh-CwlJB1822AGP7QKGcGcY0ohlZMXnx9s0BKvwAOfVRwWiOKC0EZg-HJTotry1C_vI7vcMx6F38CQT5t4C/s320/Cahill+Photos+160.jpg" border="0" /></a>We came to the entrance of Lake Simcoe, and immediately saw white caps everywhere. We knew then the trip was going to be rough. For about an hour and a half, we bounced and rolled, with water spraying over the bow of the boat, all the way up to the fly bridge. Three foot waves my foot!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmWICNJTbw2nKU1I6WUv0lPXKMs8jppUVnUe4N0WoGa_xXvSYwEY3iFtrmgGRod_eysIxrY1fhF62vBEcMbT1qlI4X-P-BkPSXKTxS41Vgv9CfYqcbWsbXjeedy4nuZnl8LxD/s1600-h/Kirkfield+to+Orillia+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091371044195466066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmWICNJTbw2nKU1I6WUv0lPXKMs8jppUVnUe4N0WoGa_xXvSYwEY3iFtrmgGRod_eysIxrY1fhF62vBEcMbT1qlI4X-P-BkPSXKTxS41Vgv9CfYqcbWsbXjeedy4nuZnl8LxD/s320/Kirkfield+to+Orillia+024.jpg" border="0" /></a>Fortunately, we had secured everything before we left the Lock wall, because we had heard that Lake Simcoe could become rough at any time, and with winds being so strong over the last few days, we felt that we would be in for somewhat of a rough ride--and how true this was. As we got closer to the north shore of the lake though, we were protected by the land mass, and the winds and seas finally calmed. We had a pleasant ride on in to Port of Orillia Marina. It was quite an adventure.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eY3Aih9DOGClBgBH6m-9x2_nnPNGqSGIG2PS8j0zCK1sC1GbghSMg2-PXVWzZD0Le_uLVSWgh4LROf0TTZqs-sv0NVdFFRE99-iIpVbXyeVhdj17O6Xn6W89Gr7fvH9fVbuT/s1600-h/Cahill+Photos+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091549315403021650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eY3Aih9DOGClBgBH6m-9x2_nnPNGqSGIG2PS8j0zCK1sC1GbghSMg2-PXVWzZD0Le_uLVSWgh4LROf0TTZqs-sv0NVdFFRE99-iIpVbXyeVhdj17O6Xn6W89Gr7fvH9fVbuT/s320/Cahill+Photos+012.jpg" border="0" /></a>One interesting thing about this trip was a guy (a pretty dumb one if you ask us) in a small aluminum boat who got in between our boat and XPLORER on Lake Simcoe and traveled several miles, following closely behind us. This guy was obviously missing a few brain cells to be out on Lake Simcoe in these conditions in such a small boat. We never figured out why he was following us; however, at some point he turned around and headed back to who knows where. XPLORER made a Security Call to the Canadian Coast Guard to let them know that this guy was on the lake and could be in danger.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoeJKgzMCZUHcSkdViTRF_HjkfpvgIZEUdDODqUlN2HPOuZX8wa8DIxBGohy8BrXYAfBx8Y6cFF9VmDZiNeYU0GIQZTBcKmrqjU8zgS2Ww6JJoPgb7EoF5SQBP1iyPWTWR4CE/s1600-h/2007_0717TrentS90010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091371503756966754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoeJKgzMCZUHcSkdViTRF_HjkfpvgIZEUdDODqUlN2HPOuZX8wa8DIxBGohy8BrXYAfBx8Y6cFF9VmDZiNeYU0GIQZTBcKmrqjU8zgS2Ww6JJoPgb7EoF5SQBP1iyPWTWR4CE/s320/2007_0717TrentS90010.JPG" border="0" /></a>From Lake Simcoe, we entered what is appropriately known as “The Narrows.” Once again, we were watching charts, depth, and buoys very carefully. There were areas so narrow our boat appeared too wide to make it between the buoys, but we went very slow and made it through without problems.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXuJ7DSL5QM5Nmlz5oiL9YABI-PxJEq59nN_QitCpvS2_9MEGaOcBCyre11OGQyg3CGDwpUqEwviVtJ91nR7fBhVE1c156kefSthiM0o4TZuxgprX_0Oh9Mkqj6I0zUdmXZs-/s1600-h/Kirkfield+to+Orillia+041.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091376163796482962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXuJ7DSL5QM5Nmlz5oiL9YABI-PxJEq59nN_QitCpvS2_9MEGaOcBCyre11OGQyg3CGDwpUqEwviVtJ91nR7fBhVE1c156kefSthiM0o4TZuxgprX_0Oh9Mkqj6I0zUdmXZs-/s320/Kirkfield+to+Orillia+041.jpg" border="0" /></a>We arrived at the Marina in Orillia, Ontario, where we will stay at the dock for a few days to explore the city, reprovision, pump out the holding tank, and take on some fresh water. Stay tuned…. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34852256.post-3189630265021486472007-07-24T20:41:00.000-04:002007-07-26T11:40:50.381-04:00Rosedale, Ontario to Kirkfield, Ontario<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68Uy-jvdy3aC8eBm2bmI1J1onh9s_BEVm_r9UoVHYMfKRlJtGazfv3Cixy8akjqlqKd4zvGZI_NwSLkf-t9sxsCMFp24FsUBw6dJOzfLkqk8ETA7BTOM-1o80_lrBWC61dT25/s1600-h/Xplorer+and+Irish+Ayes+in+Rosedale+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091175782097287874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68Uy-jvdy3aC8eBm2bmI1J1onh9s_BEVm_r9UoVHYMfKRlJtGazfv3Cixy8akjqlqKd4zvGZI_NwSLkf-t9sxsCMFp24FsUBw6dJOzfLkqk8ETA7BTOM-1o80_lrBWC61dT25/s320/Xplorer+and+Irish+Ayes+in+Rosedale+020.jpg" border="0" /></a> We (IRISH AYES and XPLORER) left Rosedale about 8:20 a.m. on July 10. SEAQUEL was waiting for us as we passed the Rosedale Marina where they stayed the night.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4FFrynen-LnhbhHdOTAqY96m55y3HsMk4RzjCPjLOnlHrH1sKyi_sXpN9fgNqGamd4AH_fibiyRRhtQEtNSmuPkk8adqP5XoB8e9KDzPUs6I4nf-oKHaUIEyBuyldPL3XIrx/s1600-h/Bobcaygeon+to+Kirkfield+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091173467109915218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4FFrynen-LnhbhHdOTAqY96m55y3HsMk4RzjCPjLOnlHrH1sKyi_sXpN9fgNqGamd4AH_fibiyRRhtQEtNSmuPkk8adqP5XoB8e9KDzPUs6I4nf-oKHaUIEyBuyldPL3XIrx/s320/Bobcaygeon+to+Kirkfield+017.jpg" border="0" /></a>IRISH AYES led the way, with XPLORER and SEAQUEL following, as we crossed Balsam Lake this morning, which is the highest point of the Trent-Severn Waterway. At this point, we were more than 840 feet above sea level. The Lake was choppy, but we did not have far to travel, so it was not too uncomfortable. Once we made it to the entrance of the Trent Canal on the west side of Balsam Lake, the water was smooth as glass. However, once we entered the Trent Canal, things changed. The canal is VERY narrow and full of rocks on both sides. Paying attention to charts and watching where you are in the channel is very important.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQZa6Un_tlqS5bTBNHyHCU8Z26HU_NDyLxVoe1DrKI7XgekkMg5CAp65BKPWbHlROTsqgmqsS3tF41lb0lbip06FSZuy64ItLkv3ivf-sz7-Qwpa-tavZ0riWVV76KMRbPmvE/s1600-h/Seaquel+behind+us+on+Trent+Canal+headed+to+Kirkfield+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091175189391800994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQZa6Un_tlqS5bTBNHyHCU8Z26HU_NDyLxVoe1DrKI7XgekkMg5CAp65BKPWbHlROTsqgmqsS3tF41lb0lbip06FSZuy64ItLkv3ivf-sz7-Qwpa-tavZ0riWVV76KMRbPmvE/s320/Seaquel+behind+us+on+Trent+Canal+headed+to+Kirkfield+034.jpg" border="0" /></a>Before entering the narrow canals, Mike would give a Security Call, informing boat traffic who might be entering the canal from the other end, that we, and two other boats, were entering the canal. The reason for this is that the canals are so narrow, if you meet another boat, or one of the cruise boats that frequently travel these canals, there is no where for either of you to go. You can’t turn around and you can’t move over. There are rocks everywhere.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkTrHfsaxbnIONCEGEsfpUMPRHVCfRo11gicABkz1WWRUqAVQrofCC49HTYlElw1E5xyfmhaOEuSk6Q1j9_E7iDeMU3LIupOPkGAleZwQKP8PXeOArxbpqOykEhC9gmHJ_JL2/s1600-h/Irish+Ayes+at+Kirkfield+Lock+36+041.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091174102765075058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkTrHfsaxbnIONCEGEsfpUMPRHVCfRo11gicABkz1WWRUqAVQrofCC49HTYlElw1E5xyfmhaOEuSk6Q1j9_E7iDeMU3LIupOPkGAleZwQKP8PXeOArxbpqOykEhC9gmHJ_JL2/s320/Irish+Ayes+at+Kirkfield+Lock+36+041.jpg" border="0" /></a>We tied above the Lock wall at Kirkfield Lock 36 for the night, as did XPLORER and SEAQUEL. By 4:00 p.m. a rainstorm, with winds, thunder and lightening, began and lasted for several hours. According to the Lockmaster this morning, this area received 4 inches of rain from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Later, while having dinner at the restaurant located down the hill from the lock, the power went off just as we had received our food. We enjoyed our dinner by candle light, thanks to the owner. We walked back to the boat (it was still raining) and called it a night.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVlDXFchtfVHVxWXqPY0sPoAvyudCWFhVxfKuimIncoDZu1KyVu6cLt2NkpI3ib5oAytDDp2Dy7-ym-4yQGM2MqbnyBzGbp_lipnSlXmjVUcZJZra_O5L1Rw1MBuz-FqyuP4v/s1600-h/Pat+on+Boat+while+waiting+in+Lock+36+to+descend++060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091174661110823554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVlDXFchtfVHVxWXqPY0sPoAvyudCWFhVxfKuimIncoDZu1KyVu6cLt2NkpI3ib5oAytDDp2Dy7-ym-4yQGM2MqbnyBzGbp_lipnSlXmjVUcZJZra_O5L1Rw1MBuz-FqyuP4v/s320/Pat+on+Boat+while+waiting+in+Lock+36+to+descend++060.jpg" border="0" /></a>On Wednesday morning (July 11), we decided to leave from above the lock. We went through the Lift Lock with four other boats. This Lock looks to be more intimidating than the one in Peterborough, but it turned out to be okay. The difference in this Lock is that the structure is not enclosed, so you get a feeling of “hanging out there.” <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHPVCed1rUbCc3BBsVDdcULHQhpKqwHfeev-NJZ2HWKtjgxIpnz27civQSJp0M_VaOkRf4ip4Sw019U97dmIg32BR-jJwF0Hce0L8zApvo1c-mh1Jqnp7z-UYRvI2hLfttqH-/s1600-h/Lock+36+at++Kirkfield+048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091174824319580818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHPVCed1rUbCc3BBsVDdcULHQhpKqwHfeev-NJZ2HWKtjgxIpnz27civQSJp0M_VaOkRf4ip4Sw019U97dmIg32BR-jJwF0Hce0L8zApvo1c-mh1Jqnp7z-UYRvI2hLfttqH-/s320/Lock+36+at++Kirkfield+048.jpg" border="0" /></a>We were the first boat in, so we went to the very front of the pan, and it looked like we were about to go over the edge. This was a little scary for Pat who was controlling the lines on the bow of the boat. In this Lock, when locking down, you are five stories up and can see everything around you from high above.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlqnw9iC2unDz-YFMaTHrWIGPa3N5TkuhflI7R1u0b4yryJv5DdiqT2OIcJXHclEGUhuWMq0KCpz3rEtlPRjEjSFn266pddlyYatDGgae0xRWYkCfywTm8r5rBlydKJ_yCM5n/s1600-h/Bobcaygeon+to+Kirkfield+068.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091173604548868706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlqnw9iC2unDz-YFMaTHrWIGPa3N5TkuhflI7R1u0b4yryJv5DdiqT2OIcJXHclEGUhuWMq0KCpz3rEtlPRjEjSFn266pddlyYatDGgae0xRWYkCfywTm8r5rBlydKJ_yCM5n/s320/Bobcaygeon+to+Kirkfield+068.jpg" border="0" /></a>The lockmaster helped get our lines so that we could secure the boat. Once all boats were secured to the pan, we were free to talk to other boaters or take pictures or do whatever as the lowering of the lock occurred. The fun actually begins when the lift begins to descend. The lowering of the lift is done rather quickly, and you get a feeling of being on an elevator on the water.<br /><br />Upon leaving Lock 36, IRISH AYES and XPLORER went to the Lock wall and stayed one more night at Lock 36. SEAQUEL went on for about 7 miles to a marina for the night. We will meet up with them on Thursday.Irish Ayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643571853854638624noreply@blogger.com0