Wed Aug 1st, Day 89 - Clapperton Island
Thu Aug 2nd, Day 90 - S. Benjamin Island
Fri Aug 3rd, Day 91 - Croker Island
Sat & Sun Aug 4th & 5th, Days 92 & 93 - Gore Bay
Since it had been a few days since our last marina, we needed to stop in the first town on Manitoulin Island, Little Current, for a few groceries and a pumpout before proceeding to another anchorage. Manitoulin Island is the island that defines the southern border of the North Channel, separating Canada from Lake Huron. It is noteworthy being the largest freshwater island in the world, with many of the inhabitants being members of the First Nation tribes. After the 3 hour stop in Little Current, we headed for our anchorage for the night, Clapperton Island, where we arrived just in time to have a quick dinner before the sunset.
On Thursday, we headed toward the Benjamin Island group, keeping our attention on the less than favorable weather forecast, which was indicating 20-25 knot winds out of the north, making an anchorage with some protection to the north very preferable. We tucked into the bay on the south side of South Benjamin Island, barely able to anchor in the lee of the island, just outside of the effects of the winds and the waves coming in around the point. Even though the waves were still felt at our anchor spot, we decided to drop Ricky-Dink off the side and explore the bay and the nearby shallow rock strewn channels. Picking our way through massive granite and quartz boulders, through channels not wider than 15 feet, we idled slowly by a couple of sailboats pressed against the rock walls, kept in place by ropes tied to rock-climbing pitons, secured into the cracks in the granite. We came out on the opposite side of S. Benjamin and discovered a beautiful beach with crystal clear water where we beached the dinghy, and gave Jim a chance to take a quick swim in the very chilly water.
Our plan on Friday was to reconnect with Joe & Tara on Seabatical, which would allow Al & Dawn a last opportunity to say goodbye to Joe & Tara before disembarking from Rickshaw on Saturday. We settled on the bay at Croker Island which was a horseshoe-shaped lagoon surrounded by tall outcroppings of pink granite ringing the anchorage. Our decision to stop at Croker Island was coincidentally shared by several other boats, including Marc's Ark & Blue Heron. We climbed to the top of the 50 foot tall dome that overlooked Croker Bay, and gave us a 360 degree view of the bay and the surrounding waters. After our hike, we had an impromptu happy hour get-together on the beach with several of the boaters, which would most likely be the last time we would see most of them until at least Mackinac or further down the Michigan coast.
Saturday was a sad day for us, because this was the day that we would have to say good-bye to our wonderful friends and guests for the past 2 weeks, Al & Dawn. We motored from Croker Island 15 miles to Gore Bay, where they had dropped their car off 2 weeks earlier, and, after availing ourselves of Al & Dawn's car to go to the grocery store, gave our goodbye hugs and kisses to our good friends, promising to stay in touch and re-unite with them sometime before the end of the year. We spent the rest of Saturday and Sunday morning cleaning and getting Rickshaw ready for our friends from Memphis, Woody & Carolyn, who were scheduled to arrive around noon on Sunday. Although our original plan was to depart for an anchorage Sunday afternoon, high winds kept us in the Gore Bay marina on Sunday night.
Thu Aug 2nd, Day 90 - S. Benjamin Island
Fri Aug 3rd, Day 91 - Croker Island
Sat & Sun Aug 4th & 5th, Days 92 & 93 - Gore Bay
Since it had been a few days since our last marina, we needed to stop in the first town on Manitoulin Island, Little Current, for a few groceries and a pumpout before proceeding to another anchorage. Manitoulin Island is the island that defines the southern border of the North Channel, separating Canada from Lake Huron. It is noteworthy being the largest freshwater island in the world, with many of the inhabitants being members of the First Nation tribes. After the 3 hour stop in Little Current, we headed for our anchorage for the night, Clapperton Island, where we arrived just in time to have a quick dinner before the sunset.
On Thursday, we headed toward the Benjamin Island group, keeping our attention on the less than favorable weather forecast, which was indicating 20-25 knot winds out of the north, making an anchorage with some protection to the north very preferable. We tucked into the bay on the south side of South Benjamin Island, barely able to anchor in the lee of the island, just outside of the effects of the winds and the waves coming in around the point. Even though the waves were still felt at our anchor spot, we decided to drop Ricky-Dink off the side and explore the bay and the nearby shallow rock strewn channels. Picking our way through massive granite and quartz boulders, through channels not wider than 15 feet, we idled slowly by a couple of sailboats pressed against the rock walls, kept in place by ropes tied to rock-climbing pitons, secured into the cracks in the granite. We came out on the opposite side of S. Benjamin and discovered a beautiful beach with crystal clear water where we beached the dinghy, and gave Jim a chance to take a quick swim in the very chilly water.
Our plan on Friday was to reconnect with Joe & Tara on Seabatical, which would allow Al & Dawn a last opportunity to say goodbye to Joe & Tara before disembarking from Rickshaw on Saturday. We settled on the bay at Croker Island which was a horseshoe-shaped lagoon surrounded by tall outcroppings of pink granite ringing the anchorage. Our decision to stop at Croker Island was coincidentally shared by several other boats, including Marc's Ark & Blue Heron. We climbed to the top of the 50 foot tall dome that overlooked Croker Bay, and gave us a 360 degree view of the bay and the surrounding waters. After our hike, we had an impromptu happy hour get-together on the beach with several of the boaters, which would most likely be the last time we would see most of them until at least Mackinac or further down the Michigan coast.
Saturday was a sad day for us, because this was the day that we would have to say good-bye to our wonderful friends and guests for the past 2 weeks, Al & Dawn. We motored from Croker Island 15 miles to Gore Bay, where they had dropped their car off 2 weeks earlier, and, after availing ourselves of Al & Dawn's car to go to the grocery store, gave our goodbye hugs and kisses to our good friends, promising to stay in touch and re-unite with them sometime before the end of the year. We spent the rest of Saturday and Sunday morning cleaning and getting Rickshaw ready for our friends from Memphis, Woody & Carolyn, who were scheduled to arrive around noon on Sunday. Although our original plan was to depart for an anchorage Sunday afternoon, high winds kept us in the Gore Bay marina on Sunday night.
 A couple of sailboats, sheltered by the rocks, at anchor off South Benjamin Island.  The water is so clear in this little cove.  Jim going out for a swim. |  Rickshaw at anchor off South Benjamin Island. Note the mast behind the rocks where the sailboat was secured to the granite rocks.  We found this little cove with a beach tucked in between some rock outcropings.  The view from the top of the rock on Croker Island. |
Who would have thought, back in May of 2011 when we first met in Norfolk VA, that we would reunite on Georgian Bay in August 2012. L to R: Jim, Belinda, Al, Tara, Dawn and Joe.
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