From Locks to Rocks

( We're having trouble uploading pictures on very slow internet site )

After completing the forty eight locks of the Trent-Severn waterway, our next challenge was the small craft route of beautiful Georgian Bay. We had planned to leave Midland on Saturday morning however, there were heavy rains so we stayed in port and did menial but necessary jobs like laundry and bill paying.

Sunday, the skies cleared and we headed north for Killbear Park. The route wound around coves and in and out of some rather narrow passages, but the scenery was magnificent and the shoreline was dotted with cottages in many areas. There were however, large rocks or boulders in the water so it was necessary to keep a sharp look-out. At several locations, the channel markers were only twenty or thirty feet apart, indicating a very narrow opening between the rocks. One channel was so narrow that it was impossible to pass another boat. We stopped for lunch at Henry’s, a place you can reach only by boat or seaplane and the black board out front announced a recent bear sighting! The pictures however, don’t show the wonderful fish sandwich we had for lunch

After arriving at Killbear, we met a Canadian couple, Jan and Bill Stover who were just returning in their dinghy from a friend’s cottage where they met Barbara and Arthur Scharff from St. Louis. Barbara is the daughter of our Country Club Terrace next door
neighbor, Pat Bushman Talk about a small world !!

Monday morning was clear and cool but beautiful. It’s hard to realize that down in the Midwest or Florida, it’s hot, but up here, we start off each day with a sweatshirt or jacket to stay warm. It does warm up into the high 70’s later in the day. Again we left early and took the small craft route through the rocks to Point Au Baril where there is a pretty lighthouse. Here we chose to cross the Bay to Killarney, Ontario the most northern town on the Georgian Bay. We docked at the Killarney Mountain Lodge, a nice facility with meeting, hiking, camping, boating facilities, and a warm, inviting dining room. Later that afternoon, we walked all four streets of Killarney and then returned to go exploring in the dinghy. What Fun!
Tomorrow we enter the North Channel. The Georgian Bay has been beautiful and challenging. It has been quite a ride!
Judy