7.13.11 Rocks and Rocks of Rocks ... aka Beardrop Harbor
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| fishing boat from Blind river |
We left Blind River in the afternoon of the 12th with a graceful exit that no one was there to witness. We could see all the landmarks the books and charts indicated. What a difference. Sunny, windy and warm. The run was about 15 miles. Jim set the way points and we stuck to them. Little room for error with all the rocks. We had good wind and sailed with the just the jib at 6+ knots. Rolled it up to enter the harbor and the halyard wrapped around the roller furling. Always something. We were able to set the anchor on the first try. Anchoring is usually the cause of anxiety for me but we are getting our technique down and figuring out the best method for the boat. We have done little anchoring with this boat only having had it for 2 years now.
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| at anchor in Beardrop |
The harbor is peaceful although there are several other boats here. We are using several sources for reference when negotiating and it's a good thing. One of the books Jake and Sue loaned us mentioned that some of the rocks only have "clorox bottles" tied to them. Guess what, they were right. We have seen (sort of) several rocks or their ripples just below the surface. Go slow! It really is pretty though. The land has been scraped clean by the advancing and retreating glaciers and few plants have been able to get a foothold. Many pine and some birch trees. Interesting lichen and even patches of blue berries. No pie making on this trip. They are so small it would take half a day to collect enough. Growing up, my parents took me and my 3 sisters to the U.P. and Canada a lot. Durning blueberry season we would use an old fashioned picking scoop with long tines. You would use the scoop like a rake and berries along with leaves and what ever else would accumulate in the scoop. We would fill buckets and take them back to camp. Another bucket was partialy filled with water and you would slowing pour the blueberries into the water bucket. the leave were suppose to blow away and the good berries sunk to the bottom. you would fish out the floaters that were not quite ripe as well as any debris and you were left with mostly decent berries. Dad also liked to fish and some of the best fishin' holes are "up north". This brings back fond memories of our camping excursions. Swimming always meant really cold water or leaches which of course he could use for bait once mom pulled them off. Soooo much fun for 4 young girls but I wouldn't trade a minute of it now even though at the time a genuine "cement pond" would have been appreciated.
We spent the afternoon and evening on board. Actually did some reading which we have not made much time for. The morning brought another lovely day of sunshine. We decided to fire up the dinghy and go for a cruise. We continued back into the harbor and around the island that in-part makes up this harbor which runs along the outer Whales Back Inlet / Bay. We beached the dinghy and climbed the biggest hill (rock) around. Splendid views. Miles and miles of rounded, weathered rocks, many looking like, as the name implies, whales backs. A few have scraggly pines or moses. Some are more established with trees but the soil is poor and the season too short so it will be many tens of thousands years before the land could sustain much else.
The afternoon brought the departure and arrival of a new fleet. While we watched it all go by from the cockpit, we swung to and fro on the anchor peacfully. By chance a dinghy happened by with a couple we recognized and we welcomed them aboard. We had met them in Blind River as they were the ones who caught our lines and welcomed us into the port. They too are on a month long vacation on their boat, Moon Dance. Kevin and Evelyn, "KevinEleven" , soon left to retrieve their boat from another anchorage. After dinner we got together for a game of cribbage. We paired off with opposite spouses. Let me say up front, somehow the two dyslexic spouses ended up on the same team. We were at a tie following 2 games so a rubber match was called for. The beverages needed to be refilled and since Jim doesn't know the "recipe" for gin and tonic or for that matter red wine or beer, I volunteered to go get them. Upon returning to the game, Jim says, "now, I know you are going to think I stacked the deck but honest.... it's what I was dealt (he was the dealer by the way)". So he gets this killer hand of like 20 something points. Right away he starts saying "now make sure you get this right in your "blog"... am I going to have to edit your writing?..." So let it be know that "they" did win, fair and square. We'll get em next time though.
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| Kevin, Evelyn, Jim and Kathy aboard Inishnee |
One of the best things for me about traveling is meeting new people. We now have two "token Canadian" friends to add to our resume, eh.
Foot Note: Tony fondly remembers Dave and Rose....wishes they were here.
7.14.11 Losing track of time and date
We must be in official vacation mode. We had to consult the calendar via computer to see what day it was. To give you an idea of where we are at, we have only just entered the North Channel from the west side. It lies on the southern edge of Ontario, Canada, east of Sault Ste. Marie about 50 miles. The area spans approximately 80 miles east to west. It is made up of hundreds of islands and scenic bays. Manitoulin Island lies along it's southern boarder and is the worlds largest fresh water island. Georgian Bay lies to the east.
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| Overlooking Whales Back Channel from a big rock |
Many boaters rely on the Cruising Net to send and receive information. It is done daily via a VHF radio through a land station manned by the Net Host. Here it is Roy from Little Current, Ontario. The Cruisers Net is broadcast daily beginning at 9 am on channel 71. The host gives a synopsis of the world news and local happenings. Weather updates and any pertinent information he / she deem necessary, followed by check in from the boating world. Approximately one hour start to finish, the check in taking up the bulk of the time. Roy, sets the protocol for check in. Basically whoever wants to, radios in and reports their location. It is interesting to hear who is where. I suppose you could then make arrangements to meet up with (or avoid) certain areas or people. We made an attempt to call in but our location would not allow for a clear message.
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| Passing through.... with the dinghy |
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| Beardrop Harbor |
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| Dinghy'd ashore |
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