August 2022

August 2022

8/1-3/22 Trenton ON – Very nice marina before entering the Trent Severn Waterway!

 

8/4/22 Frankford ON – Stayed at the lock and enjoyed glowing sunsets!

8/5-6/22 Campbellford ON – Massive lock, home of the world’s largest Toonie and Kent discovered butter tarts! Found a small farmers market with fresh peaches and berries we had on our pancakes!

                       

 

8/7/22 Hastings ON

 

8/8-9/22 Peterbourough ON - Went through our 2^nd lift lock! So strange to be floating in a chamber while the whole thing moves up about 60 feet! We later found out the large door malfunctioned, the group in the lift had water pour into the chamber and they shut it down for the rest of the season!

 

                   

8/10/22 Lakefield ON – Took the dinghy out to see the Super Moon and also had an Amazing sunset! Nice Farmers Market and more lovely gardens (these help me not miss my garden as much)!

 

8/11/22 Lovesick Lock ON – One of our favorite stops! So quiet and peaceful! A fellow boater shared their fire with us, which happened to be the night of the Super Moon! A lovely bay with a natural warm pond some folks had made on the lower side of the dam. Beautiful bay and water! Went through another “Hells Gate” but only because of the rocks in Stoney Lake!

 

8/12-13/22 Buckhorn ON – We are glad we listened to fellow cruisers to stay here 2 days! A lovely park on one side of the lock and a fun waterside grill on the other! An amazing “water roller” with large falls and colorful rock island on the lower side! So nice watching families gather for BBQ, play yard games and then stay on their boats!

 

8/14/22 Bobcaygeon ON – Wow what a madhouse! It lived up to its popularity! Below the lock was packed with boats, some who have been hanging out all weekend! Boasts the largest shoe store in Ontario, so yes I went and bought myself a new pair of Tevas! Went to Old Dog Brewery and had a fabulous hot dog from the local truck!

 

8/15/22 Rosedale ON – Peaceful, quiet lock. Took the dinghy through the canal to a lovely lake. Cruised by Fenelon Falls, a large bulldog (black & white for all you Georgia fans) and lovely flower gardens!

 

8/16/22 Thorah Lock ON – Extremely skinny, rocky canal! Coast Guard asks to announce your entrance as other larger boats may need for you to clear before entering this 6 mile long canal. This is our 2^nd “lift lock” but this time we were lowered about 60 feet, Very Exciting!

 

                   

8/17/22 Orillia (The Narrows) - Super nice folks, we met a kind gentleman that had lived there most of his life. He loved boating and continues to enjoy taking his grandkids out!

8/18/22 Severn ON (The Big Chute Marine RR) I posted the time lapse and normal speed videos of The Big Chute on facebook. Still having trouble getting videos on the blog. 

In Severn we experienced the Big Chute Marine RR! We drove onto a large boat lift which used 2 straps to lift us up so our keel was hanging. There were two other smaller boats and several jet skis with us. The lift took us across the road, over the hill and down a 60 foot embankment! Very Exciting and Disturbing at the same time! 

 

8/19-20/22 Midland ON (Georgian Bay) Nice cruise from Severn, through the rock islands. Saw a fun houseboat and entered the Georgian Bay through the smallest of all locks! Midland had a nice marina and a large farmers market! We stocked up on fruits, vegetables, smoked meats and cheese! And they had 3 kinds of strudel, my fav!

8/21/22 Fryingpan Island (Henry’s Fish Restaurant) – The panfried walleye is now my favorite fish! So good, mild, flakey and Henry’s is known to be one of the best. Everyone knows about Henry’s; it is a boating in only island. They are known to have boats floating out front waiting for a place to park. After dinner we took a dinghy ride and saw our first black bear. People occasionally mentioned seeing them so we were very excited. The Loons, Kents current favorite, have an amazing call and what a handsome bird. We even got to see 3 babies, adorable! Also, a stunning sunset to top off the evening!

 

8/22-23/22 Parry Sound (Big Sound Marina) – Nice marina, Trestle Brewing (delicious Helles and Porter), friendly town. I loved watching the seaplanes come in and out on their floats! We met another couple who came in on the exact same tug as ours, only one year older! Randy was nice enough to spend about 2 hours with Kent and I outlining their favorite anchorages in the Georgian Bay! They’d been coming to the Bay for the last 20 years, to spend their summers here, from Toronto. So the next 2 weeks travels and amazing views are thanks to them!

8/24/22 Shawanaga Island anchorage (Georgian Bay) – Neat lighthouse, aqua marine water, blue sky and wildflowers!

 

8/25/22 Bustard Islands anchorage (Strawberry Island) – Beautiful ride through the “dog leg canal” between rock piles and islands. Took the dinghy exploring through the rocks and cottages! Going through a skinny cut we bumped a rock and briefly ran aground, but just stuck in some weeds so be pushed ourselves back out, after seeing the large black water snake! We saw a cute little mink hunting and eating craw fish in the bay behind our boat! Listened to the flycatchers rushing between trees and the vultures fighting over a fish! Bodie got to run through the rocks and moss like a little goat!

 

8/26/22 Bad River anchorage (Georgian Bay)–One of our favorite anchorages! The blue water, bright wild flowers, colorful rock walls, exploring the little side creeks, and gorgeous sunset! Very strange to see such a swift flowing stream in the Bay, but what fun to work our way up stream  and then careen back down in the dinghy! We saw two of my favorite all time birds, sandhill cranes, flew right over us with their beautiful song! 

Check out the videos on facebook!

 

8/27-30 Killarney North Channel – What a fun little town! We took the dinghy to the store,

which provides a dock while you shop, much easier than carrying them back to the boat. Beautiful log cabin lodge, watching the float planes fly in and out, and I saw hummingbirds!

 

 8/31/22 Covered Portage Cove anchorage (Killarney Bay) – Another Amazing anchorage! We hiked up the hill for a beautiful view of the bay! White granite walls, turquoise water, bright blue sky, and gold nugget sunset on the hillside!