Great Loop: Georgian Bay - Henry's, Parry Sound, Hopewell Bay
Georgian Bay is populated with 30,000 Islands
It is also replete with Navaids and Lighthouses to assist in navigation
Many of the islands have summer cottages. Idyllic retreats which are perfect for enjoying the clear waters of this northern arm of Lake Huron. The Bay is protected from the lake by Manitoulin Island and the Saugeen Peninsula.
While on our way to Henry's Restaurant on San Souci Island, we encountered our friends on Pivot. Jen and Elliot are the parents of Ollie the Wonder Dog.
Navigating the densely packed islands requires full attention!
Henry's Restaurant is a local tradition. So many people visit that they are known to serve 600 fish meals per day!
As we approached the island we called on VHF channel 68 to obtain free dockage. We had a 25 minute wait for a table. This gave us time to explore the surrounding area.
Here you can see the variety of transportation modes visitors use to arrive for lunch. Seaplane traffic was ongoing as they shuttled people to their island cottages or to the restaurant.
We found Henry's Bloody Marys to be quite satisfactory!
Now this is the way the begin our exploration of Georgian Bay!
After lunch, we explored a spot called Echo Bay. As we worked our way through narrow access passages, we encountered some unique and lovely cottages. I loved the Piper Cub float plane.
Approaching Echo Bay requires weaving your way through narrow channels.
Once there, it opens into two medium size bays that provide protected anchorage for many boats.
We rafted to a friends boat and went swimming. After an hour we cast off and continued our journey to our overnight destination in Parry Sound.
As we travelled to Parry Sound, we passed many more islands, many hosting family cottages.
We overnighted at Big Sound Marina.
We topped off our fuel tanks, pumped out, and topped off our water in preparation for anchoring out.
Downtown Parry Sound was cute and a major point for initiating visits to Georgian Bay.
This is downtown in the morning before businesses opened.
We had a nice sunset looking out over Parry Sound.
We headed out into these waters the next morning.
This stretch of water hosted many lighthouses as the density of islands and rocky reefs was quite high.
Cottages & Homes of Georgian Bay
OK, this is a bit more than a "cottage", but very nice....
This qualifies as a cottage
This is the Ojibway Resort.
This home is located on a chunk of rock at the edge of open water.
I'm sure it has seen some interesting storms.
Here you can see the Pointe au Baril Lighthouse.
In the late 1800's the original light was a lantern on the tope of the barrel you can see on the point to the left of the current lighthouse.
Navigating through Hangdog Reef was an interesting exercise. At one point we had to turn so sharply that we crossed our own wake.
I'm still trying to decide if I like the design of this cabin....
Another lighthouse to keep us safe
This cabin had personality
Weather blew in from the north west so we shortened our day and took shelter at Wrights Marina.
This is up Byng Inlet. Here we met our friends on Elizabeth Marie for docktails and conversation.
This is a good spot to shelter from stormy weather.
Berthing Information
- Parry Sound: Big Sound Marina
- Phone: 705-746-7642
- Gas and Diesel available at nearby Sound Boat Works
- Showers and restrooms
- Hopewell Bay
- We anchored in Hopewell Bay for one night.
- It is located on Nadeau Island.
- The bottom was mud and provided good holding
- Wright's Marina
- Britt, Ontario on Byng Inlet
- Good shelter from stormy weather.
- Phone: 705-383-2295
- Showers, restrooms, fuel and pump out
Love the cottage pics! That brown wooden one was an oddity wasn’t it! -maggie
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