Mike and Beth's Adventures

Entrance to Covered Portage Cove Covered Portage Cove offers excellent wind protection as it is surrounded by hills on three sides and the entrance has a couple of corners which baffle the wind from that direction.  The cove is quite large and depths are such you have many options for anchoring.  You can anchor near shore and stern tie to a rock on shore or you can anchor in the cove itself, with a bow anchor or a bow/stern anchor combination.  We found multiple reasons to stop, linger and enjoy.   First, this is a beautiful anchorage.   Second, when you hike to the top of the granite bluff on the north side, you are rewarded with spectacular views of the anchorage, the approach to the anchorage, and a view to the west over a section of the north channel.  The trail to the top is located at the head of the cove.  The trail splits shortly after you leave the shore.  Take the right fork to the top.    Third, the protection makes ...

 The Moon is setting over Devils Door and the Bad River Anchorage Canoeists follow the Fur Trappers Route We spent two days at the mouth of the French River.  Waterways in this area were strung together by early trappers to create a path to market.  On nautical charts you can still find Voyageur Channel.  We set out to explore the portion of this area accessible by dinghy.  As we travelled we found canoeists travelling this ancient route.  One that was known to the First Nation Indians and shared with the early French traders. As we were exploring the Voyageur's Channel, we saw two canoes negotiate the final rapids on the French River. A group of Canoeists made camp on the rocks above the channel. The next morning we saw them pass through the Devils Door and into the Bad River Anchorage Exploring by Dinghy From the anchorage could see Devils Door, the entrance to the Voyageurs Channel.  At high water it is quite treacherous We were lucky the flow was l...

Beth (of Amy Marie) and Amy (of Selah Way) paddle boarding in the Bustard Islands Beth had been waiting patiently since we started our Loop in October to use her paddle board.  The opportunity finally presented itself in Georgian Bay.  We had struggled to find the correct combination of conditions to entice her into the water.  Alligators were a big deterrent in the southeast.  Strong winds or waves also resulted in the board remaining safe in it's storage bag.   Finally, the weather, water temperature, water clarity, water smoothness and desire converge to create perfect conditions.  She found the correct storage compartment, extracted the paddle board bag, emptied the contents on the deck, attached the pump, inflated the board, changed to suitable attire, applied sunscreen, launch the board, got a big grin on her face and off she went. She was a very happy lady.   It didn't take her long to find a partner in crime....

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 ...