Massasauga Provincial National Park

I know that everything has been pretty so far, but now we are getting into what I dreamed Canada must look like by boat.

We are now traveling with two other boats, " Jim's Joy" and "One September" through the small boat channel of Georgian Bay and our destination today was

Massasauga Park. It is spectacular! 

The three of us anchored in a large, but protected bay of granite and forest. That's us, just to show you the scale.

We lowered the dingy's to go explore the bay.

 

 

We secure the dingys so we can follow a trail to another lake, a portage.

 

And here we go as we practice our" bear calls" and walk through the island. (A bear was shot last month at the last place we visited, Frying Pan Island.)

The park is used for campers as they passed in canoes with their gear. We waved. I don't think I want to camp with bears about.

The lake that we find seems to be totally enclosed as we kick off our shoes and relax and enjoy the view and reflect how far from home we are.

We wake up in the morning to the smell of coffee in the boat and outside a mist over the water with warmer water and colder air.

We get ready to push on towards Parry Sound and Big Sound Marina.

 

 

Now that is one happy Bob!

Frying Pan Island

The trip to Frying Pan Island was awesome. Portions of the route are open to the full sweep of Georgian Bay.

The two miles rounding O'Donnell Point can be nasty in heavy southwest winds.

There is wonderful shelter in Twelve Mile Bay just ahead. We pay close attention to the narrow segments of the channel, there is granite close to the surface right outside these areas.

Frying Pan Island is a beautiful small bay and is known for Henry's Fish Restaurant.

The same family has owned and run the restaurant since 1992, and their fish is fresh and invariably tasty.

This is a destination restaurant where float planes fly in all day to deliver hungry patrons .

We all pull in for some great fish and spend the evening watching the opening of the Olympics.

Places like this makes traveling special.

Honey Harbour

Those wanting a taste of resort life in Georgian Bay can slip over the short distance from Beausoleil Island via Big Dog Channel (watch the depth sounder carefully here) to Honey Harbour on the small-craft route.

At one time, most services were geared toward cottage boaters and small outboard-powered boats.

Go-fast boats may not appreciate the strictly enforced speed limits through out the area.

We pass a park that has giant blow-up water toys to cool down the kids in the Canadian summer.

We watch the navigation marks carefully as some bring us to idle speed.

We head into South Bay Cove Marina which is about two miles outside Honey Harbour. It's eight 8-foot depths offer space for 30 transients up to 100 feet long.There is a marine store and a 5-star restaurant on site. There is diesel, power, water, and cable TV at each slip. Wireless Internet is available, plus laundry, ice, propane, washroom and showers, and playground. It's a little like a Canadian Ocean Reef. 

Jim and Joy, Ivy and Bob enjoying a lovely meal at a great restauant in a wonderful marina. (This is what a great vacation is all about, right?)

We spend two nights at South Bay Cove and then head out into the early morning chill towards our next destination, Frying Pan Island.

Beasoliel Island

We head out of Midland with "Jim's Joy" into the Georgian Bay to a beautiful place that we can anchor and dingy.

We anchor and take down the dingys for an exploratory photo shoot.

Many cruisers visit beautiful Beausoleil Island, as there are miles of hiking trails throughout the island, which is in the Georgian Bay Islands National Park. 

On the southern end, the trails take you through lowland forests.

On the northern end, the trails lead through Canadian Sheild-like bedrock and wetlands fertile with amphibians, turtles, and snakes.

 

My favorite were the water lilies. They smell delicous and close up each night and re-open at sunrise.

What a great way to spend the day!