TRAVELS of "CONDUCTANCE"

We took our time this morning to enjoy our tea and breakfast before heading onto our next stop.  Listening to the weather forecast with winds 5 knots out of the west was a pleasant welcoming first thing in the morning.  Scott plotted our path to our next destination where there seemed to be a lot of small islands but deep water.  We are a little shy these days about getting into small close quarters with these North Channel straits close to land.

With the sun shining and temps hovering around 33 C, that’s 90 or so for our neighbours to the south, we headed out of Humdrum, er Meldrum Bay, to Drummond Island.  Our first American stop on the journey thus far.  We cruised in Potaganissing Bay where there is a well marked channel with lots of shoals on the other sides of the markers.  Scott planned a surprise for Aiden showing him LaPointe Island.  Lots of pictures were taken.  It is a meandering cruise around several islands, some inhabited and some not.  Lots of fishermen out with all those shoals.  Rich, you would love all this fishing!

We need some supplies, a top up of fuel, laundry done and a good swim after the 1 hour cruise in this heat.  We stopped at Drummond Island Yacht Haven.  We are the small boat here.  Lots of 60 and 70 ftrs to drool over.  After gassing up and settling in our slip for the night we dropped Low Voltage and headed over to a small cove where the water was warm and we could swim awhile.  Scott and Aiden headed out on a hike on Harbor Island Wildlife Reserve to find thousands of frogs, monarch butterflies, black snakes and giant dandelions….and some crazy local folks.  Pellet gun in hand and the 12 year old girl jumping around in an infused stupor shooting at a black snake in the water, coming close to the dingy with shots and her own dogs. Parents didn’t seem to mind and seemed to enjoy the sight.  I managed to get the laundry done but no groceries here.  You can rent a car for $12.00 but we won’t need grocery supplies for a couple days so we passed.  The marina doesn’t even have simple supplies like bread and milk.

Getting back from the dingy cruise we had what remains of our “Fish Store” find from Little Current.  Salmon and rainbow trout were on the menu.  After spending so much time in the sun today we are all a little tired.  We did find out that we are on the fringe of the EST time zone.  So in a couple days we will lose an hour as we pass into CST.  We are going to enjoy this last bit of dusk at 9:30-10:00 even if it means we have to stay up to do so.

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With the SW-W winds kicking up this cove has got to go being on the west side of Croaker Island and open to the SW. So at 7:30 in the morning we were picking up the anchor to head to another cove that will be less rocky and better holding in big wind. We found a great easy to access cove called Eagle Island Harbour. It was said in the books that we use to be less on the trodden path so not many boats used this cove.

The winds were picking up with an Environment Canada strong wind warning advisory. We have rain in the morning but full sun this afternoon. We knew that they would be a bit strong but the strongest would be later this afternoon. So we made our way around Croaker Island, past Frechette Island to our north and found the little cove on the east side of Eagle Island where we were to be nestled in for the predicted strong blows. So much for not many boats. There were at least 9 sailboats first thing this morning. It is a large enough cove that there was no problem finding a spot to swing on the anchor line. Home for the day and it was just after 9:00 am.

The boys headed out to a tiny island where they found some eggs the size of tennis balls, a leapard frog and lots of morning fun exploring the new territory. This island takes about 5 minutes to walk the perimeter. They were gone an hour. Of course, those eggs had to be identified so that was another hour to which no result was found. That will be another hour in the future, I’m sure.

After lunch we all climbed into Low Voltage and took the ride around the cove. A picture op of Aiden on a desolate island finally came to be………….on the windiest day yet. I have to say that it was pretty fun bouncing on the waves, getting soaked and sprayed continuously for 45 minutes just to take some crazy pictures of our kid. That was only one way going against the waves. It was a good thing it was the way back to Conductance and not the journey out.

The boys are heading out again to locate the ultimate catch of the day. I think I’ll enjoy the beauty of the area with a book in one hand and a rum and coke in the other. So here we are in this little not really known about cove with about 25 boats. I think I should write to the authors of these books and have them update their verbage.

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Today I pick up Scott from Sudbury Airport, 2 hours away from Little Current.  Uneventful, however Scott’s luggage was misplaced.  It took about a half hour for them to find it.  It had come on an earlier flight.

A dry run of the boat to find that she runs well.   Mom and Pat enjoyed the evening dinner cruise.  There is still a slight vibration but we are going to have that looked at later.

PROPS ARE IN………………………………finally!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!! After a good nights sleep in Kincardine we headed out onto Lake Huron at about 8:30 am.  The waves were low but the fog was thick.  Worse than yesterday as a matter of fact.  Scott had to slow to a crawl hoping that it would break.  The listing was gone so it must have been something caught on the starboard trim.  The auto pilot was perfect the whole 4 hour trek.  The waves picked up around Port Elgin to about 1 metre.  Nothing Conductance can’t handle.  The fog, well, it stayed on and off.  Respecting the radar but not certain of those small boats that may be out here we did slow to a crawl several times.  That added time but saved on the diesel bill.

We rounded Cabot Head to  less than 1/2 metre waves and saw Toberrmory Harbour in the distance.  As we approached we did notice the Chi-Cheemaun docked.  It is a vehicle and passenger ferry that travels from Tobermory to Manitoulin Island. The cell rang while I was dropping.   fenders and getting lines done.  A call from the Chi-Cheemaun and a very surprised Conductance crew.  A wave from the deck of the Chichimaun revealed our friends were on the ship.  Safe travels to Aldo and Mark on their summer excursion.  Sorry we missed you!

Our slip is right in the centre of the action here in Little Tug Harbour here in “Toby”.  We took a quick walk around, picked up some groceries and did the laundry.  Low voltage was dropped and we headed out in the dingy and visited Big Tub Harbour with the lighthouse marking her entrance.  There are two ship wrecks right here in Big Tug at the end.  Apparently due to fire from decades ago.  Toberrmory is the home to Five Fathoms Marine Park, Canada’s only marine park.  22 ship wrecks with water visibilityto 40-60 ft makes this place a divers dream.  Many dive and glass bottomed boats are here for hire to see the shipwrecks.  150 species of birds can be found here too.

It is cold. I should have brought our winter parkas. The winds are low but with the cold water and the wind it is really chilly. No airconditioning needed but the heat has come on several times. We had a Canada Day BBQ and then waited in line for the ice cream stop. Homemade yumminess! After that Scott got out his camera and tripod for the firework celebrations. Toby did not disappoint with a beautiful 20 minute display over the harbour and Lake Huron.

We may not have wifi for the next few days as we head up to the North Channel. We will be on the hook so stay tuned for the next posting.

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