TRAVELS of "CONDUCTANCE"

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!

Looking at the lift this morning was a sad moment.  We decided that with the damage to mainly the props, new props would be in order.  The props had to be ordered and would take a week to come in.  Scott had a look at them and thought perhaps a repair could be done.  The main guy says new props for sure.  So after looking into new ones for this beast it will be a week.  We are now on the hard and going home.

If you don’t take the bad with the good it is hard to know the good.  That is our motto today.  We are not loving the circumstances but given how many miles we have put on Conductance over the years this is our first mistake.  Our vacation plans are not ruined, nor are our plans derailed.  Our plans have merely changed.  In a boater’s life you can’t take your set plans too seriously.  A boater’s life is always in flux, not much different from our real life away from the boat.  So that being said, Conductance sits on the hard awaiting 2 new props with an engine that has slightly been moved.  A possible alignment is in order.  We won’t know if the new props will fix any additional damage that we can’t see until she is run in the open water.  We ordered the props from Florida and they are making their way north as we speak.  Conductance will have to sit on the hard for a week.

That being said we will be heading home.  Scott has been booked on a flight to head to work in the States.  He will work while we wait for the shipment of the props.  Aiden and I will head to home and spend some time with friends and family.  The way home isn’t an easy one though.  We looked into flights from Sudbury, buses and taxis.  Nothing available on the island or in Tobermory if we took the Chi-Cheemaun.  So we called Mom.  She is in Haliburton, a 5 hour drive away, with friends.  She is dropping everything to come get us, take us back there for the night to stay in the hotel, then we will all leave and head to the airport to take Scott.  Then  home.  Thanks Mom!

Sitting on the hard Scott says the he just can’t stand the waves!!!  You have to laugh in these situations.

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We took our sweet time leaving Mary Ann Cove.  We loved this little spot of paradise the most.  I think because of our luck finding the spot right next to the small bluff, the energetic the walk up Caslin’s Peak, the campfire, and the view.  Now onto the real world again but not without a swim and a lake shower.

We made our way onto the main channel after lunch with SW winds that left us a bit rocky but not too bad.  It is a short trip to Little Current of about 45 minute to 1 hour.  Entering Little Current Channel we were greated with “boat approaching please slow down” on the radio.  The marina near the entrance must have a fella watching for anything approaching.  We were still pretty far out.  We weren’t in the channel yet and Scott would have slowed down when it was required.  So we made our way to the channel and to the swing bridge.  The swing bridge connects the mainland to Manitoulin Island and is the only road access to the island.  The only other access is the Chi-Cheemaun ferry from Tobermory.  We are staying on the seawall at the Town Dock.  The current isn’t as bad as the nautical books say but it is strong by the bridge.  I’m sure it can gust up in here but in reality it isn’t that scary a trek in.

After landing we hooked up the water and power and headed into town.  There are two grocery stores within walking distance.  Scott also stopped at the LCBO for beer.  Aiden also finally got his ice cream.  So now we are all happy campers, or boaters.  The town has a quaint main corridor with everything one would need.  The boardwalk goes to the swing bridge and if you are lucky a boat will be coming through so you can see how it works.  There is a beach at the other end of Spider Bay Marina that is about a 10 minute walk.  So many large boats here too.  We are seeing more boats here than we have along the way.  Maybe the USA boaters have started their way north too.  They make up a lot of the visitors here being so close to this area.

After the shore chores Scott opened up the hatch to look at the engines.  He was prepared to change fuel filters here due to time already on the existing ones.  After a couple hours he was done and cleaned up.  After dinner we took an evening stroll along the boardwalk.  Tomorrow is rain and heavy at times.  We  will not be leaving before noon and still have to plan out our remaining North Channel route.  Stay tuned!

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