Thursday, July 31, 2014

Day 372 July 30 Port of Little Current Little Current ON

We are 666 miles from Brewerton NY and have traveled 4666 miles since we left home in October 2012.

Little Current....called Baiwejewung, "where the water begin to flow," by the natives...is located between Goat Island and the northeast tip of Manitoulin Island.  It is here that the waters of the North Channel are funneled into a passage only 100 yards wide, creating stiff currents into Georgian Bay.

55 degrees this morning


Sun is coming up
 
 
Love the colors
 
 
The bridge was 100 years old in 2013
 
 
Marina is very busy
 
Hello Mr. Sun
 
 
Looks like a clear day
 
 
Rain during the night
 
 
Anchor Inn....with food and drink and home of the Little Current Cruiser's network.  The Little Current Yacht Club hosts the broadcast every morning in July and August at 9AM to give those anchoring the latest weather and news on the VHF radio.  The North Channel has very few marinas.  Most people come here to anchor and enjoy the beauty. 
 
 
.
Flea Market
 
 
Entrance to Main Street
 
 
How about a Pizza
 
 
Main Street runs parallel to the town docks
 
 
Wally's is the fuel dock
 
 
3-4 block walk up-hill to the Grocery Store
 
 
Beautiful flowers
 
 
Tour boat to Killarney makes the 10AM bridge opening
 
 
Off  to  Wally's.......dinghy fuel
 
 
Farqahar's Black Raspberry and Black Cherry ice cream
 
 
6PM Tour boat returned....long trip
 
 
We are sleeping
 
We have no cell service in Little Current......so if you can't reach us that's why...We plan on departing Little Current tomorrow morning.....Weather is in our favor....We may head south to Gore Bay instead of going north to Blind River.  Really think we will be in Mackinaw City this weekend. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Day 371 July 29 22 mi The Port of Little Current Docks Little Current ON

Lots of activity on the docks this morning.....everyone is moving out to different places......54 degrees.....need long pants and a sweatshirt......
7:50AM departure..... we have to move so Resolute can leave the deck....Killarney Channel is a narrow strait between George Island and the mainland 


On George Island
 
 
Our Day marker for the North Channel
 
 
They have a great view
 
 
Think they have a fireplace
 
 
We saw the Woodie running up and down the channel
 
There are no large cities in the North Channel, but all the small towns are experienced and generally do an excellent job for cruisers.  Little Current is rated #1 and we are headed there today....
 
 
It's early...come on sun....
 
 
Unimin Canada's quarry
 
 
They ship to Midland ON
 
 
Mine the silica
 
 
The Lansdowne Channel is the main water highway
 
 
between Killarney and Little Current
 
 
Few boats this morning...but on weekends a different story....
 
 
Looking out at Lake Huron
 
 
Resolute....63 feet long...coming down the highway
 
 
Coming out of Lansdowne Channel
 
 
50 Tons pushes a lot of water Captain
 
 
The lighthouse on Strawberry Island
 
 
maintained in its original condition is spectacular
 
 
But the lighthouse & property are rented out on a long-term basis
 
The one-lane highway swing bridge is Manitoulin Island's only connection to the mainland and was originally built in 1914 as a railway bridge.  The bridge opens on the hour for 15 minutes during daylight, from June 15 to September 15.  The current at the bridge is very strong
 
 
We are waiting
 
 
10AM bridge opening
 
 
Several boats behind us
 
Little Current name is derived from the current which flows through the harbor, caused principally by atmospheric phenomena such as wind and barometric pressure.  The current can flow either east or west and has been recorded at as much as seven knots.  Little Current channel is the only place on the Great Lakes where tidal flow of up to one knot can be observed.
 
We came in at low current but had to dock upstream because of a starboard tie.....OK Captain do your magic......
 
 
Thank You....now I can get off
 
 
We are staying on the long wall at The Port of Little Current
 
 
Lots of Cruisers in the slips
 
 
Canadian Coast Guard comes by
 
We have decided to stay two days in Little Current.....looks interesting and we need to walk up the hill to the grocery store with Wendy's cart.....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Day 370 July 28 Sportmans Inn and Marina Killarney ON

A day to wait out the weather and do some household chores.  We didn't get the rain that was expected but the wind is blowing and it was 54 degrees this morning.


Along the channel
 
 
Dockage at Pitfield's General Store for supplies
 
 
Interesting house
 
 
Boat house....that doesn't fit 
 
Killarney was first settled in 1820 as a fur trading post.  The town was not connected to the rest of the world by a road until 1962


One street


Lots of flowers


Once a quiet fishing village, it is now a major tourist destination for boaters and landlubbers.  Population is 430


Pitfield's General Store
 
 
Beautiful Stone Church
 
 
Small but busy
 
 
No trip to Killarney would be complete without a trip to Herbert Fisheries
 
 
Housed in a trailer at the public docks
 
 
World famous fish-and-chips takeout restaurant
 
 
Couldn't get a reservation here
 
 
Wonder where they go in the winter 
 
 
Quarterdeck....Farquhar's ice cream
 
 
The Pines Inn
 
 
 Like this one
 
 
The Sportsman's Inn is a mainstay in Killarney for cruisers
 
 
They can handle any size but you need a reservation
 
When you understand that they pump as much as 20,000 gallons of fuel in a busy week, you get an idea of how busy Killarney actually is......
 
 
Sea Plane arrives
 
 
Our neighbors and their Northern Pike
 
 
Parents went to dinner and left these 4 in charge....remember when
 
 
Killarney is the gateway to the North Channel
 
 
And we head into the North Channel tomorrow