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. 

 

 

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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. 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

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