North Channel Part 2

We want to start by saying we are sorry for such a long delay.  There does not seem to be enough hours in the day and the wifi has not been good, but there are no excuses.

Just for an update, as of today, 10/07/18, we are in Peoria, IL on the Illinois River.  We plan on heading out tomorrow and will take us 2 days to get to Grafton, IL, right at the confluence of the Mississippi River. We will be on the Mississippi for 2 days before heading north east onto the Ohio River. Then on to the Cumberland River, to the Tennessee River then the Tenn-Tom Waterway to Mobile, AL and the Gulf of Mexico.  Should take about 2 weeks but cannot arrive in Mobile before Nov. 1st because of insurance.

So now back to where we left off........

August 22-24, 2018

After meeting with Roy, Harbor Host for the North Channel a few days ago, we decide the weather looks favorable to set off for a short run to the north side of the North Channel where we are told are some very beautiful anchorages. Roy had pointed out some coves and small bays to consider based on the wind prediction for the next couple days, so off we go. Our destination would be South Benjamin Island. Upon arrival after a short one plus hour cruise, we did find the anchorage very beautiful with steep rock walls.  As we slowly made our way in we saw 2 power boats and a couple of sailboats already anchored. Once we surveyed the remaining spots to anchor Zoey's Adventure, we decided there was just not enough room for us to swing without getting to close to the other boats. As it's getting a bit late and the wind is beginning to pickup we did not feel comfortable looking for an alternate anchorage knowing if we had a problem setting the anchor we then would be pressed for time to make a safe harbor before dark. With this thought in mind it would be best to make a run to Gore Bay and the marina where we know we will be tied to a secure dock.

This was in the park next to the marina.  These chairs seem to be a big hit all over Canada.

This is the view of the marina and the beautiful views.


Turns out that Gore Bay offered a nice town run dock complete with good Wi-Fi. As luck would have it we met another Looper in Gore Bay that also decided not to stay in the Benjamins and made the run to Gore Bay.  Problem was he waited too long and had a very rough ride to the point where his wife was very sea sick!  We would end up staying 2 days here waiting for the winds to die down to make our next leg to Meldrum Bay.



August 24, 2018

Oh what an early start for us, up and at em, with a 7:26 AM departure from Gore Bay. Weather was overcast but no wind so the North Channel was nice and calm this morning. It's been our past experience that sea conditions, are for the most part, more favorable in the early daylight hours as opposed to afternoon. This was the case this morning. Once away from the dock we are able to get Zoey's Adventure up to her comfortable and economical 16 knot cruising speed. Two hours later, after a nice flat ride, we are making our approach in to the next navigable port, Meldrum Bay. Plan was to get tied up and have breakfast on shore. Oh well , there are only two places to eat. The Meldrum Bay Inn, a B&B, that is not open to non guest except for dinner and the other little place next-door doesn't open until noon and the little store/post-office only had frozen breakfast sandwiches. Back to the boat for a hot home-cooked breakfast. Never ceases to amaze me what Lou Ann can come up with from that galley, the best ham and egg sandwich! Plan was to spend one night here and the next day make the run to Drummond Island and the good old USA.

Fish eye view of Meldrum Bay Marina.  Not sure what happened with the camera.














Seeing as we still had some Canadian currency we would enjoy dinner at the Meldrum Bay Inn. Reservations for 6:30 pm and we were one of only three other couples in the dining room.  It was too cool to eat on the porch with the humming birds. At dinner there was another boater couple we chatted with and shared with them what we heard and knew about the Bear incident on Heywood Island, an area they where headed towards. Another couple at the table next to us overheard our bear conversation and asked more about it. Turns out this couple was on vacation for a week at the B&B and was very interested in our boat and our journey. We ended up talking with them and sharing our boating adventure. This would be our last night in Canada before returning to the USA. We entered  Kingston, Ontario, Canada on June 25, 2018 and tomorrow it will be August 25, 2018. 60 days in Canada and must say the time has just slipped by so quickly. We traveled the Trent-Severn Waterway, cruised Georgian Bay and although did not see and experience, North Channel like we wanted to it's been one helluva trip so far!

One last thought mostly for our boating friends,we have traveled almost 1400 miles... we never damaged a prop, gently touched bottom 3 time and have not had one mechanical issue .... I am sure I will eat those word soon. It's a boat and made to break !