Tuesday, the winds are once again 15 to 20 knots. and we are still riding comfortably. It pays to pick your anchorage. We then hear a sailboat calling for help to get them off the rocks in the east end of the East West Channel of McGregor Bay. Monday was a civic holiday and they had been on the rocks all night because the boatyards were not open. Afterwards they said they didn't declare an emergency as they were riding as comfortably as you can on a reef and they weren't in any danger (see August 30 discussion).

After breakfast and the Cruisers Net, we head over to the east end -- purportedly to pick up our anchor marker but really to see what is going on. The sailboat on the rocks is a Catalina Morgan 440, Coop Sloop out of Marionette, Wisconsin. They are between our milk jug to the starboard and Mel’s (from Class Act) marker on the port side and tell us that a moment of inattention is all it took to miss the markers and go on the reef. We retrieve our line but leave the jug marking the rock using one of their lines. The Marina work boats and a diver return in the afternoon and were able to get her off the rocks with some damage to the wing keel, prop, rudder and ego. They tie to shore for the night and leave the next morning for a lift out at Harbor Vue.

We head back to Toucan to rest, to have lunch, and to prepare for Happy Hour on Toucan. That night, the Captain and crew from Invictus, Manitou and Gunkholer join us for cocktails, 10 people in the cockpit with little or no crowding. It is windy, gusts to 30 knots, but we are still riding comfortably in the lee and there is no rain.

We have not been sailing for a week; time to leave. As we motor out (it takes a couple of hours to get out of McGregor), we go by six loons to our starboard -- they don't mind us but they are beautiful. Past McGregor Point, we unfurl the jib -- enough sail for today, as it is only 8 to 9 miles to Snug Harbour and we want to prolong the sail. Winds are up to 22 knots from the west and we average 6 to 7 knots on a beam reach across the bottom of Frazer Bay heading for the Landsdowne Channel. Day has the helm and is really enjoying it -- no autopilot today. She hands the helm over to Craig as we head downwind through the Landsdowne to Snug Harbour. We furl the jib and head through Snug Harbour’s tricky entrance (shallow on both sides) and plop the anchor down where we anchored last year. After lunch we dinghy ashore and hike, with Manitou, over to Frazer Bay. The wind is still blowing 15 to 20 knots and the waves are crashing upon the shore. We have supper on Manitou and make our plans to head to the Bustards or Bad River tomorrow.

We weigh anchor and head into Killarney to pump out, fill a water tank and top off the gasoline. Manitou stops at the Sportman´s Inn and we head to Killarney Mountain Lodge, one of our favorite stops. After hearing the wind report for the next week or so -- 15 to 20 knots from the west and northwest -- Jim and Ann decide to put off visiting further down Georgian Bay and opt for Thomas Bay but as we near Thomas Bay, Craig and Day decide the waves make the entrance to Thomas Bay a little dicey and suggest we go to Collins Inlet. Jim and Ann decide to head back to Killarney and we go to Collins Inlet (no docks for us -- $). We will try Thomas Bay tomorrow. We set our anchor in 9 feet of water. Snow Eagle joins us but no other boats. The wind dies at dusk.

When we get up, it is sunny and warm for a change and there is some wind from the west; it could be a good day for a sail. We had said that we would help Manitou get into Thomas Bay so we head over by dinghy to Thomas Bay to see what it is like. Seeing 5-6 boats with another boat heading in but with calm water, we call Manitou and let them know what the situation is. They have already left the dock and are on their way. We speed back to Toucan, weigh anchor and, to save time, head out the anchorage´s west entrance -- a first for us, watching very carefully for rocks and shallow areas. We meet Manitou and lead them into Thomas Bay without incident but decide not to stay. It’s too pretty a day to remain at anchor and there are already 4 sailboats at anchor and one powerboat, still trying to anchor in the bay, and more on the way.

After saying hi to Cygnus, a Catalina 400, we met in 2007, we head on out. However, the trip out is not as calm as the trip in. At one point Craig had to stop Toucan for a "discussion" with Day. She is looking at an underwater rock that is only 3 or 4 boat lengths away and Craig is heading straight for it. He finally convinces her that he is really going to turn before he hits that rock. He turns just before hitting the rock. Then as we reach the narrowest part between 2 sets of rocks, another sailboat heading into Thomas Bay does not wait and squeezes between us and the rocks right next to us.

We head southwest from Thomas Bay to pass Georges Island to our starboard but are not quite able to sail. Finally, the wind veers to the south, we set the sails and enjoy a beautiful sail -- until the wind dies and boat speed decreases to 0.0, the speed over ground is 0.5 -- backwards!. We use the Iron Genny and continue on to Browning Cove. As we round the tip of the island, the wind picks up once more, but we are done for the day and head into the anchorage and anchor among 11 other sailboats and 6 power boats. Later Fairy Tale comes in and heads to the east anchorage. We dinghy over to say hello.

A cold, (10-11 degrees C.) gray morning with no rain but lots of clouds and light winds from the east. The wind builds with white caps north of Heywood and it starts to mist. We discuss leaving but neither of us would make the decision to go so we stay. All the powerboats leave and the three sailboats stay. We spend most of the day down below and work on the web site info. That evening, Quintessence comes in and anchors in the east anchorage. We head over with a bottle of wine.

We wake up to more clouds, pouring rain and east winds. Rain finally stops but it is still dreary so we decide to head west to Picnic Cove. Before we leave, Karel (Quintessence) drops by to borrow some garlic and get information on Picnic Cove; they plan on joining us there. Heading out, we figure we could make the 13:00 bridge but once underway, Craig thinks we could make the noon bridge if we motored a little faster and get some help from the jib. We get there at about 12:02 and the bridge is thankfully opening for a boat heading east -- the bridge does not open if no one is there.

Passing through Little Current we head into Picnic Cove. Day directs Craig over the shallowest area of the entrance to miss the powerboat anchored in mid channel. Craig had wanted to head toward the southeast shore and deeper water but gave in to Day -- he should not have. We anchor a little further west than the last time for a little more protection from the west. After Quintessence arrives, we both dinghy over to Spider Bay, climb into the Saab (with the top down, it was sunny for a change) and head into town for a visit to the grocery store for a few essentials and the LCBO for the more important stuff. Mila really enjoys the convertible ride -- her first ever. Before heading back to Spider Bay we stop by a gallery with work from local First Nation artisans -- wonderful quill boxes, paintings, jewelry, moccasins, fur hats and lots of other items. We also see Jim, Ann and Jillian from Manitou as plan to start their journey back to Milwaukee tomorrow.

We stay in Eaton Bay (a.k.a. Picnic Cove) for another day but spend most of the day in Little Current replenishing provisions and beverages, and on the Internet trying to download the files needed to send email via our Ham Radio. We have breakfast at Anchor Inn before heading up for the Cruisers Net. When returning to Toucan in the afternoon we meet the two square rigged ships -- Pathfinder and Play Fair -- from Toronto sailing into Little Current. They are quite a sight. A couple of kids climb the rat lines to furl the sails; it looks so easy. These ships sail the summer in the Great Lakes with different groups of teenagers sailing for 2 to 3 weeks. We also talk with Doux Amer who anchors frequently in Picnic Cove.

In the morning, Potest Fiere, a power boat, exits carefully through the west entrance to Picnic Cove. Craig agrees it can be done but decides we will leave Picnic Cove through the east entrance. Since there is little to no wind, we motor and motor -- finally deciding to head for South Benjamin Harbour at the south end of South Benjamin Island. We go south of Rous Islands and then head north on the east side of Clapperton Island. There are seven boats already in the harbor so we anchor a little more out in the open than preferred and in a light rain. There generally is more wave action further out but it is not uncomfortable and we have a better view of Clelia as she steamed by. Toucan just made it past 8,000 miles on our log in the 10 years we have been sailing her.

After a couple of sailboats leave, we move further north into the anchorage. Even in little or no wind it can get bumpy further out in the mouth of the anchorage due to passing power boats wakes. We then put the kayaks into the water and kayak around the south end through the boats tucked away in hidey holes among the rocks. They inch their way in then create spider webs of lines to the rocks and stay for a week or so. There are 5 sailboats and about 4 power boats in various spots with a couple more power boats trying to get in but there is no room at the inn. After stopping for lunch on a rock, we continue on north to the Bay of Benjamins where there are 20-30 boats anchored. We spend some time talking with Class Act and then head back home. Hearing that there are lots of blueberries on shore, we head over and harvest a couple of pints for muffins and pancakes. Blueberries are very late this year.

One of the sailboats in the harbor, Triumph, takes seven Chihuahuas to shore. It is fun watching them scamper on the rocks. Other watched activities include a couple of kids from a charter boat camping on shore, a young boy from Azure Mer canoeing over to Triumph, 2 young kids paddling all over the anchorage and finally a sailboat anchoring too close between us and shore, going for a swim and walking ashore before they leave for parts unknown. It is tiring watching all of this activity.

What a beautiful day. Craig put up the asymmetrical spinnaker (Day is supposed to let him do it all -- that doesn't happen) but it is only up a short time before the wind dies and down it comes. We are thinking about heading for Eagle under motor when the wind picks up and we decide to sail wherever the wind takes us. Another sailboat is sailing further south but we figure it is faster jibing downwind under spinnaker as we head for the east entrance to John Island. This entrance has good water all the way through but you have to find your way through the rocks -- a navigational challenge. We make it through without incident and anchor in the north anchorage near the west end. The sailboat that went south came in at least an hour after us, but who’s racing?

A lazy day, relaxing and reading. After the rain ends around lunch time, Craig goes trolling to see if he could catch supper. Day drowns a worm at the boat. Neither caught anything.

We plan on staying at least one more night in John but we hear EZ Baby, Kahlua III, Class Act and Fairy Tale on the radio sailing to Turnbull Island and decide to get in the dinghy and head into the Whalesback Channel to take pictures as they sail by. Class Act and Fairy Tale convince us to head to Turnbull and join everyone for Happy Hour. After surviving the wake of a power boat roaring by in the narrow channel, (Craig did a good job of preventing a swamping) we head back to Toucan, weigh anchor and sail for the Turnbull Island anchorage. On the way we see a beautiful Bald Eagle swoop down and steal a fish from the mouths of a couple of sea gulls, interesting.

There are a lot of boats in the north anchorage of Turnbull (primarily from the North Channel Yacht Club) but still plenty of room. The last time we were here in the north anchorage of Turnbull was back in 1987 when we came up with Corey in Rascal when a cruiser played Taps at sundown. We find out that evening the Bud on EZ Baby was known to do that back then. We have to check our logs. Day even went for a swim spending 15 minutes in the water -- a first for her this year.

Fairy Tale and Class Act organize a dinghy trip to the south anchorage and beyond to visit a Bald Eagle nest which has a juvenile. The nest is huge and the baby is large and seems lonely. The parents are nowhere to be seen and he spends a lot of time chirping and never left his perch. We also find another area to anchor if we feel adventurous. Class Act returns to their boat and Fairy Tale leads us to the sand beaches of Clara Island and another well protected anchorage. We do spend some time hiking to the west shore and just talking.

We are up early and soon on our way east in 7 knot west southwest winds sailing the entire way under main alone (We reached a max boat speed of 5.81 knots in winds of up to 24.8 knots). As we pass John Island, 4 other sailboats from Beardrop Harbour join us heading east. Then Quintessence comes out of John and joins the flotilla for wonderful sail east. We had planned to follow another sailboat through Little Detroit but since we are under sail, she wants us to lead the way. The Little Detroit passage is very narrow and requires that you follow a couple of ranges to miss the rocks on both sides and Day is nervous. As we sail through but Day makes Craig start the motor as a backup (He lets Day have her way but leaves the engine in neutral). . There is a parade of 6 sailboats behind us -- all but Quintessence furl their sails. As this is a one boat at a time passage, a small powerboat on the east side has to wait for all of us to get through. When a 50 foot powerboat announces the she is coming through, the small powerboat gives up and rushes through west just ahead of the big boat heading east. We could have sailed into Oak Bay but the wind is increasing and we would have to jibe to make all of the corners -- been there done that before. Probably would have been good practice though. That evening, Quintessence joins us for wine and a fun visit.

After motoring out of Oak Bay, we unfurl the jib and sail east through the McBean Channel on another broad reach and lead Into the Mystic and three other sailboats down the channel. A good wind brings out all of the sailboats. We continue on to the Waubuno Channel. No jibing, but the wind follows us around the islands and is very gusty giving Day a workout trimming. Finally, furling the jib just off Picnic Island and heading for the docks at Little Current, we encounter a very heavy current from the east with a very heavy west wind. Craig does a decent job of docking even with the 2 boats in the west slips telling him that he is going too slow with the heavy wind and current. As a result he turns to fast but the entire slip is empty and the dock boys are up to it.

After taking much needed showers, Day makes a dish to pass; Craig mixes drinks; then we leave for the Roy and Margaret Eaton hosted 5,000 "Call-In" Cruisers Net party at the pavilion. Roy fried 15 lb. of whitefish (the fish was superb) for the captains and crews from the 54 boats in attendance. After dinner, musical entertainment was provided by Sheet Music. They are originally from NorthPoint Marina where we used to keep Toucan. We stop by the new Little Current Yacht Club clubhouse on our way back to Toucan.

We have another breakfast at the Anchor Inn then head upstairs to the Cruisers Net broadcast. After the Cruisers Net, Craig talks with Katie and Elizabeth; a couple of 20 year olds who are doing the Great Loop in a 16 food open Duroboat. Really! On June 4, in their 16 foot open boat, they left Chicago, headed south down the Tennessee-Tombigbee, down the Mississippi, east to Florida, up the ICW, to the Erie Canal, up the Trent-Severn waterway to Georgian Bay and on to the North Channel arriving in Little Current on August 19. They have to be back in Chicago by the end of August and thought they would be in Mackinaw by now. However, because of the heavy winds and the 3 to 6 foot waves we´ve had lately, they couldn´t make it and are looking for a ride to Espanola so that they could catch a bus to Sault Ste. Marie and meet a friend who would take them to a wedding in Green Bay. Since we are heading to Espanola to do laundry (larger washers than Little Current) and some shopping, we offer to give them a lift. Day heads to Toucan to get the laundry ready, Craig heads to Spider Bay to get the Saab and the girls go to check on the Greyhound bus schedule and secure their boat for the 4 days they will be gone. Jib Turner offers to store their boat in his yard while they are gone and they find that the next bus leaves the Greyhound station at 11:45. Elizabeth hurries over to Toucan and asks if we can make Espanola before the next bus leaves. We´ll try. We send her back to their boat to pack, we load the Saab, pick them up and head for Espanola at faster than our normal leisurely pace. With Craig´s prodding to hurry up, we beat the 11:00 bridge opening (Craig is afraid that we will have a 15 minute wait for those #@#!! sailboats to get through the bridge). We actually beat it by 25 minutes -- he was looking at the Saab's clock which had stopped when he disconnected the battery. Hearing about their travels during the trip to Espanola is interesting. More information can be found on their blog at http://www.duroboat.com/SmallBoatBigSumme.htm. We make it to Espanola but can´t find the Greyhound stop. Day goes into the OPP office and asks for directions (it’s a female thing and it was 11:15). The OPP said, "Across the street at Twiggy´s Restaurant." How´s that for stopping in the right place? The Day goes with the girls to get their tickets and sees a sign that says that the bus leaves 11:45 p.m. not a.m. With the long wait they decide to do their laundry with us. Craig drops the girls and Day off, does his shopping and brings Day a Subway sandwich -- our first fast food all summer. While Day is finishing folding the laundry, Craig drives the girls to the local library (located in the Recreation Center with a swimming pool) where they can wait until their bus leaves. After further shopping we head back to Toucan and visit with Gregg and Linda from Crescendo. We watch Pathfinder (a square rigger with young sailors on board) leave the dock and, with a minimal amount of maneuvering, come back for 2 kids who were left on the dock. It is amazing to see how the 2 kids climb the fenders and rat lines onto the boat.

We plan to leave on Friday but it is another day of heavy winds and strong current. We finally decide to continue on with shore activities and go to Harbor Vue to discuss Toucan's winter storage. Irv is still parked where we left him but another Catalina 380 is parked next to him to keep him company. By this time it is 14:30 and there is a Cruisers Net Happy Hour at the Anchor Inn with free appetizers at 15:00. (This is not why we stayed.) It is a fun "party" with great food and we meet many new cruisers as well as others we have met in prior years. We meet Sea Ya, a friend of Madison and Marlene of Joy @ Sea (who we met in Kansas City just after we were married). We are glad we stayed -- especially since it starts pouring during Happy Hour. We just had to stop by the Ice Cream place for dessert.

There is still a current in Little Current but it is manageable and we make it away from the dock without help from the dock boys. We head to Wallys to relieve the holding tank and top off the diesel and gas. Since there is room on the wall, we tie up after finishing up at Wallys and head to the Cruisers Net broadcast, have breakfast and get the Saturday paper to see what is going on in the world. We motor sail out of Little Current to the Waubuno Channel, get the jib up and sail north to the McBean Channel and points west. No one is in Gibson Cove -- an anchorage we like but with the predicted east winds we continue on to Oak Bay where Fairy Tale invites us to join them in the far east end. Since we have never been this far east in Oak Bay and the GPS is not all that accurate here, and there are a lot of shallow rocks, we really take our time. Finally, reaching the anchorage, Fairy Tale guides us in. (Craig hits a dead head on the way in.) We anchor in 7 feet of water and are one of three boats in a small, quiet, well protected anchorage. We go over the Fairy Tale for Happy Hour along with Cakaro, the other boat in the anchorage. Cakaro is a power catamaran but they had a Morgan 381 sailboat (the predecessor to the Catalina 380) before this boat.

This is a peaceful quiet anchorage with wonderful neighbors and even some fish down under the boat. We enjoy cocktails on all of the boats in the anchorage on different nights. With Fairy Tale, we dinghy to Perch Bay and head into Perch Lake until the lily pads and reeds stop us; we also explore Leroy Cove and South Hotham anchorages and learn there were lots of water snakes in South Hotham 20-30 years ago. We paddle the kayaks around, looking at big rocks which could hurt Toucan, explored "Whip-Poor-Will" Bay and reconnoiter the Oak Bay East Exit checking out the milk-jugged rocks. We decide that we could make it out heading either north or south of the HUGE rock shoal which is about a foot under water.

Mount McBean lures us back once again this year. With Fairy Tale, we dinghy to McBean Harbor, beach the dinghy next to the docks, check with one of the First Nation to see whether there is any problem hiking to the top on their land then head to the top. We head east until reaching the first "road" to the left, an overgrown path with a gate preventing vehicles from passing, then north past a trailer with 3 barking dogs, well controlled by the man living in the trailer. After a mile or so, we come to a stone arrow pointing the way to the top. There are orange streamers tied to trees to mark the way, kind of. It takes us 15-30 minutes to find where the path goes through a narrow passage. After we find it, we have to find Day. She was positive that we didn't go that way last year and headed off by herself -- her navigation really needs help. We stop on a rock near the top for lunch and a much needed respite. We stop just before a fork in the path; the right fork goes through the woods with a more gradual rise; the left fork goes straight up the rocks and there is a difference of opinion on which way to go. Ted and Day opt for the left fork and arrive before Craig and Venetia make it via the right fork but who’s racing. (Their excuse was Venetia found a few blueberries and they stopped to pick them.). We finally reach the top and view the North Channel in all its glory. We can see the cruise ship docked in Little Current and many boats sailing. Cell coverage is great so Day calls Mother, Corey and the bank. While Day talks, the rest head farther up the mountain and coming back tell Day it wasn't worth the hike. As we slowly head down -- using our natural padding (butts) -- Day sees her first snake, black with long gold stripes. The snake stops and then side-winded rapidly away thus avoiding a picture. We left the boats at 11:30 and returned at 18:00 and skip Happy Hour to retire early.

The next day we are the only boat in the anchorage. Cakaro heads to Spider Bay to pick up the Admiral and Fairy Tale heads to Kagawong to visit a friend. We head out in the dinghy to chart the deadhead in the entrance and the three shallow rocks on our path east out of Oak Bay. After Day marks the rocks on the handheld GPS, we fish for supper. Craig loses a large bass and Day catches the first fish -- a 2" Goby. She then catches a crawdad and a CLAM (the hook was inside the shell). Back to Toucan, Day decides to drown a worm and loses a decent sized bass and then catches a small bass. Then a huge bass grabs her hook and runs, taking the worm, hook, line and sinker. She then hooks another huge bass but Craig is now giving some welcome advice. After Day plays him for 15 to 20 minutes, Craig nets him. Day has caught a 2 1/2 to 3 pound bass. We now have 2 meals.

With our limit of bass on board, we decide to hunt, explore and see who is around. No one is in the West or South Hotham anchorages and we don't want to head upwind (the temperature is in the mid teens) so Craig heads into the lee of the islands and heads back towards Toucan. On our way back, who do we see but Invictus in Leroy Cove. We head over to say Hi and stay for tea and scones. During the visit we learn that they call our anchorage Twister Cove. A twister came through in '97 when they had their Gozzard -- no damage but 99 knot winds. Cakaro has returned by then so we go over to meet Judy and Karen and enjoy another Happy Hour. On Saturday we head over to Cakaro to help Karen celebrate her birthday and we spend a wonderful evening.

Day wakes up feeling the after effects of the birthday party -- we had enjoyed BBQ ribs and too much good wine. Finally some sunshine, we follow Cakaro out of the anchorage and pass those nasty rocks. We could see the one foot rock but could not see the more dangerous rock 5 feet under the surface. We have no problem exiting east but do reach 7 foot depths at the narrowest part. The rest is smooth sailing. After getting out of the rocks and Oak Bay, we set the jib and head east passing Appledore V, a 65 foot schooner heading west. The wind is from the west and we enjoy a fast beam reach through the McBean Channel. We reach a max speed of 7.23 knots under jib only. Supposedly the max wind was 35.9 knots (Craig doesn't believe this). It is windy but that wind speed does sound excessive. We then turn south down the Waubuno Channel and jibe downwind. Rous Islands has only one boat anchored when we arrive. Fairy Tale arrives later and invites us over for Happy Hour.

While being happy with Fairy Tale, we start following a security call from a sailboat whose engine wouldn't start near the Clapperton passage and is asking for assistance from any boat in the area. The Thunder Bay Coast Guard radio gets involved and arranges a tow at 18:30 at an island near Little Current (based on her projected time of arrival). Since there is a brisk breeze, they arrived at 17:55, 35 minutes early and guess what -- there was no tow boat around. Later they told the Coast Guard radio that they were a sailboat and "couldn't slow down" and the tow boat should have been there 35 minutes early. When the tow boat arrives on time in Picnic Cove they're told, "Thanks but no thanks. You didn't show up to help us when we arrived at 18:00". The much more extensive radio transmissions provided entertainment at Happy Hour but left a sour taste -- no wonder boaters get a bad name.

We get up at sunrise to motor into Little Current for the last Cruisers Net broadcast of the year. After the broadcast, wonder of wonders, Craig decides that we need to plan ahead so we drive to Harbor Vue to schedule Toucan for haul out on September 15 -- unless we change our minds. We then pick up some essentials (bread, eggs, milk, etc.) and RUM, fill the water tanks, check email and finally head east to catch the 13:00 bridge. The autopilot stops working for awhile so we have to steer. It is terrible but Day(!) fixes it and we sail on to the entrance of Baie Fine. (Day is a chicken and won't let Craig sail in to Marianne Cove). It would have been a perfect day to do so but Craig gave in (he'll never let her forget it). There are only 3 other boats there when we arrive but 3 others show up later. Quintessence is there and, of course, critiques our anchoring technique. Craig had told Day to drop the hook in the middle of their kayaks right next to their stern (really off to the side but halfway between the kayak's bow and stern); it worked. We then join them for wine.