This basin was recommended by folks at Parry Sound so we expected to have an uneventful overnight. Story in pictures below.
First marker out of Parry Sound Muni.
Sail boat encountered along the way.
Going toward Georgian Bay.
Red Rock Light with Georgain Bay beyond. It is about 50 miles from there to the Bruce Penninsula. Total trip about 80 miles.
We are in the Wingfield Basin. The entrance is via a narrow channel and then thru a narrow cut in the rock and once inside you are in a pretty body of water. There are a set of range lights to guide you to and thru the cut, it is that narrow, but look what we found. The place was was beautiful but absolutely crowded. We found a place to anchor so we went thru the process. Not holding, drifting back. Try again. Not holding drifting back. One more try. Same thing. About then I remembered what Einstein was reported to have said about insanity. He defined it as trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
The bottom is grass, weeds and mud. More about that later. The problem we had was the boat was equipped with the wrong type anchor for this kind of a bottom. When we get back, I will replace the "plow type anchor" with a "Manson supreme," a very popular all around good anchor. Thie Manson is made in New Zealand.
Here is a wreck, one that has obviously been here in Wingfield for a real long time. A note about these waters, they are crystal clear, full of submerged wrecks, many dating back from the early 1800's This is an extremely popular diving area. Both amateur and professional.
Next issue. What we found out later, was that we were in the middle of a sailboat regatta. When we decided to take our leave, we could not get into the cut and the narrow channel leading to it because there was an endless string of boats arriving. Finally after about 20 boats, the way was clear for us to depart.
Now about the mud and grass. This what was left on the anchor after about 15 miles of 4 foot seas, each wave splashing past the anchor, taking a dose of mud and some grass from it and distributing it all over the boat.
Mud on the hatches and deck.
Mud on the windshied and the isenglass. We left this mess on the boat for a couple of days. Each passer by stopped at our boat and their question always was "how in the world did you do that? Did you turn the boat upside down and drag it thru a wet muddy field?" It was fun to tell the story.
This was the sign that greeted us in the Little Tub Marina. Even better, our friends, Ron and Sally aboard the Summer Star also happened to be there and heard us on the radio arranging for a dock. Them being there when we were was a pure concidence. They had a speghetti dinner prepared for us on their boat. What a treat after such a long day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiPeninsulaki/Bruce_
Next day, they were on their way out, making their way back to their home in Sandusky, Ohio.
A 50 foot (approx) Chris Craft Roamer. Steel hull built in the early 1960's. This is a classic boat. My dad had a 1960 model 36 foot Roamer Riveria, an express cruiser, like the Salt Shaker called the Iron Lady. It was a fine boat, until she was allowed to sink at the marina where she was launched for the season with certain plugs not installed. Local incompetence at its max.
And this was an endangered species. One of the lock masters back on the Trent Severn offered us a dollar for every one we could bring him. They are beautiful creatures but in sufficient numbers they can become a pain in the transom.
Here is a swim platform used as a jet ski platform.
That is the Salt Shaker at the end of the dock.
Tobermory is a historic Lake Huron/Georgian Bay seaport. If you ask any boater on any of the Great Lakes they will almost always be familiar with what and where it is. In the summer, it really bustles.
The Princess Hotel up on the hill.
The "admiral"
This is a Four Winns express cruiser. About the biggest that can be transported on a trailer with out a permit. Big truck, big trailer. experienced crew as well.
Here is a boat reverse towing a section of floating dock past our boat on his way to somewhere where it will be secured and used.
The population of Tobermory really shrinks in the winter. However they have all the things you would expect.
Tobermory (Little Tub) Harbor from a ways up the road toward the entrance.
More history.
A fishing boat in a sort of dry dock.
This fellow was out there manouvering for quite a while. It was a bit windy and he seemed to be a bit undecided about what he really wanted to do. After a period of time he motored off.
An interesting plaque.
Another interesting plaque.
Another bit of historical information.
The upper deck of the Crowsnest Pub. A great beer and a great sandwich was had here.
A view of the harbor from the upper deck of the pub.
After loading up on many liters of Canadian gas, we motor out past a commercial fishing boat.
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