Friday, August 3, 2012

We departed Little Current City Marina at 9:30 this morning when the wind calmed down.  We’re continuing Northwest in the North Channel.  As soon as we were underway, I started spaghetti sauce with sausage for dinner this evening which simmered all day in the little crock pot.  This $9 item from Wal-Mart has been great.  I’ve made spaghetti sauce, pot roast, and barbecued pork in it as we’ve been traveling.  It’s small and I set it in one of the sink bowls and it fits perfectly and doesn’t spill or slide.

Last night’s Blue Moon was stunning and today’s sky was a combination of turquoise and azure – simply majestic.  The water now is sort of brackish in color but still very clear and colder than it’s been anywhere else.  The morning temperatures have been in the low to mid 60s.  The summer season will be over in less than a month, we are told.

Our course today took us through remote areas of rocky crags and myriad rocky islands with no cottages at al -- quite different from Georgian Bay.  We passed many beautiful anchorages such as The Benjamins – North and South, Fox Island and Hotham Island.   We proceeded through McBean Channel which runs from the eastern end of Fox Island 7 nautical miles to a narrow twisted passage called Little Detroit.  McBean Channel is part off the Sagamok Ahishnawbek First Nation and the native band asks visitors to respect the water and the land, and also considers visitors trespassers.

The eastern entrance to Whalesback Channel is through Little Detroit, a narrow twisty  passage  that requires a  Securite’ call to all boaters in the immediate vicinity, advising the direction you’re heading, the size of your craft, and your estimated time of arrival going through, such as “in four minutes,” as two boats cannot see each other from either end and could not safely pass here. 

From years of logging in the area, Little Detroit is known to be a spot with dead heads (sunken logs that can be stirred up from the bottom and pop up randomly in your pathway), so caution of your speed is advised.

We cruised along Whalesback Channel which is comprised of large and small islets that resemble a skeletal whale’s back.  Late afternoon we arrived at our destination, Beardrop Harbour.   This beautiful  big harbour is formed by two large islands facing the mainland. If you dinghy ashore you will have a spectacular view of the Whalesback Channel.  We did not go ashore, but many others did. This beautiful anchorage was recommended by Bob Olsen on Baby Grand, who we met at Parry Sound.  The sunset was nothing short of awesome!  Thank you, Bob!

North Channel between Little Current and Beardrop Harbour

Beautiful anchorages on the North Channel

McBean Channel section of the North Channel

Little Detroit a hazardous passage from McBean to Whalesback Channel

Entering Whalesback Channel from Little Detroit

Whalesback Channel section of the North Channel

Enterin Beardrop Harbour which is located to two sections of land facing the mainland

Beardrop Harbour -- a large beautiful anchorage

Tonight's back yard