On Our Way At Last

Anchored in Kilcoursie Bay, Killbear Provincial Park

On Monday afternoon at about 4:30, we set anchor at Hope Island, a 4 ½ hour sail from Penetang and yes, amazingly, we were able to actually turn the motor off and sail for most of the way.  Also, it was sunny and warm, which after our July weather seemed like a gift.  This was the first leg of a cruise which will take us up the east side of Georgian Bay and its 30,000 islands on our way to the North Channel. The Goodyears on Sand Castle were already anchored at Hope Island, waiting to have us for dinner aboard their boat. They had just completed their own North Channel cruise and we were anxious to catch up with them, hear about their experiences this last month and get some cruising tips- so nice to visit with our good old sailing friends.

We left the following day for an anchorage at Killbear Park. The weather was exceeding fine but we were out of sorts.  We were in the throes of “starting out” fever with needless angst over small navigating questions /decisions and a general display of short temper.  It was a long and seemingly endless day – some sailing at first but then the wind died and when,  after crossing through open water we finally got into the maize of buoys and islands, we felt it took forever to weave our way toward the anchorage we’d chosen in Kilcoursie Bay. 

The rest of the our time there went as follows: We arrive to a fairly (but not awfully) crowded bay and after scoping out the best spot, we prepare to drop our anchor only to be advised by a group of sailboat partiers that “that’s not a good idea”. “Not enough swing room, “ they say – which raises our shackles since, after considerable anchoring experience, Bob is likely better prepared than they to estimate swing room. Still, neither arguing with them nor ignoring their directive seem a good idea, so we relocate – now behind a power boat filled with carousing children and beside  a swimming area – so a general background noise of screeching kids (having fun) and in our current curmudgeon-like mood - we are not amused. At the moment, our choice of destinations is in question.

After dinner,  we sit flipping through charts, scanning Karen’s notes on anchorages and routes and trying to sort out the information in our Georgian Bay Ports book.  After much page flipping and then more of the same, I suggest that we stay another night to decompress and give ourselves a shake. The following day, we move the boat to a parks anchorage delineated by buoys and forbidding personal watercraft and small fast boats from zipping through. For an $11 seniors fee (on an honor system), we can anchor here in 44 feet of water with lots of room to swing and have use of park facilities and garbage disposal.  We settle down to study charts, decide on a route and choose possible anchorages. Once done, we adjourn to enjoy the day. We swim off the boat and dinghy over to the Killbear marina where we buy a loaf of bread at the store, lunch at the restaurant and Bob tops up the dinghy gas tank.  In the evening, we dinghy around the large bay, noting several  volleyball nets and marked off   children's swimming areas placed at intervals along the sandy beach that rings the bay. This is a great place for visiting families and for those who are camped in Killbear Park. For a while we walk the beach and then we ride the dinghy out to the hill of rock at Killbear Point where there are groups of people gathered and looking out toward the water. When we turn to look back, we realize that they have come to watch the setting sun behind us.  We feel lucky to be sharing the view.

 Yesterday we traveled further along the small craft route and turned off to anchor at a spot surrounded by treed small islands where the water was warm and the swimming was lovely.  

When we left Eureka Point this morning, our route to Byng Inlet was a test of nerves.  In several places there were sharp zigs and zags around marker buoys sitting in a watery field of rocks and there was no sitting back to read when it was our turn off the helm.  It felt better to have four eyes watching and comparing buoy numbers with those on our paper charts so that there was no possibility of mistaking where the safe water was. The route was also very scenic – so that along the way I thought – this is so beautiful and also – I don’t think I’d care to do this again.

This afternoon, instead of anchoring, we decided that we’re ready to walk on land. We’re in Byng Inlet in a small marina. We’ve anchored every night since we left Monday:  to stay at this bare bones marina seems so decadent and tonight, instead of cooking, we’re going to the restaurant over the grocery store for a pickerel dinner.