North Channel Baie Fine 8-25-10

We traveled 15 miles down Lansdowne Channel towards Frazer Bay to enter Baie Fine, located between Frazer and McGregor Points. This is a spectacular fjord area that narrows 9 miles further down and forms the famous Pool anchorage.

We took our time marveling at the splendor of nature that I wish my camera could capture. We rounded the last set of rocks and were surprised to see only 4 other boats anchored. We could have found the 118 foot Evinrude Motor family yacht tied to their private island right here in the Pool. The Pool is probably the #1 pristine anchorage that everyone wants to see on their vacation and we lucked out as we are here in late August. The very grassy bottom provides challenges to get a good anchor set, but we set well, or so we thought.

This area borders Killarney Provincial Park and so has those hiking trails that we love so much. We hiked up to Threenarrow Lake, a poor steplake to the magnificent Topaz Lake. You know the hushed awe that you feel when you are in the presence of majesty—Topaz Lake casts that type of spell on you. The mood continued with a calm night with a full moon and countless stars.

We had planned to spend a second day here but with 20 knots of wind forecast and our boat neighbors hauling up tons of anchor grass enough for a whole herd of cows, we decided that we should move to another Baie Fine anchorage at Mary Ann Cove for more protection. It is located 2 miles from the entrance of Baie Fine, tucked behind another private island, looks seemingly small but by 7pm, was able to host 8 boats, most tied to shore. We got here early so are floating on the hook and spent the afternoon hiking up Frazer Bay Hill (Casson’s Peak) to get a panoramic view of Frazer Bay, Baie Fine, McGregor Bay and even Manitoulin Island.

It has been amazing to watch all the different anchoring techniques in a very small confined areas, and we are definitely taking notes. Some bow anchors of sailboats, tied with a stern line to trees, dragged at night, and other boaters alerted them and helped reset. That's what I love about boating. Wherever boaters are, a community develops to share stories, recommendations, tips and assistance.

We're headed to Little Current to reprovision and check out the nautical hub of the North Channel.

North Channel Covered Portage Cove 8-23-10

We have traveled 215 miles from Penetanguishene since 7/29 on our first cruise of Georgian Bay, sampled a few beautiful anchorages and towns, and started a must-see list for future trips back here. We always thought that the Bahamas were our favorite part of our Great Circle Loop, but it has slipped to #2 now, and we still have the North Channel of Lake Huron to do. We’re finding that we prefer pines to palms; cool shady wilderness hikes to beach walks for a cruising area—that’s just us.

The North Channel is formed by the long protective arm of Manitoulin Island and the Ontario mainland at the northern extremity of Lake Huron. It is about 100 miles in length and as wide as 20 miles across. That may describe it geographically, but for many it is a cruising paradise of stunning scenery, hundreds of quiet anchorages and historic towns stretching from Killarney to Sault Ste. Marie on the north shore, and Little Current to DeTour Village on the south shore.

We left Killarney for a short 3 mile trip to Covered Portage Cove. You sneak into it through a keyhole opening by the Indian Head rock and are greeted by a shimmering pool of green water surrounded by towering bluffs of pine and white highlighted quartzite. The best part is that you can hike up the north side and get a picture of your boat floating freely, and then forge your own rock trail on top of the bluffs. Some boaters prefer to be one with the rocks and so throw out a stern anchor and tie their bow to shore.

We are indebted to the snowmobile and ATV clubs for maintaining the Portage and Summit trail on the south side—they even put in a 250 yard boardwalk leading to a deck overlooking Killarney Bay. We have enjoyed meeting sailboaters who come here every season and describe not only great sailing and scenery but a North Channel state of mind. We already feel it working its magic on us.

But beware, there is something lurking on the bottom of Covered Portage Cove amidst all this beauty. Whatever it is wrestled Bob in the lake and devoured his Crocs when we were trying to get into our dinghy. Was it just a hole of quick mud or is there something more ominous down there?