We continue to slowpoke along Georgian Bay and today took a 20 mile cruise to Shawanaga Island. We avoided the shoals and narrows of the Canoe Channel by taking the well-marked alternate channel past the Spruce Island shoals, the Pancakes and Squaw Island and rejoined the small boat channel at Jane Island and continued to Shawanaga Inlet. Bob and I have wondered about the lack of lighthouses in Georgian Bay, but today were greeted by the Snug Harbour Light. This area seems to have more light markers and this one was occupied by an osprey.
We were anchored with sailboaters last night, and when I saw them leave this morning to take advantage of the 15-18 south winds on open Georgian Bay, I had serious thoughts about going back to sailing. I can still feel it in my bones but realized when the open water forecast changed to 4 foot seas and 25 knot winds that I really don’t want to be out there. We instead had a perfect powerboat day of cruising the protected beautiful waters of the small boat channel, negotiating its challenges, enjoying breath-taking scenery, all with comfortable temps and humidity, and great company.
We are the only boat anchored here in Hopewell Bay on Shawanaga Island. It is another very protected, 3 sided anchorage, does have a few cottages on shore, but there is some public land to the west. We took the dinghy there to explore for the afternoon.
We were anchored with sailboaters last night, and when I saw them leave this morning to take advantage of the 15-18 south winds on open Georgian Bay, I had serious thoughts about going back to sailing. I can still feel it in my bones but realized when the open water forecast changed to 4 foot seas and 25 knot winds that I really don’t want to be out there. We instead had a perfect powerboat day of cruising the protected beautiful waters of the small boat channel, negotiating its challenges, enjoying breath-taking scenery, all with comfortable temps and humidity, and great company.
We are the only boat anchored here in Hopewell Bay on Shawanaga Island. It is another very protected, 3 sided anchorage, does have a few cottages on shore, but there is some public land to the west. We took the dinghy there to explore for the afternoon.
We have been meeting a lot of boaters from Lake Eire who remark that their Great Lake is great (like our Lake Superior) but lacks protected anchorages and a small boat channel, noting always, “when you’re out there, you’re out there and it can get really mean fast.” Truth be told, I always slept with one ear open at anchor in the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior expecting the winds to shift and have to change anchorages at 2 am. Here I sleep really well, and we now have a Canadian low-powered anchor light—a $7.00 solar-powered garden light which really saves the main boat battery.
