We did not expect to be here for the third day at Big Sound Marina but here we are. Nothing wrong, no breakdowns, we’ve just found Parry Sound a great place to get boat things done as well as have some fun. We arrived here on an all day pouring rain Sunday, but my philosophy is you might as well get wet and do 4 loads of laundry. I have met some of the most interesting boaters doing this as we spend the afternoon sharing machines, coins and stories and have a take-home to show for our efforts.
We have pared down our refrigerator supplies with the purpose of doing the dreaded defrosting job—not my favorite. With 2 inches of ice on the outside of our small 7x10x12 inch freezer section inhibiting opening the darn thing as well as a funky smell in the fridge, this task has forced its way to the top of the list. Armed with a hairdryer and hot water, we attacked the arctic ice and then lobbed our refrigerator icebergs into the bay which I swear lowered the water temperature.
With everything clean, it was time to do a massive reprovision so I took the courtesy van to Soobys grocery store in Parry Sound Mall. Prices are noticeably higher here in Canada but this store has great variety and selection. I am also a fan of M&M meat store as they have frozen vacuum-sealed selections which are just perfect for restocking a freezer. Canadian Tire (like Home Depot) is also in the Mall so take the van for this also. Luckily, at the end of the day, other boaters revived me with some liquid refreshment and were taking bets on how many miles I had logged in my flip-flops today (Monday).
We have definitely earned a day of fun for Tuesday. We started with the 4 mile Rotary Fitness Trail along the bay shoreline and watched young sailboaters learning to race. There are fitness components on the trail and here’s Bob catching his breath going up the bow-shaped staircase. Follow the trail even further and it becomes the North Shore Rugged Hiking Trail which will have you leap-frogging over some amazing rocks. After lunch at Christina’s on the Bay (food ok but needs more spice), we took the other end of the trail by the railroad tracks over to the Museum on Tower Hill. This small museum is very well done, has interesting presentations on the First Peoples tale of Nanibush hitting the stone beaver which then dissolved and created the Georgian Bay islands as well as how logging, Great Lakes shipping and the meager farming here led to young Canada branching out to the west and sowing the seeds of nationhood. There is a lookout tower on Tower Hill so here’s a picture of Parry Sound from the top.
We’ll have a dinner of fresh trout tonight and attend a free Bands on the Bay outside concert at the Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts which will round out our 3 days here. Now that we’re cleaned-up, pumped-out, topped-off, tossed-out and loaded-up, we’re ready for some anchoring in Killbear Provincial Park.
We have pared down our refrigerator supplies with the purpose of doing the dreaded defrosting job—not my favorite. With 2 inches of ice on the outside of our small 7x10x12 inch freezer section inhibiting opening the darn thing as well as a funky smell in the fridge, this task has forced its way to the top of the list. Armed with a hairdryer and hot water, we attacked the arctic ice and then lobbed our refrigerator icebergs into the bay which I swear lowered the water temperature.
With everything clean, it was time to do a massive reprovision so I took the courtesy van to Soobys grocery store in Parry Sound Mall. Prices are noticeably higher here in Canada but this store has great variety and selection. I am also a fan of M&M meat store as they have frozen vacuum-sealed selections which are just perfect for restocking a freezer. Canadian Tire (like Home Depot) is also in the Mall so take the van for this also. Luckily, at the end of the day, other boaters revived me with some liquid refreshment and were taking bets on how many miles I had logged in my flip-flops today (Monday).
We have definitely earned a day of fun for Tuesday. We started with the 4 mile Rotary Fitness Trail along the bay shoreline and watched young sailboaters learning to race. There are fitness components on the trail and here’s Bob catching his breath going up the bow-shaped staircase. Follow the trail even further and it becomes the North Shore Rugged Hiking Trail which will have you leap-frogging over some amazing rocks. After lunch at Christina’s on the Bay (food ok but needs more spice), we took the other end of the trail by the railroad tracks over to the Museum on Tower Hill. This small museum is very well done, has interesting presentations on the First Peoples tale of Nanibush hitting the stone beaver which then dissolved and created the Georgian Bay islands as well as how logging, Great Lakes shipping and the meager farming here led to young Canada branching out to the west and sowing the seeds of nationhood. There is a lookout tower on Tower Hill so here’s a picture of Parry Sound from the top.
We’ll have a dinner of fresh trout tonight and attend a free Bands on the Bay outside concert at the Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts which will round out our 3 days here. Now that we’re cleaned-up, pumped-out, topped-off, tossed-out and loaded-up, we’re ready for some anchoring in Killbear Provincial Park.
