Bazar’s Second Wave

Leaving Parry Sound we continued our journey through some protected waters in the small craft channel early on. Sometimes traveling inside presents its challenges. Although it really doesn't look like it below, this was a tight turn to the right without visibility around the corner for oncoming traffic.  In addition to that, a kids camp was going on and they were practicing or having a small sailboat race.   In the tight turn they placed one of their racing markers and so they would enter the turn we had to make.  I guess they think we have brakes and can sit still in the water.  Very poor choice on the part of the adult organizers and Brent was quick to remind them of such. The remaining part of our day was outside the small craft channel due to wildfires within the channel.  You can see the gray smoke amongst the clouds. Definitely a little too close for comfort at Wright's Marina in Britt.  We were literally wedged in ...

Our favorite protected waters took us to Parry Sound just about 14 miles away where we docked at Big Sound Marina. We always tend to get restaurant recommendations since we don't stay anywhere for more than 2 days - so if we go to eat we want it to be good!  Wellington's even had a courtesy car that would pick you up but we figured we needed the exercise.  The day we arrived they were having an Arts and Crafts Fair so we perused but it wasn't much. The moose is a common mascot for several radio stations as we've traveled through Canada. Wellington's for dinner! On our way back from dinner we stopped by the place where you could take Sea Plane rides to Henry's Fish Restaurant but since we just came from there we were good. The Belknap's mastered getting their dinghy, Mini Pearl, off the top of their boat so we decided to do a mini Loop around some of the islands in the Parry Sound area. The scenery a...

After all the excellent route information that we got from Robin we set off the next morning for Henry's Fish Restaurant. In the photo above you can see an inukshuk (rough stones stacked as a landmark/sign - this one resembles a person). We met some Loopers who named their boat Inukshuk (try saying that three times quickly while calling the Lock Master). As you can see below it wasn't the calmest waters as we got our first taste of the real Georgian Bay but we survived. We were happier when we were able to tuck behind some of the massive pieces of granite and get in the small craft channel for part of the way. Henry's Fish Restaurant is a come by boat or sea plane only eatery.  It is on Frying Pan Island and they are super busy for lunch and dinner.  All their food comes by boat daily such as fresh pickerel, white fish, trout and perch. Even though they are open until 9 they seat the last table at 8 because their employees have to go home by b...

Upon finishing 45 locks in the Trent Severn Waterway, we arrived in Georgian Bay and our first stop was Queen's Cove Yacht Club in Tay, ON. Thankfully we will now have a rest from locks until we start down the river system leaving Chicago. Found this picture - many little ones all following mama! At this marina we got to park under cover.  This was a first for Second Wave on this trip.  It reminded us of our lake days when we were always protected from the elements.  Tay is an extremely small town with a population of 10,000 people.  The restaurant below is called Queen's Quay British Pub.  Although we have patronized too many pubs along our journey, this was our only restaurant choice in Tay for dinner. We've enjoyed sampling all of the local beers in all of the communities that we've visited. Day is done!! Since we are not in protected waters anymore, the more local knowledge about our journey ahe...