Tuesday July 12: Parting Ways at Britt and the Bad River

At Britt, we bid farewell and safe journey to Craig and Karen of Rahn de Vous. We were continuing north and they were turning back south to retrace their steps back to the Erie Canal.

We traveled together for almost a month - the longest anyone has been willing to travel with us in a LONG time!

Great fun getting to know them - we'll see them in their home cruising area in California when we visit Becky in November. Unless they move by then .....

But prior to this we had spent a couple of days at Parry Sound. Very nice town - access to just about anything needed. Great Chinese restaurant, large grocery store, Walmart and a good breakfast place.

It rained most of the second day there - which is what made our decision to stay two days. Rainy weather was due in and it's so much nicer to be in a marina when it comes through. Off and on most of the entire day.

Travel on Sunday was again following the small-craft channel through the rock islands and protected waters of the eastern shore of Georgian Bay.

Steve was so impressed with this lone pine tree that he had to snap a picture of it. Turns out this is a cell tower!! Craig knew it was just wearing a tree disguise - sure didn't know that!

When you zoom in on it though it definitely does have some oddly uniform branches as well as a cluster of not so natural looking branches at the top which completes the master disguise :-)

Karen and Peter checking out the sunset.

After 35 miles and 5 hours (and a stop for 100 gallons of fuel), we anchored for the night in what turned out to be the locals shortcut between islands!

It was still peaceful enough and the sunset was worth the wait.



Although the presence of cabins has thinned quite a bit, there are still many on the rock islands that line the channel. I loved this one that looked like it was actually made of Lincoln Logs!

Rhan de Vous coming though Hangdog Channel

Our little pack of 3 boats wound it's way through some crazy turns in Hangdog Channel.

Peter and Cheryl were great guides plus they knew all of the places where a security call should be made - letting any boat traffic know three trawlers were passing north.

It is literally impossible for two boats to pass each other in many of these very narrow channels.

We finally arrived at Britt after a 32 mile 4 1/2 hour trip.

Very, very small town but an excellent restaurant. Lunch the day we arrived and breakfast the morning we left.

Steve and Peter tried their hand at fishing but once again there was only fishing and no catching. It's becoming a theme ....

After saying our 'see you laters' to Craig and Karen, we headed off to the Bad River!

Doesn't that just sound inviting?!! This river is actually one of three rivers that enter Georgian Bay - all three originating as the French River farther north in Ontario.

The French River is where my grandmother and parents used to go for the fishing. They went to a lodge and hired guides for the fishing. Shore lunch included - assuming they caught fish! I don't recall that not catching fish was a problem in those days (probably the 1950's).

The Bad River definitely did not disappoint! The granite rocks and numerous small channels would lend itself to dinghy exploration for days!

There was supposed to be a lake of sorts beyond the rapids - if your dinghy could go up the swiftly flowing water!

We found that spot when a dinghy suddenly came shooting down the swift water - headed right for Peter in HIS dinghy. So - that's where to get up the rapids! Lesson learned ...

First there were three. Then there were two.

It was a great place to spend a day. Although I was surprised how many boats were in here.

Not that there wasn't room - plenty of space - but we had never heard of this area before. We always though everyone went to the Bustards - another really nice anchorage area only about 5 miles south of here.

Peter and Steve went fishing again in the morning. Key word being "fishing" :-)  Shot the rapids and everything!

Sandra, Murray, Steve, Cheryl and Indiana Jones

It was again time for some 'see you laters' as Peter and Cheryl needed to head back home.

Their son is getting married at the end of the month - Peter and Cheryl are having the wedding at their home so there are a few odds and ends to tie up yet.

We were very grateful that they carved out some time to travel with us - even if it was for only a short week.

We'll see them again - either in Florida or up here. We don't know when or where but they know that they can run but not hide :-)

We are now only two easy days to Killarney and the North Channel. Weather is looking pretty good.