Tuesday August 22: Beausoleil Island

We left Parry Sound Sunday morning after saying goodby to Peter and Cheryl. We may see them yet on the Trent but for now they are headed further north in search of the elusive pickerel that Peter has heard is to be found in the Sawanaga River.

Our destination is south – back toward the Trent. Time is closing in on when we'll leave the boat and head back to Ohio. We ended up anchoring for the night in the Missasaga Provincial Park area. Lots of anchorages around the region.

The travel is again great – what a beautiful area in which to boat. Nothing like it – anywhere. Period.

The place we ended up was a small bay off of the main channel into this area. Somehow we thought we 'd sneak back to the back of the bay but there were already three boats tied together behind a small island so we ended up just dropping the anchor in the outer bay.

Steve of course had his fishing pole in the water first thing! And crazy enough pulled in a 2 ½ foot northern pike! Fun to catch for sure but it was way more fish than two of us could eat so back it went.

It was actually amazing that he was able to get it in the boat with no net. Just sort of slid it onto the swim platform and then pressed his foot on it to hold it down.

He kept adjusting the rear anchor working to have to boat over what he later called “the bass hole” until he ended up with a two to three pound bass that sadly escaped :-( But did catch two nice sized bass which became our dinner!

Definitely have a collapsible net on the list of things this boat needs though. Trying to get these fish up into the boat without any net is quite an accomplishment :-)

It was a beautiful sunset …...

Looking over Frying Pan Bay

Monday was an early start – the winds were coming in so we headed to Frying Pan Bay. Even though this small bay is a busy place, we still enjoy staying there. It was a weekday so there ended up being just us and one other boat on the south end of the bay.

Legend of Fairy Lake

It's a great place to hike. Steve loves to hike around Fairy Lake. It has a fun legend about it. Beautiful lake.

Legend part 2

He also spotted the largest beaver hut ever – about 10 feet across. Funny how many beaver huts we have seen this year and yet no beavers to be seen!

The islands formed by the legend. Beausoleil on the lower center and Giant's Tomb Island on the upper left.

Overlooking Fairy Lake.

Large beaver hut

Tuesday we were up early again as it was maybe time to head quickly to Port Severn as the weather was really predicted to get nasty. Idea: let's head into Honey Harbor public dock – which has a library with internet – and check the weather before deciding where to go.

A plus: the general store has breakfast! One look at the radar and the decision was made: get to a dock and get tied up!! By the time we left and made it a short 3 miles to the nearest dock on Beausoleil Island, it was raining and the wind was up.

Only two boats at this dock. When we originally tied up the wind was coming broadside pushing us into the dock - by the end of the day it was coming from the opposite side and keeping us off of the dock - way better!

So the wind is predicted to be with us for all of today and tomorrow. Not going anywhere until the wind and Georgian Bay calm down. 

Predictions for the waves on the bay: six feet!! In the middle of Georgian Bay of course which we don't have to be on. Don't need to be anywhere where there are even 3 footers ;-)

Guess we'll be here at least another day ......