Thursday - July 3

Happiness is having rain fall gently during the night and then wake up to clear, fresh sunny skies.   Just a picture-perfect day with a high of 72.   It was a short day (12 miles) to Parry Sound and imagine our surprise when we read the blog and saw that we were here exactly 14 years ago today (7/3/11 and tomorrow, on the 4th) when we were doing the Loop.

Pretty views along the way...

Our 2 depth gauges showing 337' and 328' here in Georgian Bay - less than 2 miles from shore.

Lake Erie's deepest water is around 250'.   

We docked with the help of 2 nice young ladies at Big Sound Marina and walked the familiar street and tah dah....found the Northern Perk coffee shop (that wasn't there back in 2011, but then we weren't into coffee shops then either)!   I had an iced maple latte (love their maple flavor) and Mark a hot chocolate + he had a dish of "constellation" ice cream at Salty Dog.    We walked uptown - passed the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame and Huckleberry's very nice gift/cottage decor.  Several cute shops and restaurants and pretty flowers.   A very nice town of around 6,000.    Staying here 2 nights.

Float plane landing in front of Tailwinds restaurant - bringing some folks to lunch?

Mark is chillin' 

Stopped at this cute Chinese house and got some egg rolls to go for lunch

14 years ago today we ate at this place but was "Bay Street Cafe" and now "Boston Pizza"   I love the red adirondack chairs - sooo Canada!  

We walked to The Trestle Brewing Co (#1 on Trip Advisor) they had nothing available for 45 minutes, so decided to make a reservation and come back tomorrow night.   Kept on walking and passed this sign

Wow...my kind of place!   

Didn't know Siri did nails!   Ha...

We came back to Tailwinds near Catrina - good food but VERY SLOW.    Mark had a blackened salmon sandwich and a taco salad for me.

Yummy taco salad with beef and chipotle ranch dressing!

Wednesday - July 2

 We left Tobermory at 8:20 with sunny skies and pretty calm water.   We sure enjoyed our stay here but time to move on. 

Bye bye to the sweet little village of Tobermory

The Chi-Cheemaun ferry leaving the dock for Baymouth (Manitoulin Islands)

1 hour and 45 minute ride

  Today we cruised 73 miles and arrived at Killbear Marina in Pengallie Bay near Carling, ON at 12:11.   We were here for our 38th wedding anniversary on June 28, 2007 - we remember the very nice upscale restaurant upstairs that had a beautiful nautical theme and wonderful food.  

We were helped by a dockhand and our neighbor next door (such neat accents).   We checked in at the office and then decided to have lunch at Blake's Memories of Muskoka  Wow....what a shock to see the place nothing like we remembered..  Now it's just a no-frills, very simple bar-food type place.   I guess its changed hands a few times since we were here - food was good, but quite a surprise.  

Back to the boat - took a nap and read.   Very quiet here....but we are back in Georgian Bay with all the rocks, tiny islands and so much beauty.

We went for a short walk - not too much to see here.    We saw a few Mayflies, but so thankful we didn't have many in Port Clinton this year - amazing after the deluge last year!

Canada Day - 2025

Today, July 1 is "Canada Day" and their citizens are "PROUD" to be Canadian!    We'll celebrate along with them !

Proudly flying the Canadian maple leaf flag and wearing red

Here in Little Tub Harbour, there is a boat that has thee largest Canadian flag we've ever seen (any flag for that matter)!   It's almost bigger than the boat.

My math guy estimates this flag is 8' x 16'

Very foggy early this morning but by 9, it was all clear blue skies and sunshine - only a high of 63 predicted for today?   We had a leisurely start and then kicked it in gear to get some jobs done on Catrina (especially Mark who had a list to tackle).

We have not ridden bikes in... I have no idea!   Mark took his off Catrina and rode to the hardware store - a bit nippy out there with cool temps and windy, but he enjoyed it and got what he needed.   The hardware store was in a converted small mom and pop motel - part of it was the owners' living quarters and rest of it, the store which had a little bit of everything!

I got the inside of Catrina organized and everything in its place - so easy to just put stuff wherever on a boat!    I can't stand clutter!   Good morning for the nomads.

Mark bought "Starlink", internet via the satellites giving us internet anywhere - great for traveling on Catrina as we are always connected!

I checked out more shops and then stopped at the Tobermory Coffee Co for a latte and sat on the patio.   Mark joined me later (he added a cherry danish to his coffee).  Some really cute posters on the patio...

Here in the harbour, there are several tour boats (Bruce Anchor Cruises, Blue Heron Cruises, Tobermory Wave Adventures, glass-bottom boats, etc.) - they certainly take lots of passengers to the shipwrecks, grotto, Flowerpot Island, etc.   We thought about it, but since we're living on Catrina, not too interested in another boat trip.    We did pass by Flowerpot 18 years ago. 

 

The Chi-Cheemaun car ferry

Largest on the Great Lakes

We had an early dinner at The Shipwreck and enjoyed our visit with the owner.   He welcomed us and was interested in our lifestyle.   He's very familiar with Fort Myers Beach and has spent many good times at the Lani Kai.    His good friend performs at Margaritaville on FMB.

 A palm tree - Canadian style at The Shipwreck

So yesterday I posted a pic of this sign and today we came across this memory from this same spot - August 10, 2007.   

Almost 18 years younger - no idea where the dog came from?

Another gorgeous evening, but cool!