Saturday - July 5

 Movin' on today but first, I walked to Northern Perk for some coffee and a muffin to share.    Not sure when I'll be near a coffee shop again.   We left our slip at 9:30 and did a pump out - Juliette helped.   She's one of the dockhands who helped us tie up when we came in on Thursday.   So sweet and pretty.

The Pearl Mist came in overnight to Parry Sound - one of 14 stops here this summer

Parry sound is 150 miles north of  Toronto.   The population of year-round residents is close to 7,000, but there are 19,000 summer residents + 80,000 tourists making it close to 100,000.    Amazingly, it is not a real touristy town like Tobermory.    But as Doug from Florida who we met yesterday said "We would really like to have a cottage up here but most are going for over $1m and not that big!"

At 10:30 we left to be near the Parry Sound swing bridge for it's 11:00 opening.   It opens every 2 hours.    Lots of boats on the water this Saturday - jet skies, pontoons, pleasure boats, go fast (TUFF) boats, and float planes.

So so many rocks up close and personal

Saw several yellow Adirondack chairs today

One little island

Narrow passage as skies darken before the rain

The weather started out sunny and no rain in the forecast, but.....we had a very heavy downpour along the way.    Fortunately, it didn't last too long, but just enough to be messy and wet.    And then, blue skies and very nice rest of the day with a high of 78.

We stopped at Henry's for lunch - this landmark on Frying Pan Island has been around forever and as popular as ever with a huge crowd (we've never been on a Saturday).    We were first here in 1995 after picking up brand new Sail Catrina in Midland with Philip and our friend Gary.    They've expanded to a large indoor and outdoor seating area and also bigger drink/food menu.   They are famous for their whitefish and pickerel.   Mark had the whitefish (our favorite) and I had pickerel (walleye).   Then to our anchorage in Ladas Bay (Archipelago, ON).     All settled in for the night and just one other boat here. 

  Okay....another crazy coincidence.............on this date (July 5) in 2011, we ate at Henry's and anchored in Ladas Bay!     Mark thinks today marked our 4th visit to this very popular place on Frying Pan Island.

A real landmark

We cruised a total of 20.8 miles today meandering thru narrow channels, dodging rocks, etc.   Such a beautiful place.

So very heartbreaking reading about the precious little girls and others who lost their lives or still missing in the Texas camp flooding.....just unimaginable and devastating.

Friday - July 4

 HAPPY  BIRTHDAY  AMERICA!

Mark and I always start the day playing some games on our I-pad/tablet - euchre, sudoku, solitaire.    Today we had a heck of a time solving the "daily challenge" of solitaire, but finally got it!    Ha.....and then we were off to breakfast at "The Mad Maple" - unique place in the Canadian Legion building.   Just one big room with some tables - took a while to get our food (must be a Parry Sound thing)?   This place was rated the best for breakfast - interesting decor for sure and the locals each have their own coffee mug (like Artie's Diner in Pulaski, NY,  Allie)!!!     But all good and  then we were outta there and off to the McNabb Building Center for a new gas can (dinghy).

Back to Catrina for a bit and then................time for a bike ride!    Whoaaa....other than a short ride in Toronto last summer, I haven't ridden since my bad fall (11/12/23) and was a bit leery.    First the shoulder issue and then still having the nerve damage in my hand and having to clutch the handle bar.   But there's a nice 1.3 mile bike path (Fitness Trail) and after that we did another part of the trail so all together, 5 miles!   I'm glad that 1st big time is under my belt and as a reward, Mark said I could have a coffee!   😀   And ice cream (constellation) for him!     What a guy - he's the BEST!

While we were riding bikes, a trawler from Springhill, FL (near Tampa) came in.   We had a nice chat with the captain, Doug.   He and his wife are doing the Loop and about 1/2 way done.

Hope wherever and whatever your plans were today back in the good ole USA, it was a fun day (picnics, boating, swimming, ice cream, fireworks, etc.) celebrating our nation's 249th birthday!   WOW....wait till next year!   

We walked to The Trestle Brewing Co. for our 6:00 reservation.    Along the way, we passed the Trestle Bridge which is quite a landmark here in Parry Sound since 1907 and many trains use it daily.   It is very tall and spans 1/3 of a mile.

Trestle Bridge

 We had excellent food and not a long wait at all.   I had this...

Lots more stuff than what was listed above....sooo good

My BIG plate of goodies and Mark's haddock/fries in the background

After dinner we walked the long town dock - beautiful calm evening.

Huge tour boat here in Parry Sound

 Loved these patriotic girls in their pretty dresses and Maeve's sweet face

  all decked out for the 4th

 

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!