Thursday, May 31

Narrow channel crossing on Georgian Bay - trying to stay off the granite boulders

View of Georgian Bay - Beausoleil Island

Henry's dock

This morning at the Port Severn Lock #45 we left the Trent-Severn Waterway and entered Georgian Bay (part of Lake Heron).  Often referred to as the finest freshwater cruising anywhere, it is surrounded by deep water, thousands of remote anchorages and dozens of friendly small towns and establishments.  It is easy to see why this area gets such rave reviews. 
At all times it is imperative that you pay close attention to your location and surrounding depths with a combination of visual sitings, GPS and charts.  The difference here is that running aground or into something means hard granite ....... what looks like open water often is not and props, outdrives & keels can be instantly destroyed.
We headed for Beausoleil Island (5 miles wide and 1 mile long, it is the largest island in the Georgian Bay Islands National Park system).   Other than the fact rattle snakes live there, we enjoyed a leisurely hike amongst the natural granite formations.
Our next and final destination of the day was Sans Souci Island (meaning "without care or fear no-worries).   Henry's - World Famous Food, World Famous Service and World Famous Customers -

"Granite beach" - Beausoleil Island

ever popular with the boating and sea plane crowd is located here and we had to check it out.  You want local color?  It's got local color, including the official greeter - a crazed 2-year old chocolate lab.  Henry's is even served by 5 scheduled sea plane airlines that offer a fly & dine package for $38.00 a person - never seen that before.
The problem is we are about 3 weeks too early for the big action of the season.  Nonetheless, it was fun watching the two seaplanes (privately owned) arrive and depart from Henry's docks ........... an everyday occurrence in this part of the woods, but a novelty to us.