M/V Perfect Fit: The North Channel, and back in the USA!

We have completed our trek through the North Channel of Lake Huron. It is about 138 miles from Killarney (at the beginning of the North Channel) to De Tour, Michigan (the point you enter Lake Huron proper). The channel and its islands were created by glaciers. Rocks abound and some are more than 3 billion years old. The shoreline is rugged and sparsely populated. Below is a synopsis of our trek headed from east to west.

The Killarney Mountain Lodge was a great stop. Its marina was ok, but the lodge was first rate. It has a pool, sauna, and a bar with great views and a singer who is a local institution. We heard Canadian folk songs, Irish ballads (there is a big Irish presence in Killarney, go figure). We met Kathy and Dave on SV Good Idea, from London, Ontario. They gave us great local info.

Bay Fine was as spectacular as billed. The closest thing to a fiord in North America, the views were breathtaking. Unfortunately we arrived in the rain, but it cleared by afternoon. We took the dinghy to the end of the bay (about 8 miles) called the pool. We stayed two nights on the hook at Bay Fine, and then went to the Port of Little Current town docks. Little Current is on a small channel that empties into the North Channel, and is a popular tourist destination. We sustained a small bo bo there. There is a bridge with an 18’ charted clearance that spans the channel. It opens only on the hour. We arrived at 15 after the hour, so put all the antennas down and slowly tried to get under. Alexis wanted to be on watch (instead of at the helm), and not deal with the fierce current (ergo Little Current). She eyeballed the bridge and said we could barely make it. We barley almost made it. The anchor light took gas. But, with duct tape and silicone it is as good as new. Papa lives!

After refueling at Little Current, and letting a major front pass whilst we were safely tied up, it was off to Croker Island in the North Channel. The North Channel is filled with uninhabited islands with granite hills, waterfalls, blueberries and not much else. Dave had suggested Croker Island. Our anchorage there was as spectacular as Bay Fine, with crystal clear water to boot. The North Chanel certainly lived up to its reputation as one of the most unspoiled cruising grounds in North America.

We are at De Tour, and back in the good ole USA. Our Verizon air card is working again, so lots of pics. Our thoughts on Canada-the people are quite friendly and helpful. The towns in lower Ontario are small, clean, and obviously appreciate boaters. This area of Ontario is a big European tourist attraction for its wilderness opportunities, or eco-tourism. Lots of English, French and Germans here for holiday. Diesel is almost double the price of back home. Wi-Fi is spotty, but cell is largely available if you have Rodger, Canada’s provider. AT&T roams to Rodger, but be prepared to pay. Weather is available on the VHF. To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, double the number and add 32. The water is cold for this southern boy, but the locals swim all the time. Goose season opened Sept 2, and we awoke to the familiar sounds of shotguns just like during duck season back home. Ontario has a special early season with a limit of 10, as Canadian Geese have become a problem because of their numbers. The Canadian dollar is worth about .92 cents of the American dollar. It is best to have Canadian dollars to pay, and the banks convert with no problem. The marinas are priced about the same as in the US, and most importantly for us have laundry facilities. Our on board washer dryer combo handles our clothes, but eats up our water supply. Sheets and towels are best done at the marina. This is berry country, so we have had a steady supply of pies and muffins. The strawberry/rhubarb pie was a big hit. Blueberry muffins are available at each stop. The best we had were from a roadside gas station in Rapid Falls. The best meal out was in Kingston, hands down. The best local fish was Pickerel. Fish and chips takeout stands were ubiquitous. Our favorite Canadian stop was Kingston. We would like to return to Kingston and go up the Rideau to Quebec. One day! The Trent Severn was the biggest surprise. I thought it was just a long canal to slow us down with locks, but in reality it was a destination. It has just the right balance between rural and towns, with the locks as stops along the way, it was great. There were also many lakes on the Trent Severn to anchor out upon, if we would have had time. We also met many locals at the locks who were on holiday in their boats.

This part of the Loop has been a great experience and I am glad we decided to press on. We have now been to two foreign countries and 13 states for a total of 3,186 nautical miles. Not bad!