Anchoring out

Like cruising in the Chesapeake, there were many many intricate places and coves to anchor or explore, but unlike the Chesapeake, the shores and bottom was hard rock! The Canadian Shield is some of the oldest rock in North America. We inched our way very slowly through openings like this one.

Some days were cool, gray, and misty; others were warm and sunny. Most of all we noticed how uncrowded everything was, and how clean. We stayed in several pristine anchorages. Boating in fresh water is a treat - we jumped in off the back of the boat on warm days, no need to rinse off afterward - no salt.

We took a hike one day, and met a guide leading her folks the other way, who warned us to look out for bear! Reminder that we are in the north woods. I remember reading somewhere, that every (100?) miles north you go is equivalent to being 1000 feet higher, in terms of what vegetation can grow. The pines and birches reminded me of being in the Rockies in Colorado, even though the Great Lakes here is only about 500 feet above sea level.

Canadian-style Food

I'm not exactly sure what "Canadian-style" cooking is ... except straightforward and very hearty. I only once remember being able to finish an entire meal as served. Mostly we ate on the boat, but one night we went out to an elegant restaurant. Or what they call elegant in northern Canada - the food was elegant, the style whimsical, the dress code nonexistent. Everything in the place had a fish theme, from the menu boards to the motorized plastic "shark" bread crumb tablecloth sweeper. There was one fun piece of art in the hall with a fish whose scales were made of roofing nails. Here's Melissa with Jim the proprietor.

Jim told us many stories with stunningly dry humor; my favorite was that his menu used to offer a choice of walleye for $19.95 and pickerel for $22.95. But, he explained, with a totally straight face, these are two different names for the exact same fish, and too many of his customers just didn't get it.

Our favorite meal, of course, was fish and chips. Want fresh, eh? Behind us is the boat used to catch this afternoon's snack, served from a modified school bus.

Canada July 2010 (Part 1)

We took advantage of a stunning offer from our friend Melissa to visit her aboard her boat in northern Canada for a few weeks. Since July temps in Annapolis can be well into the 90s with lots of humidity we were delighted to escape the heat and take her up on her offer.

Dan had never seen Niagara Falls so that was our first stop.

Then we joined Melissa on her trawler. We spent lovely times in uncrowded anchorages like this one, in Port Rawson Bay.

Our route took us northward along the east side of Georgian Bay (part of Lake Huron).

Not quite "land of the midnight sun," but this far north it started getting light before 5 AM and was still light at 10 PM.

(more to come)