We have WiFi!!  Finally catching up on this blog.  Thank you for your patience.  Back to civilization!

Good Morning!!  Up and at ’em.  Early day today so we can get to our destination by noon.  This morning is all about color.  Aren’t these the best?  If I hadn’t seen them with my own eyes, I would have thought they were photoshopped.  The other boaters that we sleeping in?  They really missed a gorgeous sunrise.  What do they say about early birds?

6:04am Purplish Sunrise

In just a few minutes, the colors changed dramatically.  It was really hard to concentrate on getting the boat ready to take off.  I was sneaking pictures between line handling, fender pulling up, and casting off.

6.09am – Reddish sunrise

As we left the marina, we went west on the Killarney Channel with the sunrising at our stern.  Did you get a look at that flat calm water?  Wow!  A cool 60°F started our day.

6:16am Yellow Sunrise

Then I looked forward to make sure Wayne was going the right way….

Red sunrise reflecting on the rocks ahead

6.40am – Yawn…. just a bit of yellow. 😉

Yep, it was cloudy, cool, but not raining.  The winds were calm.  The water was calm.  What more can you ask for?  We were supposed to be driving out of the clouds and into sunshine.

We were watching for the channel markers and trying to figure whether we should speed up for the 8am Little Current Swing Bridge opening or slow down for the 9am opening.  We settled for the let’s speed up till we get really close so we don’t miss the 8 and 9am opening.

Dark clouds behind us only allowing a little sunrise to peak through

We were too far away, yet, for the 8am opening.  We slowed down in the lake just before Little Current and hovered for almost an hour.

8 am – Where is that sunshine?

8:30am – The sun is fighting to get through!

While we were just waiting for the bridge opening, I was able to make a good breakfast for Wayne and I.  A hot cup of coffee, a ham and cheese english muffin, and beautiful scenery.  What a grand day to be on the water!

I have plotted our course for today in the map below.  Little Current is the largest city of the island towns seen in the map.  It boasts a population of 2700 people.  The town is situated in a small channel the separates the Georgian Bay with the North Channel.

Route from Killarney to Gore Bay, Ontario

The Little Current swing bridge has a height of 18 feet closed.  We weren’t sure of the water levels so we waited until it opened on the hour (only).  We have been told by many of the locals the water is up 1 -2 feet from normal – last year.  The bridge only stays open for 15 minutes.

Little Current Swing Bridge

Little Current

There must be homes back off the water’s edge for 2700 people to live here.  Small quaint town.

Out into the North Channel!!  We completed the Georgian Bay, rock free!!  Yea!  That is, we didn’t hit any rocks.  The North Channel runs east to west.  We see on the charts the water is deep.  Looks lovely today.  We have decided to go the southern route.  Gore Bay is our stop for the night.

Going around Clapperton Island toward Gore Bay

Entering Gore Bay

Gore Bay Marina is a very nice marina. Floating docks.  Clear water.  The wind did kick up a bit in the afternoon (in the high 10-18mph), as always.  We were secure in our slip and had no problems.

The crew of Spirit Journey arrived at the marina late in the afternoon.  We opted to go out to dinner with them.  The small town of Gore Bay has a restaurant, a hardware store, and a food store.  I am sure there is also a bar and a tattoo parlor.  From the marina we walked between two random buildings to the main street.  I was really pleased to see these murals.  They look like they need some touch up and new paint.  Very delightful.  If we had walked any other way, we wouldn’t have seen these.

Our evening closed with me eating my cherry pie slice on the boat.  I was too stuffed from dinner.  The walk back to the boat was just enough to fit in a slice between the ribs.  Wayne?  He had apple pie a la mode at the restaurant.  So no more for him!

Tomorrow we are off the Meldrum Bay.  The weather looks like it is holding well for another day.  Low winds, calm waters.  We just gotta go!