Georgian Bay and The North Channel

      "What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it"
      Author unknown

It's easy to live up to those words when on vacation.  On July 10th we untied the dock lines and headed straight towards the North Channel by way of The Bustard Islands. 

 

Funny, but today it suddenly dawned on me.  This may be the last time we visit the North Channel!  There are so many beautiful anchorages on Georgian Bay and we could have easily stayed in the south end and had a great time but for some reason, this year, we were drawn once again to the beautiful North Channel.

 

We've been there so many times before and you would think we'd tire of it.....because after all how many times do we need to swim in crystal clear water, inhale the sent of cedar and pine, or drink in the beautiful unspoiled wilderness of quartz mountains and red granite islands?  Not to mention the beautiful sunsets and amazing starry nights, and meeting the most amazing group of sailor's ever!  We will never tire of it.

 

The North Channel has been rated in the top 10 of best sailing destinations in the world!  Are we surprised?  Not a bit and here it is practically in our own backyard. 

 

Next summer we will be sailing away from our familiar cruising grounds and taking Folly south...."she wants to go where the coconuts grow".  Someday we will come back but Folly will likely never return. 

 

Folly in the back

 



 

Sailor, our cat, chilling out.

Kayaking in the Benjimin's

Our new friends Debbie and John on Mahayana

Harley

Covered Portage Cove

Another view of Covered Portage Cove

 

Anchor Up and Anchor Down.

Hear is a cute quick-time video of us pulling up the anchor and leaving our anchorage at the Bustard Islands on Georgian Bay.

From the Bustard's we sailed to Killarney.  Hear is the adorable little town of Killarney and the anchorage that we chose for the night.  I especially love the quartz of the La Cloche Mountain Range. 

Anchors

 

When be bought Folly she came with a CQR anchor, 40 feet of chain, 200 feet of rode, and it was just barely sufficient. Every time we used it we mumbled a silent prayer for calm winds and good holding. We now have a nice new 40 pound Rocna and 300 feet of chain. It was pricey but, to us, that’s the price of a good night’s sleep........ But wait a minute............that’s not what this is about.

The anchors I want to talk about are the things preventing us from leaving the dock; keeping us tethered to land with an imaginary anchor and chain. You know, they are the things that we find hard to leave when making plans to leave the comfort of home for a life on the sea far away from family, friends, and earthly possessions.

Without question, our grandchildren Nolan and Sophie are our anchors.   We will miss them terribly.  I feel a pang every time I think of leaving them but I have to remind myself that they will be fine and probably won’t even miss us. After all, it’s not like we can’t stay in touch. Technology is getting better and easier to access every day.

Everyone has anchors, we have a few more ourselves. According to our original plan we should be retired by now and leaving next month. By now we should have said adios to our employers but darn it....that’s hard to do. Don’t get me wrong. We could leave work in a heart beat but saying goodbye to a paycheck is another thing. The longer we work now, the bigger the cruising kitty will be then. So there’s anchor #2.

And what do we do with the house? Should we sell it? No! Then, should we rent it to strangers? Yikes! Should we leave it empty? Not on your life! So what’s the answer? Until we figure that out this is our anchor #3.

Then there is my 92-year-old mother and Harley’s 84-year old mom. Now I’m not calling them anchors because that would be mean but we do worry about them and can’t imagine leaving them at this stage in their lives. My mom especially because I’m the only caregiver in the family.

I admire those people who can say to hell with it, sell everything, and leave this rat race in exchange for adventure. All I can say is, they must have weak anchors.

Yes we do have a few bugs in the plan but I have no doubt it will all come together. In the meantime we plan to enjoy life to the fullest. Every day is a gift to be used wisely.

Finally

 

 

Two years ago we bought new wind instruments and since then we have been in search of someone brave enough to go up the mast to install them.  It sure wasn't going to be Harley or I!!  Finally, two weeks ago, our son Kyle came from Canmore, Alberta and to our rescue.  Thanks Kyle!  They work great! I can't believe we sailed so long without them. 

Oh, and thanks for the cool pictures you took while you were up there!

Dare to Dream

It's taken us many years to get to this.  Harley and I have been together as a couple for almost 40 years.  Even I can't believe it! 

When Harley and I first met he told me of his dream to live on a boat and sail the Caribbean.  In fact it was the summer of 1976 on our first date.  We were at Ontario Place in Toronto having a beer on the patio overlooking the marina. We were only 20.  Just kids really, but even then I knew that some day that dream would come true. I just didn't know at the time that I would be part of it.

Harley and Janice 1976

Harley grew up around sailboats.  He and his dad built a 22 foot Wharam design catamaran to sail the waters of Woodland Beach on Georgian Bay.  As far as I can tell he and his dad honed their skills as sailors from observation, conversation, and trial and error.  Not sailing school or summer camp. 

I learned to sail through osmosis.  I'm not sure when it happened or how but I guess you could say I know how to sail.  Eventually, after spending 39 years as first mate, I picked up a few skills; but truth be known ... I'd much rather be deck fluff.  (Like that will ever happen.)

Harley bought his first boat before we were married so that's why I call it "his" boat.  It was a Clipper 23.  Looking back, it was an ugly thing but it was a yacht to us!  That's when I got my feet wet, so to speak, and when I began to see what all the hoop-la was about.  I loved it!  I loved the freedom and the adventure.  Not to mention that is was a perfect little love shack on the water.  We sold that boat to put a down payment on our first house. 

The Clipper 23.  Oddly enough we never named her.

We married in 1980, had two kids (Brent and Kyle), and have owned 9 boats and 6 houses. 

In August of 2009 we took a year off work to sail "Blue Blazes", our CS 36 Traditional, to the Bahamas and back.  It was the most wonderful, glorious, and exciting adventure. Everything we hoped for and more ... and worth every penny we spent and every ounce of blood, sweat and tears that went into making that happen. 

When we came back from that trip we sold our beloved Blue Blazes and replaced her with "Folly" a 42 foot Catalina.  The plan?.... Well, at long last we hope to take her to the Caribbean; to make that dream come true.  The dream that Harley (and I) have had for so very long.

Folly