Ojibway – Georgian Bay , Ontario

Here’s more information about the many parks in Georgian Bay:

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/georg

As we exited the Port Severn Lock, we found ourselves finally in Georgian Bay. Captain Patrick has been talking about this for months.

Georgian Bay is the northeastern arm of Lake Huron, and located entirely within the borders of Ontario, Canada. The main body of the bay lies east of the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island. The North Channel is to the northwest, located between Manitoulin Island and the Sudbury District, west of Killarney. This was once a popular route for steamships and is now used by a variety of pleasure craft to travel to and from Georgian Bay.

Georgian Bay is characterized by rugged bedrock and white pine forests to the north and sandy southern beaches. Bruce Peninsula National Park on its western side includes part of the Bruce Trail along the Niagara Escarpment. Fathom Five National Marine Park is known for preserved shipwrecks, 19th-century lighthouses, and Flowerpot Island’s sea-stack rock formations.

The towns of Midland, Penetanguishene, Port Severn, and Honey Harbour are at the Southeastern end of the bay (we have visited all of these) and are popular sites for summer cottages, as are the many bays and islands on the Eastern Coast. Collingwood, Meaford, and Wasaga Beach are located at the Southern end of the bay, around Nottawasaga Bay. There are 30,000 islands in the bay.

We were fortunate to secure a slip at the Ojibway park dock, joining our friends Tom on Dancing Bears and Anne and Mitch on No Rush. We met other Looper boats and also local boaters who frequent this park for weekends and holidays.

The first thing Anne and I noticed was the similarity to Lake Winnipesaukee. Walking the island paths, it looked just like climbing Rattlesnake Island. And – there is an outhouse! Or as Anne preferred to call it – a privy.

The walking paths are well marked as to which path to take. There are wooden walkways as well.

While walking the path I ran into a couple and their friend. They seemed familiar. Come to find out – we met them previously on the locks! Jill and Richard from Frostproof, Florida on their 26′ MacGregor sailboat. They too were docked at Ojibway.

Jill and Richard informed me they had just seen a Massasauga rattlesnake. This is the only venomous snake in this region. Supposedly they don’t attack; just make a rattling sound to startle you. Their skin blends well with the rocks, making it difficult to spot them.

Richard and Jill visited our boat and we had some great conversations. Richard shared with us his success story of controlling his multiple sclerosis symptoms. By following a special diet for those suffering from autoimmune disorders, he dramatically improved his health condition. He and Jill are on their third Loop! He recommends a TedTalk by Dr. Terry Wahls that changed his life, by simply adjusting his eating habits. Richard is most grateful for his health and wishes to share his story with others.

Pat and Mitch needed some parts for their boats (always!) and took the dinghy to nearby Honey Harbor. Pat and I later also made the trip. You have to be careful with the wakes some of the larger boats make!

We did have a special blessing happen. We got up to the store counter and Pat realized he did not have his wallet. I figured he left it back at the boat. When we arrived at the dinghy – there was the wallet, poised on the rim of the dinghy! It must have fallen out of his back pants pocket. It was a miracle that it did not fall in the water! We were most grateful.

We also saw a 24/7 kiosk that serves freshly made pizza from an oven! You select the pizza type, insert your credit card, and take your pizza home! Becky, we should get this franchise for Mingy Cove at the Lake! You could have pizza anytime you want.

A sad part of this stay was it is probably the last time we will see Tom of Dancing Bears and Anne and Mitch of No Rush on this Loop journey. Captain Patrick plans to spend a week repairing the boat in Penetanguishene. Tom, Anne and Mitch are making some stops in Georgian Bay, but are planning to be in the states by August 10. They are completing the Loop this year, and need to be home in Hudson, Florida, by December. It’s really been fun travelling with them.