We have been fortunate to have VHF radio coverage for the weather reports, phone service is spotty, and internet/wifi coverage was non existent. This is the north east shore of Lake Superior. A remote and mostly untouched part of Ontario. The scenery has been outstanding, when we could see it. The last 2 days have been very, very foggy. But I digress .....
We left Sault Set Marie on Wed after the strong winds of Tuesday. We had a great day to be on the water, sunny with light winds and we took advantage of it and travelled for 11 hours and covered 80 miles. We had a bit of a late start as we had to wait for the lock to open at 9 am. We were thru the lock by 9.30 so we didn't anchor until after 8 pm. at Gargantua Harbour.
Our friend Brian Handy is friends with the Snowbirds and apparently one of them was in Sault Ste Marie on his way to Thunder Bay. Brian tried to arrange for a flyby. Unfortunately the pilot did not get his message until her had arrived in Thunder Bay, but said it was too bad because it would have only have added 10 minutes to his flight. It sure made for some excitement on our two boats as we watched for him. It is good to have such thoughtful friends. Perhaps another time Brian. Perhaps, it is not a good idea for a pilot to text and fly anyway.
Gargantua Bay has a 100' plus boat wreck that we almost got up close and personal with as we tried to approach and tie beside Symmetry. Peter and I saw and recognized the boiler stack at about the same time and he backed us off very gently. At one point we were directly over the wreck and could see it very clearly. The wreck sits in about 7 feet of water and we only need 3.5 feet so we were in good shape. The boiler stack sticks out of the water by 3 or 4 inches and that would not have been good. We made a different approach and tied up without any problems. Gargantua was a nice secluded, and protected bay.
There were some kayakers camping along the beach as we came in, and Linda thought she heard a bear banger after dark in the evening. We were thinking that perhaps they had a visitor.
Thursday we planned to have a shorter day and progress on to Otter Head, 7 hours and 56 miles (estimate) If anything Thursday was an even better boating day than Wed. The Lake was more settled and it was a delight to cruise up the shoreline.
Now Friday was an entirely different story. The day started out with sunshine and light winds and we were making good time up the shore, and then the fog rolled in from in front of Symmetry and she disappeared, and then the fog overtook us from the front and side as well. We knew we were the only 2 boats on the Lake at that time, we have not seen another boat since the Soo. We continued on for awhile in the fog, but decided to get off the lake at Heron Bay. We had been travelling for 5.5 hours and estimate 40 miles. As we approached land the fog seemed to lift a little, but by the time we got to tie up with Jim and Linda the fog had blown in off the lake. We were glad to be safely anchored in a little cove.
Now again on Saturday we started out in overcast conditions at about 7 am. The plan was to make our way to Rossport about 50 to 60 miles away, where they are supposed to have diesel fuel. We were only out for about half an hour when the fog rolled in over us. Thank goodness for Chart Plotters with GPS. We were travelling in wide open areas so we proceeded along to Rossport. Rossport reported that they had dockage for us, and no fog. They said once we got in by the islands there would be no fog, so we proceeded. Fog is so dis-orienting. You have to steer by your instruments and trust that they are right. The fog was really just dense over the water. As we approached land you could see the higher elevations but nothing near the waterline. We had a 6.5 hour day on the water, with about 5 hours of the day in dense fog.
The Rossport Marina staff couldn't be more helpful. While they don't have fuel at the dock anymore, they will drive you to the nearest service station to fill up gerry cans. They even have 7 gerry cans they will provide. The nearest grocery store is 15 miles away at Schreiber and they will take us there also. While Rossport is a very small northern community; there are two very good restaurants, The Rossport Inn and Serendipity.
The marina manager said that the fuel tanks on shore at the marina are to be replaced later this year, and that Parks Canada will take over the marina. They expect to have fuel next year.
Wile standing on the dock getting oriented a freight train went by. A very long freight train. It seems wherever we travel we are always close to the railways. I guess waterways and railways are very closely planned to be very accessible. Probably very necessary in days gone by.
Jim and Linda have made arrangements to have their son Allen and Melanie and family join them here at Rossport. Linda has made reservations at the Serendipity Restaurant for 9. Allen, Melanie and family will join us for the next week of cruising. Now that we are up in the more northern area of the lake there are more islands, anchorages and areas to explore.
Don't fret if we don't blog on a regular basis. There just isn't as much wifi/internet service on the water and surrounding islands in Lake Superior. We will blog when we have service available.
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