The Sterling Lady
On  America's Great Loop
for the Second time
8/3/09
The marina was packed full!
So I took the time to re finish the aft deck.
8/4/09
Today we saw Canadian Palm trees..

and Log Cabins...
and lots of houses on their own islands.
this part of the channel was hand dug in 1905
Here is two entrys in our boat name contest.
Going thru Lock 43, Swift Rapids, you are dropped 47 feet.
Check out the colored house on the hill?
Like a postcard
Then the moment we were looking forward to arrived....
We turned the corner and there it was, the Big Chute lift, which will carry your boat out of the water , up a small hill, and then down  the hill 57 feet. Here are some pictures of what that looks like!
The Lady and crew slept at the free mooring docks. We will lock thru tomorrow am.
8/4/09
8/5/09

This is the old chute, which they keep in operation, as a stand by. It can only take one boat at a time.
8:30 am Harmonie and The Sterling Lady on on the Blue line, as the Big Chute comes over the hill!  Now might be the time to mention, I have a fear of heights!!!
As we leave the water, Harmonie takes the oportunity to check their wheels. All ok.
At the cusp of the hill, starting down. Did I mention my PHOBIA of heights!!
Tranversing the hill takes a mere 10 minutes, but it sure seemed longer to me!!
and finally , splash down!
And we are outa here!
Seems the RCA dogs have retired
to the great white north.
Wondering if they
winter here also?
Two notable things about lock 45.  First, it's the last lock till Chicago, and two, the markers once again change sides. A critical thing to know as u will soon see.

The traffic got heavy as we approached our home for the evening, the anchorage in Frying Pan Bay.
.I finally got to use our dinghy.
After we anchored med style(recomended by Skipper Bob)
. We went over to the park docks
to explore the island.
The park has a well marked very natural path around the entire Island, about a 90 minute hike, well worth it . Here's some pics...
The day ended with Happy Hourz on the aft deck with this view.
8/6/09
We are now in Georgian Bay
This is another time your really HAVE to stay in the channel!!
In the early AM we eased by this very protected secluded anchorage.
There is some type of orange growth on some of the bolder's.
Canoe pass, not near as scary as the guide book portrayed. Plenty of room.
There was a full moon in our anchorage in Snug Harbor.
8/7/09
We passed the site of the original barrel, denoting safe
passage thru turbulent waters.
This original light house is open for tours.
My prayers were answered! We got lucky and were able to follow a local all day today, who knew the way. That made for stress free navigation thru these bolder lined channels.
There are times when I wish I had 2 engines, instead of just one.  Bolders were everywhere!
Lose power here and you are Sc$%wed!!
Todays journey had about 7 miles of exposed channel, but the angels were with us, and it was a smooth , uneventfull crossing.
@ $1.40 a foot, with good wifi, 2 resturants, 2 small grocery stores, and an LCBO (liquor store) will will stay here to ride out and an apporaching storm.
8/8/09
The marina store, grocery and supplies,with resturant on top.
The marina has 30 amp service, with floating finger docks.
Today will be trash and laundry day. yeah! I think when you go to hell, it's actually a laudry matt and your condemmed to stay until your laudry is done.
If you think we are not in the boonies, look up Britt Ontario on Google.
.
This is an Inukshuk, pronounced Inn-ook-shook, meaning "the image of man". They are stone figures of man originally built to act as guide post for the northern Canadian territories. They will the the official symbol of the upcoming Canadian Olympics in Vancouver in 2010. We have seen many of then along this trip.
8/0/09
We din't  leave until the fog at the marina cleared, about  9 am, but we ran into it again as we approached the lake. Vis dropped to about  half a mile, still doable.
As per usual. bolders were every where!
It was spitting rain, windy, and cold, so we stoped in our own private achorage, righ on the back channel.
The sun came out in the afternoon, so we went exploring in the dink. Here is what we saw up close...
This Fungus or Mold? is what gives this rock it's color------------------->>>>>>