After a frustrating six full days of technical help aboard the Salty Dog from both Cummins and Mercury, we finally reached a point of diminishing returns and where the vessel seemed to be functioning well enough to set out. Six days with six sea trials each day finding a new alarm or problem had left us wondering whether we'd ever get away from Midland. The engine issues notwithstanding, Midland was a fortunate place to be held up with a variety of great restaurants, grocery stores and things to see and do - but we were anxious to make some progress on the Loop - and catch up with fellow Loopers who all seems miles and weeks ahead of us. The owner of the Bay Port Marina gave us a thorough briefing on where we should cruise in and amongst the 30,000 islands of the Georgian Bay - and marked up our charts so that we could plan a reasonable itinerary.

So we set out for Beausoleil Island with the intent of anchoring off this National Park a mere 15 miles from Midland - close enough so that in case we had a problem serious enough to merit returning to the marine center, we could. The east side of the island had a number of docks and anchorages that seemed attractive. We chose the Wana Keta dock as it had a sizable dock to fit Salty well inside the protected Beausoleil Bay, had access to the bike trails on the island and was a nice distance from the potentially noisy campgrounds to the south.

We arrived to find a few other boats on the dock - and some very friendly folks that immediately engaged us in conversation about Salty, where we were from, our journey and our onward plans. We had lunch aboard, and then set off our our bicycles to explore the island - heading south on the Huron trail, then the very muddy and not bicycle-friendly Treasure trail - arriving at the main campground and Parks Canada administrative post. The Heritage Trail that led south from the campground went past some of the buildings and cemeteries dating from the time when Beausoleil Island was a First Nation reservation from the 1840's to the 1930's, before nearly all the inhabitants moved to a new reservation on Christian Island. We rejoined the Huron trail and followed it to the southern tip of the Island - which historically was the launching point for Midland and Penetanguishene - where boats (and in the winter sleds and trails) connected the island to the mainland.

Thumb Point, Treasure Bay and Beausoleil Point

After returning to the boat, we swam in the crystal clear water off the dock and then inaugurated the dinghy (which to date had been folded up on our bow) and motored off to Honey Harbour to dock and dine at Flynn's Irish Pub. At a distance of about two miles each way, we were able to make it there and back using up less than 50% of the battery charge on the electric Torqeedo motor.

Sunset in Honey Harbour

When we returned it was dusk and our dock companions invited us to sit by a campfire they had lit on the shore - and we exchanged stories about the Loop and about life in the winter in this remote corner of Lake Huron. Did you know that you can ride a skimobile on open (unfrozen) water between islands if you are going fast enough (>40-60 mph)? Slow down and it sinks... Ice fishing, even in the heart of winter here, claims the lives of many who underestimate the treachery of the ice.

Then it was time to go to bed...