Rossport to Thunder Bay, Ontario - July 28 to August 7

July 28

We were looking forward to our trip to Nipigon today.  It is the most northern point on Lake Superior and has us crossing the 49^th parallel.  On the way we passed by more rock paintings.  We did take photos but truthfully we could not make out the art work.

Nipigon lost its paper mill plant about eight years ago and with it went most of the jobs in town.    The town looks depressed.  In spite of that, the people we met were welcoming.  The marina had the most interesting docks we have seen.  They were made with skinny planks and appeared to be quite sturdy.  The marina had a small park and sitting area.   The wifi did not work.

We did some shopping at the local grocery store but passed on the laundry.  The machines were antique looking.  Although we were going to stay for two days we opted to head to Red Rock the following day, a trip of 5 miles.

July 29-30

Red Rock is doing something right.  The town is well maintained and the marina facilities are excellent.  We asked one of the residents about jobs and they admitted there were few in town and most of the husbands worked out of town/out of province.

The marina center has brand new restrooms and showers, a laundry room with two new washers and dryers, an exhibit hall, and a restaurant.   Laundry is done.

We met the owners of another Monk36 who kept their boat at the marina.  It is a 1989 and was purchased last year.  He told us that owners have to get their boats on trailers and the town provides heavy machinery to pull it out of the water.   No boat travel lifts in this part of the country.

July 31

We are in for a few days of light winds.  So we plan to rough it for a few days and then head to Thunder Bay.

 It was a pleasant five hour cruise to the CPR anchorage/dock on St. Ignace Island.  This spot is owned by a Thunder Bay family and maintained by a group of boaters from the area.  Visiting boaters are invited to use the facilities free of charge.   On land is a cabin with a screened in porch, a separate building with a sauna, and three outhouses.  There are well marked trails, including one that leads to the other side of the island where benches have been placed.

Rusty napped a little on the way and that was when I saw two moose in the water, seemingly swimming from island to island, a span of about one mile.  By the time I decided Rusty would be disappointed not to see them, they had leaped to shore. 

We were the only ones here for about four hours and then one of the regulars from Nipigon arrived.  They have been coming for about 24 years.  A few other boats are expected tomorrow.  We may head to Otter Cove tomorrow.  If we get up this way again we will aim to arrive during the week and spend a few days.  It is truly beautiful here.

Rusty is still not 100%.  He is taking a treatment of Zantac.  No drinks.  Oatmeal, yogurt, rice. 

August 1

A four hour run brought us to Otter Cove.  We expected to see other boaters anchored there as it is a popular spot.  We had the place to ourselves.  There were only four boats on the water the entire time we were underway. 

Otter Cove is beautiful.  There is a small inlet at the end of the cove that leads to a waterfall.  We took the dinghy as far as we could and then hiked a short trail to water.

 It is hard to describe the extraordinarily beautiful landscape we have seen over the past few weeks.  It takes ones breath away.  The eyes feast constantly.

August 2-3

Two hours and we are now in Loon Harbor, another popular anchorage and we are alone again until the afternoon of the first day.  Four sailboats appeared.  It felt crowded after our weeks of solitude.

 It is beautiful here! There is easy access to shore and we took Gigi for a walk.  There are a couple of wood and rock benches along with a fire pit on shore.  We read that this is a place where boaters congregate for shore fires.

Four kayakers from Iowa camped on shore the second night.  They were headed for Rossport, travelling about 16 miles per day.

Rusty is feeling better.  YEAH!

August 4

We thought we would  head for Thunder Bay today but along the way we changed our minds and headed for Tee Harbor (east) where we picked up one of three mooring balls set out for boaters.  There were beautiful walking trails on shore.  It would have been easy to spend a few days here.

August 5-7

We are now in Thunder Bay and have rented a car to get around.  Yesterday was a trip to the Fort William Trading Post where there is the largest group of furs we have ever seen.  It was interesting to find out about this industry.

On the way back we stopped at a Dutch cheese farm and store.  They make a tasty cumin and clove cheese. Croquettes are in the freezer.  All is good.

We have had two chance meetings here.  The first was another gold looper (Tom and Barbara) Toba travelling around Lake Superior but in the opposite direction.  We got together over drinks and shared each other’s experiences, as they had just been to where we were going and vice versa.  The second were friends from Naples, Bob and Dianna, who are travelling by RV.  We had a terrific dinner with them at the Bight and tonight we will grill at their “home”.

We are off to Kakabecka Falls now.  Holland Bakery is a stop.  We also found a great Italian bakery and a Maltese grocery that has everything that might need to reprovision.