Category Archives: Boats

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Parry Sound morning with Isla

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The weather was glorious and drove the short distance to the Island Queen dock. They did have a three-hour cruise that day out to many islands, but I could only go with Isla if she was in one of those plastic crates. She said “no.”

Across the way was this Canadian treasure.

Ontario has close 100,000 moose

Large coveted gravel pile also across the water on the shoreline.

Love the words on the Island Queen.

Isla said hello and got lots of cuddles as we walked to the end of the pier. While she tries to say hello to everyone, even whining annoyingly, I wait until someone says “can I pet your dog?” Of course! I don’t photograph them out of privacy concerns.

We walked to the end and back several times as my GI issue became a thing.

There’s a large restaurant and a nice coffee shop with lots of outdoor seating–including the red chairs–and fun signs.

I actually saw no trash anywhere on the pier or the parking lot. Nice. Signs like this I think can make a difference. At least in Canada.

I love marinas anywhere I find them. And his freshly enjoy seeing what people name their boats. I used to know this style of boat and I did like the name Marabel.

Made even better with the Mini-Bel on top!

Stopped to video the lapping of the waves on the IslandQueen, bring such happiness having grown up plying Lake St. Clair in my dad’s wooden boat, Eclipse.

Isla and I got back in the car intent on finding a bookstore and lunch. And boy did we find a bookstore! A used bookstore called Bearly Used with so many books and aisles it was absolutely overwhelming. Fortunately, I was just looking for children’s books for the three children who have moved next-door to me (don’t ask). I had asked their mom their interests and was went to the very back of the store for the children’s books section.  I think I found one each child would like, they are five, four, and three. I also got an extra one on animals for the parents to read to them.

I convert to Canadian cash especially for small businesses. The owner not only noticed but thanked me. I told her I do this on purpose.

Around the corner, I bought some haddock fish and chips from a shop called Seguin. We had long discussion about our dogs. I left Isla in the car, but of course I got out a photo. She has a tiny Yorky called Minnie and a couple of Chihuahuas, one called Mouse.

I drove back down to the Sound and walked away to the end of the pier and had some of my fish and chips in the shade.

Unfortunately my G.I. issue was getting more pronounced so I didn’t eat very much, stopped in bathroom (TMI?), and we went back to the car.

Plan was to head to Killarney Provincial Park, but just a few minutes on the road and I turned back for Imodium and called and then checked into a hotel that was pet friendly and had a first floor room.

Just what I needed. And this morning I added on another night here to give myself a full day of rest so skipping Killarney and going right to Manitoulin Island tomorrow, assuming my GI issue resolves.

Gorgeous boulders line the back of the hotel, I think they may be part of the Niagara Escarpment.

isla’s new Kitty is pointing to Perry sound. You can probably figure out where Ann Arbor is a relation as I wrote about this plan, I never planned to go this far in one day.

And here is me trying to illustrate how far Parry Sound is from Ann Arbor. The paw of Isla’s new kitty points to Parry Sound  and I think you can see approximately where Ann Arbor is. As I wrote yesterday, going to Perry sound was my plan C.

And here’s me trying to illustrate how far Parry sound is from Ann Arbor.

Isla has been an angel throughout. She loves car trouble, and meeting new people and going new places, everything is thrilling to her.

Even though she happily sleeps in a crate at home, she immediately jumped on the bed as if she did it every night! and I let her.

Let’s see if there are any more adventures today and hopefully tomorrow it will be from Manitoulin Island. I’ll be staying in Providence Bay and the drive is about four hours.

I did post this to instagram and Facebook trying to capture the scale of these huge boulders with Isla in front. Doesn’t really do it.
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Via points and destinations

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When I have my GPS set for a location then decide to go someplace else, it asks me if I want the someplace else  (in this case Duluth) set as a new destination or added as a via point.  Tomorrow Grand Marais, MN, is my destination and I had planned to stop at Whole Food Co-op and a pet store in Duluth.  But in the world of RVing, stuff happens and in my case a small wet area between my refrigerator and heat pump grew today.  By capillary action, the moisture spread down the entire length of carpeting.  Fortunately, I have a plastic runner much of the way, but when I picked up my purse next to the driver’s seat and it was wet, I said “oh no!”

I went straight to the Internet to see about RV repair shops in Duluth. So Duluth is now an official via point so that O’Brien’s Mobile RV can figure out what is wrong.  I had this looked at in Ispheming and they didn’t find anything.  They thought Henry’s water dish must have spilled.  I’ve looked and none of the pipes under the sink are leaking.  I think it has something to do with condensation from the refrigerator, but why it appears in the middle of the aisle and not next to the refrigerator is a mystery.  O’Brien said he would find out exactly what the problem was unlike the folks in Ispheming.  I like that attitude.

Whether or not this means I won’t make it to my destination tomorrow, only time will tell.  I think every single RVing friend I have has changed or aborted plans more than once due to get something repaired.

Here was the rest of my morning (plus a RV chore that will remain unmentionable);

I saw this on drive back from the laundromat in Washburn.  I learned that Arlo Guthrie is performing tonight–all sold out:

And here are a few images from a late afternoon walk with Henry around Bayfield (all images taken with my iPhone):

Seems like most vehicles are carrying kayaks on racks

View not quite as nice without the sparkly sun and blue skies

View of Bayfield from the marina

I love the lines of boats. This one looks like a Viking ship.

The city hall, boat museum, and coast guard were right next to each other across from the marina.

Was glad to see this on large display in front of city hall.

Henry and I went back to the campground.  We had dinner, walked, and I had a shower so we can get an early start.  Then I groomed him and checked out the water along the carpet.  Still there; darn.  A storm system is on its way so may be a little noisy tonight.  Since I started RVing, I keep three or four weather apps on my iPhone. This way I can travel before and after storms.  The winds are the big problem with RVs.  Winds=staying put.

So I’ll end with this photo of Ecovision at our campsite.  She’s up on a couple blocks on one corner to get her level.  This is essential for an RV refrigerator, which is completely different than our household variety.  The blocks will be a bit of a mess to clean up in the morning if we do get rain.  Ah, the RV lifestyle!

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Boat tour amongst the 22 Apostle Islands

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Apostle Islands tour boat the Island Princess

For some reason I was wide awake at 5:30 this morning.  I finally got up and into the campground shower at 6:30.  By 8:30 I was driving to Bayfield to put Ecovision and her precious cargo–Henry Boy–under a couple of large shade trees on Second Street that I found yesterday.  I had the air conditioner blasting on high the entire way to cool it down as much as possible.  Then I completely closed up Ecovision by putting insulating panels on every single window, sun shades on the front window, and turning the ceiling fan on.  Then I had to let the worries go and trust that Henry would snooze and be comfortable. Of course, a couple times during the day I had to reject visions of coming back to a wildly panting or even passed-out dog.

I was one of the first five or six people in line at 9 a.m. for the 10 a.m. cruise on the Island Princess.  We watched this little Yorkie run around a yacht while we waited to board.

Being that early was a good thing because they can only let 50 people on the top deck.  Top deck is necessary to take photographs and in my mind to truly enjoy the experience.  I grew up boating with my family on Lake St. Clair and come alive when on boats of any kind.  Get my sea legs quickly and press my face into the wind.

And yes, another perfect day.  I took over 300 photographs so I’ll only post a few here, and they won’t be fully processed.  I took extensive notes during the narration and think I will be able to identify most of the individual islands, but not tonight.  First, it might be helpful for you to see a map of the tour of the Apostle Islands:

I took the orange “grand tour” and was able to view all 22 islands

This is the view of the hilly and picturesque town of Bayfield as we pulled out of the dock:

Bayfield, Wisconsin

Sandstone cliffs, ledges, and caves are the identifying feature of the Apostle Archipelago.  I believe this is Basswood Island that was extensively quarried.  The second image shows quarry remains.

The islands are so much larger than I imagined and the distance between them wide.  You can a sense of it by finding the powerboat on the left side of this image of some of the islands in the archipelago.  (I should mention that the images in this blog are copyright protected so if you would like a copy please contact me for information on archival-quality prints.)

Apostle Archipelago

The National Park Service has preserved a fishing village where up to a dozen–but more likely two or three–fishers would stay.  Supplies of fresh ice would be brought to them each day, and some diehards would be out there in November for the herring.

Preserved fish camp on Manitou Island

Someone was nice enough to offer to take a photo of yours truly.  So here I am feeling a little lost without my camera, but with notebook in hand.  Forgive the Lake Michigan tshirt while I’m experience Lake Superior islands.

Karen Vigmostad enjoying the Apostle Archipelago aboard the Island Princess
August 14, 2012

I’ll share a couple more before I go to bed.  This shows an island where the sandstone cliffs form beautiful caves that kayakers seek.  This photo also includes one of the six lighthouses in the archipelago.

Unique sandstone caves and an island lighthouse

I’m crazy about clouds and caught many images of the few clouds of the day (I keep meaning to join the Cloud Appreciation Society based in Britain).  This is one image from today:

It actually wasn’t a great day for sailing because there was almost no breeze.  But a few came out toward the end of our four-hour cruise and of course looked as lovely as can be.

All of us on the top deck were a little weary at the end of the cruise.  But satisfied!

As for Henry, I practically ran to Ecovision.  When I opened up the back door Henry yawned, stretched, and wagged his tail.  It was even pleasant inside.  Whew.  So I treated him to a nice walk along the waterfront, and I’ll share this one last not-so-great photograph of him. Tomorrow I may take the ferry to Madeline Island, or I may just head to Duluth then points north!  But for now, it’s our bedtime.

Henry Boy near Bayfield Marina

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Preview of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron

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Life has gotten hold of me as I finally settle into Ann Arbor.  I did take four days over Memorial Day for a photo safari to Tobermory, Ontario.  Tobermory is at the very northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula and the gateway to the Georgian Bay and tens of thousands of islands.  This is also where you catch the ferry to the world’s largest freshwater island, Manitoulin.  It was an amazing trip focusing on endangered coastal wildflowers, rocks, lighthouses, and Flowerpot Island.  I’ll save most of these photos until I circle Lake Huron, but thought I might brighten your day with an image of this classic red Canadian Coast Guard vessel, the Cape Commodore.