Deeply disappointed that I felt to need to return home on Friday. I ended up staying three nights in Parry Sound instead of one hoping my G.I. upset would finish. It did not so I rested and did go back to the Bay once and then we headed home Friday morning by eight.
Here are a few images before we left. Isla has never slept on my bed, but she was right at home immediately jumping on the hotel bed! At first I was alarmed, but she was great, no sign of spoiling, and we did pay a pet fee.
This is the best map of the Great Lakes
Was surprised at how many EV charging stations they provided. It is part of Best Western so maybe that has something to do with it? Seems like Tesla has something to do with it, also.
The hotel had a special message for guests to not litter in order to protect the animals. They had to take the litter boxes away.
This is where we unexpectedly spent two nights. Nice location, close to the water and in town.
Was surprised to see the sign when we arrived. It’s almost like we are in the middle of this town, and there are bears? Did not see one though.
Isla really did enjoy her new Kitty. She always checks out new toys very carefully and she loves ones with little ears, which is why I picked this one out for her. She approved.
Isla was an angel on this trip. She had so much fun and made so many new friends and was game for everything. She also was quiet in the hotel room when I would go get breakfast and a great car traveler. Could not have a better companion on the road or in life.
Yet we’re both happy to be back home, settling in, and she is pooped!
Sorry to disappoint with our aborted adventure. I’ll see what other information about the areas I was planning to travel to that I can share. I, of course, did a lot of research and I’ve been to Manitoulin Island and Batchawana Bay before so have photos.
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.
Circling the Lakes 