Georgian Bay

Cousin Ted and I decided to head up to Georgian Bay on Thursday for some fishing. As far as the fishing goes it was a disaster. Caught nothing! At least we were prepared. Had a cooler full of food and drinks. We went to a place near Honey Harbour. There's a cottage rental place there which also rents boats, it's called Hall's Cottages. Everything is right on the harbour and the cottage rates are pretty good, though there is no seclusion. So we got up there at 8am, rented a boat and were off for the day.

As we set off we got a photo of one of the cottages they rent.

Slow ride out of the harbour.

One thing we did do out there was practice some basic navigation skills. I have charts of the area and we used landmarks and chart symbols to navigate through the channel, some inner bays, a couple marinas, and out into open water...where we marooned ourselves on Doom Island. Actually it's a rock with two trees on it and is too small to have a name so we named it ourselves! Stopped here in this patch of rocks, went ashore and tried fishing from here. Ted had a bite and got it real close to shore but this is Doom Island, and the fish got away...

Such a lonely, desperate time on Doom Island.

Crayfish hunting on Doom Island. Caught a few to use as bait but no luck still. This is after all...Doom Island!!!

Poor cousin Ted...stranded on...Doom Island!!! Ya, I should mention, poor cousin Ted got something of a nasty burn out here, despite going through 12 litres of sun block. But we should have expected as much. This is after all...Doom Island!!!

We still had a great time. In total we spent about 10 hours on the lake. Ted took the helm for a while too. Gave him a few simple instructions and he was boating in no time. We'll make a skipper of you yet, young lad!

So off we went, leaving Doom Island behind us and back into the bays and harbours. Stopped of at a couple marinas, got more drinks, checked out the local talent, refueled, and finally went back to Hall's cottages.

Stalking

Hehehe. Went out today and found me some woods. Gotts get a shot of these camoflauge clothes in the field. They are patterned for fall hunting season so the background was still a bit green, but what the heck.

Be vewy, vewy quiet, I'm hunting wabbits!

Oh look, thewe's one now!

The pirate, the cowboy, and indy

Wow, this was one crazy week. Can't believe I crammed so much into 7 days.
It started with the weekend. Saturday and Sunday I took my last 2 sailing classes. Honestly, I can sail. There really isn't that much to it. Did quite well too. I almost volunteered to be the man overboard for the COB (crew overboard) rescue training. Glad I didn't. I'd still be there today waiting for those guys to get me. Had tons of fun and spent most of the 2 days on the water. Writing the exam on the 15th but that will be more of an excersise than a test (I actually read the book! What's wrong with everyone? Why don't people just read the book?) I'm trying to find a course for VHF radio operators license and coastal navigation. Impossible to find in the summer. As part of my course they gave me a social membership at the Whitby Yacht Club. I'll have to get my porter to find me suitable accomadations near the marina. Not really a big deal but it means I can hang out on Wednesdays and offer my services as crew on any boat for the weekly races. Good practice without having to rent a boat.
Still need a decent photograph of me on a yacht though. By the way, this makes my a licensed day skipper (captain will still do just fine). Not that you legally need a license to sail but you'll not be renting a boat without it!


So the next day I went for dinner with Steve who was leaving the following day for a 16 day trip to Macedonia. Apparently staying on a hillside hotel kinda in the country but close to town. Have tons of fun Steve!!

Tuesday I started my riding lessons. Nice little farm in Pickering called Stone Ridge. They certainly have the facilities but I don't see many people about. Maybe Tuesdays are only for us cowboy types. Getting full lessons starting with cleaning my horse, Raven, saddling her and putting a bridle on. Raven is a quarter horse and we're good friends now. Damn it, no picture of this either. I'll get one next week, with my cowboy hat on! Nothing too spectacular happened. I got on Raven, we walked in circles, then started trotting and I began my first real lesson, posting. Did OK but still need more practice. My ass did hurt just a little afterwards from the bouncing around for the first few laps.

Finally there was the camping trip to Massasauga Provincial Park. The campsites are boat access only and for a few you have to travel up part of Georgian Bay. I decided canoeing would be my mode of transport. Should have looked at the map more carefully before picking out my site. So I'm on a tiny canoe which after getting all my gear into it I only have a tiny spot at my feet to put my navigator in. And I crammed it. Had a bag tied with rope over the front seat. Canoed for 10 km against 10-15 km winds for about 90% of the trip. If you want to know what it's like do the following excersise; [fill your bathtub half way with water and the other half soil. mix it real good til you have a smooth mud. get a small shovel, sit on the side of your tub, put the shovel head completely into the mud near one end and drag it to the other end of the tub. you must do this at a reasonably good speed to avoid losing speed or worse, getting pushed backwards. you may take your first break in an hour. just continue this excersise for 4 hours not including the breaks you take, but don't break too long you still need to set up camp and get dinner started] Challenging but I gotta admit I enjoyed it. Got out to our site, set up camp and got dinner started. Over the next few days all we did was fish(Kiwi hates fishing), go for walks(Kiwi loves walks) and canoe about in our bay(Kiwi loves canoes). The nights are interesting out there. Lots of activity in the woods and the marsh. Something really big was walking around in the water and shaking itself off, probably deer but quite a surprise to wake up to. On the second night there was other noises that put Kiwi on high alert. Cutie thinks she can protect me so if I'm sleeping she'll jump on me and growl at anything that comes close to me. Thanks Kiwi!
I think next time I'll go with a power boat. Canoes are fine but out there the winds can really pick up and some areas get quite the waves. The ride back was much easier as the wind was on my back 90% of the way.



Kiwi earned rank of navigator on this trip!


View from camp. The site is just inside an inlet of the bay.

Catching some sun on the canoe, Kiwi took the picture.

Kiwi guarding the fort. She likes being out there but still needs her beauty rest.

Sailing - Part 1

Shiver me timbers.

Started up the sailing lessons this weekend. Went really well ,despite the rain and choppy waters. I did get a little queazy from all the pitching and rolling but didn't hurl. Two full days on the water and I'd say I've learned to sail, just need more practice. Had lots of fun on the second day when it was less instruction and more following orders from our skipper, Neil. Next weekend is the second and last part of the course then I write the exam.
That spectacular vessel you see above is the ship I'm learning on, it's a Tanzer 22. She's a real beauty ain't she! After this course I'll be able to take a boat up to 30 feet in moderate winds. Can't wait til next week!

Gear up!

Ok, all bases covered. A few additions to my equipment and now I'm ready for anything. Gotta have all your gear and it has to be ready to go at all times. Picked up a new tent, some paddles, some hunting clothes (I'm putting these to the test this week. I'll be video taping the effectiveness of high quality camoflauge, hehehe. Check in later this week for video.) binoculars(for bird watching of course) and a bunch of odds and ends.

Also I picked up a can of boat paint so I'll be giving the canoe a fresh painting this week. It's the least I can do, the canoe is on loan for the summer. Thanks Becks! By the way, why is that stuff so expensive?!

On my to-do this week is riding lessons. I've been on a horse before but lessons are the best way to improve skills quicker. So I got riding boots on stand-by and my cowboy hat, although they might make me wear a helmet in the beginning(also on stand-by) Place is in Pickering called Stone Ridge Farm. I'll let you all know how it is.

And Monday morning I'm stopping in Whitby to sign up for sailing lessons. It's 2 weekends, full days, total learn to sail but in a smallish boat in moderate weather. Gotta wait til fall to take my coastal navigation but I've learned how to navigate fairly well already. Charts people! There's a reason these things are made.

I've asked just about everyone if they want to go riding or sailing and it's no's all around so this will be solo. And as far as camping goes the job I'm doing will be finished this week so I'm marking myself 'unavailable' next week and I'm off to Massasauga for a few days. Looks like it'll be just me and everyone's favorite wildlife.

The most dangerous animal on the planet.
She likes camping, killing things, and chasing balls!

Sunfest and sunshine

What are you planning to do with that thumb dude?!

Can you believe it. First time out and he catches the biggest bass!! Well, arguably he stole that one from George. This is Lake Scugog. Joel and I headed out early and got a boat while George was sleeping or something, slacker. Nice thing about Scugog is that Port Perry is right on the lake. George called when he got into town and we simply drove the boat right up to shore behind the Tim Hortons. Lots of public access all over the lake, funny thing is it seems impossible to find from shore. Hmmm. We got some bass, only Joel's are worthy of mention though, a bunch of sunfish and some perch. Damn those muskie, I'll get one eventually.



London Sunfest. Uhhhh what's with the band?

Have to do it. Visit some of the festivals I spent so much time at in the past but was working to much to appreciate.
BACKGROUND: Used to import stuff from Thailand and spent most of my summer weekends working at festivals trying to sell it. Great job but would have been nice to have time to check out the festivals.
So here I am at London's Sunfest 2010. A 4 day fetival of something that begins this year on July 9th. It's a nice park set in downtown London. Not a great photo but I needed one for the record. Checked out some of the talent, stopped by to visit friends, and get a snack. Then POW, stupid phone rings and I gotta get back to Toronto to meet a client. Rain was starting up anyways.
Might hit London's Home County Fair this week, not sure yet.

Mush

Something for the whole family.
You'll need a slide, cut the ladder off, get a heavy duty rope, and a truck. I recommend grassy area for this as it reduces friction.
Steve, you're a champ!

MUSH, you lousy, flea bitten vermin, I say MUSH!