We finally made it off of Georgian Bay. This bunch of rocks has the most
confusing set of navigation charts.
The Richardson's Chartbook, the Canadian Small Craft Route Charts, and
our Garmin Canadian charts chip all give different information – fun choosing
which to follow. And the Coast
Guard adds and removes buoys – a good idea to have them current, but it
obsoletes the charts. We've been following the buoys, when we could identify
them. Impossible without getting lost occasionally. But we are now in the Waterway and off of Lake Huron.
As has been usual lately: Ilona at the bow with binoculars,
paper chart, compass and walkie-talkie headset. Bob at the helm with chartplotter, depth-gauge, throttle,
wheel and the other walkie-talkie. Conversation: where-are-we and where-is-it
and watch-out-for-that-boat/rock/buoy/shoal/wake/gust.
Yesterday we got to the first lock, at Port Severn. We had
to wait for about an hour and a half, in a rock-infested pool with wind, current,
and about a dozen boats crammed into a small space (picture the turning basin
of most marinas). Everyone was trying to keep his or her boat moving very
slowly (steerage speed or less) and not hit anyone else. It was pretty frightening and a good chance
to practice motoring skills. We
finally got a spot on the wall to tie up and wait our turn at the lock. We hear this is the worst lock on the
whole waterway (we suspect most of them are).
Stopped for lunch in mid-afternoon, then on to the next
lock. Much nicer here – compared to the Georgian Bay Small Craft Route, there are less rocks
in the channel and well-posted buoys.
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