After going to BYH for a pump out, water refill and a check of our turbos, we were off down the TSW.

We did a couple locks and then tied up in Rosedale for a couple nights, we then crossed Balsam Lake and were just through the first  long Trent  cut, when we were hit by a thunderstorm,  we dropped anchor and waited it out. We then continued through Mitchell and Canal Lakes as well as the Kirkfield lift lock.  We tied up at Bolsover, where we had rain off and on for the next 5 hours.  We stayed an additional day, and met up with Julie and Glenn on Sunday for a visit.

  On Monday we started locking through the last 5 locks around 9 am in order to reach Lake Simcoe.  In the first lock we were alone, but had 3 other boats with us for the final 4.  We reached the lake at 11:45, and arrived at the Port of Orillia around 2 pm.  After doing some chores- laundry and grocery shopping, we relaxed.  On Monday we left just before 9 and headed up Couchiching Lake, we arrived at the train bridge before 10:00, it was posted that it would open around 10:45, but it was 11:20 when it finally opened.  We were boat number 7 of 14 that were waiting.  We had already decided to tie up in Couchiching for the night, so went to the grey line.  It took several lock downs to clear the backlog of boats.  We spent the night at Couchiching and moved on to Swift Rapids the next day, and were able to get a spot with power.  We spent two nights there before moving to the Big Chute for a night.

  On Saturday the 15^th we moved to Port Severn lock  for two nights. Since it was a sunny day, the lock was extremely busy with people going out to Georgian Bay.  On Sunday, Tom and Peggy, came and picked us up and took us grocery shopping in Coldwater,  we then went back to their trailer, for snacks and wine.  For dinner we drove over to Queen’s Quay in Victoria Harbour.  On Monday morning we locked out into the Bay, and went to Wye Heritage for 3 nights.  Our dinghy went in for repairs on Monday afternoon, and was picked up Wednesday morning, our diesel mechanic, who boats out of Wye Heritage, provided the transport to CO2 in Midland.  We had dinner the first night at Fin City, and met Don, the boat broker who had sold us On Business, 12 years ago. On Wednesday afternoon, we had a boat electrician come onboard, and assess our electrical systems.  We will be seeing him again, before we head back to the Trent. On Thursday, after a pump out and the addition of diesel, we left Wye Heritage and headed to Frying Pan bay on Beausoleil island.  We anchored out with about 14 other boats, as all the docks were occupied.  On Friday morning, when a dock was vacated, we moved and tied up. 

Around noon on Friday, Heart Tug, with Randy and Audrey arrived and were able to tie up next to us.  In the afternoon we visited and shared stories about our summer.  On Saturday morning, we left and travelled towards Massasauga Park,  we anchored for two nights in Ladas Bay, it was quite windy, so we had to repositioned the boat.  On Sunday the wind howled until almost midnight.  Monday, we decided to move to Spider Bay, which we knew was a sheltered spot.

On Tuesday we left around 8:45 and headed up the South Channel towards Parry Sound.  We wanted to be there for the 11:00 opening of the Rose Point bridge,  we arrived early, and anchored out while we waited.  We went to Big Sound Marina, for day docking.  We were meeting our friend Brian, who was coming for another 5 day visit.  Brian took us grocery shopping, and we also got our propane tank re-filled.  Once our tasks were done, we made the 5:00  swing of the bridge and were back in Spider Bay by 6:45.  We anchored in the same area, near Starke island.  For the next 4 days, Andy and Brian went out two or more times per day in search of fish, they explored many of the small coves in the Spider Bay area by dinghy. 

They came back one day with a Bass, and caught another one on Friday, so we did have a fish dinner on Friday night, along with Corn on the cob, that we had purchased in Parry Sound.  One night while they were out fishing, I saw a black bear swim across the bay, as well as had a couple of white tailed deer, eating weeds very near to the boat. 

On Sunday we returned to Parry Sound to drop Brian off at his car, we arrived for the 11:00 opening of the Swing Bridge. After lunch at Chuck’s Roadhouse, Brian took us shopping, and then left for his 3 hour trip back to Bancroft.  We had noticed some issues with our new MPPT charger so Andy was in contact with Karl, who had installed it in July.  We stayed at Big sound marina over night, so that we could fully charge our batteries, do laundry and fill up with water. Georgian Bay is quite beautiful- full of rocks, trees growing in rock, and water!! Saw this tour boat arrive Monday morning.

Will be heading back to the numerous anchorages in Massasauga Park, before returning to the Trent for our September 25^th pull-out.  4 months is getting to be too long to be on the boat!