Day 284 - June 25, 2014: Anchorage in Echo Bay

Before departing South Bay Cove Marina, we took a morning walk around the grounds. They have done a lot of landscaping, creating eating and entertainment areas, playgrounds, and a lookout point over the rocky water's edge. There is also a swimming beach (no Lake Michigan sandy beaches in sight so far in the Georgian Bay). 

Cute wife, unusual bridge

Not so sandy beach

A small cove, unmarked on the charts but referred to by locals as “Hockey Stick” for its shape, had been suggested as a place we must see. Since it was relatively close, we decided to make a side trip and have lunch there on the hook. You can see Great Laker about to enter it on the chart plotter, and we went in all the way down the "stick" and into the middle of the "blade." I dropped what I call “the lunch anchor,” which is my third backup. It is a very small, light Danforth anchor, and it held nicely in the very low winds in what surprisingly turned out to be a muddy bottom.

Chart plotter view of Hockey Stick Bay (to the upper right)

Tight turn to starboard to enter the "blade"

View off the side of the boat

View off the bow to the end of the bay

Moving on north, the channel winds between hundreds of islands of all sizes, and in a couple of spots the channel is fully exposed to the open Georgian Bay waters. With Anne taking a turn at piloting and doing a great job of keeping us safe, I was able to spend time up top taking some pictures of the never-ending scenic beauty.

View off the top of one of the 30,000 islands

Unusual colored rocks

Another recommendation by both locals and the guide books is to anchor overnight in Echo Bay. It has a very narrow entrance and opens up into a small round bay where we joined four other boats which were nicely spaced for privacy. Here we dropped the main claw anchor, but with virtually no wind it will not be much of a test. These pictures in the overcast do not do justice to this bay. Maybe more tomorrow? 

Entrance to Echo Bay - be cautious

View of three other lucky boaters

For a change, we dropped the dinghy and went about two miles back to what is billed as “The World Famous Henry’s Restaurant.” It is the only one for many miles around and serves Great Lakes fish. This was the first opportunity to take the dinghy out since restarting our trip, and going eighteen mph instead of eight mph was quite exciting. The food was just OK. 

Anne captured Great Laker using her phone camera as we came back. The American Tug fits into this environment so well. 

Great Laker on the hook in Echo Bay