May 27 - The End of an Era.
Yesterday we had to run into the post office in Massey to pick up a proof copy of Jen's latest legal text. We took the opportunity to take our good friend Mary to lunch at a local bistro. Jen had this. And here is Mary.
Mary and her hubby, and my old pal, Eli, moved north from Toronto back in the '80s. Unfortunately for all of us, Eli passed away last July 4. This is the house he built.
And so this morning, after 4 delightful days visiting with Mary, it was time to say cheerio. Mary has sold the old homestead and is moving to Smiths Falls, down by Ottawa, next month. We're heading to Ottawa to get our US visa (you need one if you want to visit the US for more than 6 months, just in case you were wondering). So we're hoping we might be able to touch base with Mary in her new digs.
The drive to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island was nice. The sun was shining – it had been foggy earlier – and the temperature was pleasant.
We pulled into Little Current on the island for coffee. It's a busy little place and we found Local Beanz for coffee. Afterwards we walked the boardwalk towards the single lane bridge, and back that connects the island to the mainland. Along the way we found these information boards.
It's almost the end of May and tulips are just blooming!
A short distance south of Little Current is this lookout. We last visited here in 2009 on our way to Nova Scotia. Mary played tour guide for a day and drove us out here. The view today, while rather foggy over the water, is considerably different than that winter's day back in '09 when ice covered the water and the wind howled like the dickens.
We arrived at South Baymouth and the ferry terminal with lots of time to spare.
While Jen rested, I walked around the ferry terminal and the boat marina. I had forgotten
how clear Georgian Bay water is!
The ferry soon appeared steaming down the narrow channel. It
looks just like an early version of a BC Ferry. And so it should; it
has been in service since 1974!
While Jen and I both thought the ferry would sail in the direction it was pointed, we were both wrong. The ferry did a 180 turn in the narrow channel and steamed back out the channel it came in.
Here is a graphic of the circle road tour around Georgian Bay.
On the trip to Tobermory at the top of the Bruce Peninsula, we passed many islands, both big and small. Here is the lighthouse on Cove Island, just a short distance from Tobermory.
Once off the ferry, we headed south towards Owen Sound through green fields. We decided to check out a municipal park in Owen Sound for the night. We arrived just before 8 pm, found a nice site, and decided to stay for a couple of nights. We'll head out Sunday morning for points east.
See you later.
