Day 304 – 8/3/24

Starting location: Anchored on Northeast cove by Shawanaga Island, in 30,000 islands area of Northern Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada

Weather: 70 am, 80 pm, sunny

Ending location: Moored on government dock at Pointe au Baril Station, in 30,000 islands area of Northern Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada

Statute miles: 7

General summary: We decided to check out the small town of Pointe au Baril Station as it wasn’t far away, the winds in the Bay were picking up, and there was a sheltered town dock which only cost $15 for the night (no power or water). On the way, we were puzzled by the number of small (water-ski sized) boats laden with heavy furniture. We assumed people were moving, but this seemed like a big coincidence. Turns out Point au Baril Station is the trash and recycling drop-off point for the area. Usually, people have to haul their bags to the transfer station down the street from the warf, but four times a year there is a service for bigger items. There was a truck on land that moved large shipping containers on and off a waterside platform and boat by boat docked and unloaded into them all day. Not sure we would have chosen to come here on “trash day” but it was interesting being a spectator of this side of cottage life. We talked to many locals who were super friendly and as curious about boating life as we were about cottaging. Found out that the water often freezes over in the winter and you can sometimes ski (or even drive a truck) to get to some of the islands from the mainland, though most people vacate them for the winter. This small town had a well-stocked combined grocery/homegoods/hardware/liquor store. There was a nursing station (equivalent to an urgent care center in the US). There was also a restaurant and two fish and chips stands down the street. Time for another yummy Pickerel meal. Once the trash service was over, things were calm and quiet. It was one of the hottest and most humid nights we’ve had and there was no good place to swim, but it looks like things will cool off a bit in the following week.