Life on Zingara

Wahoo! We made it through the swing bridge!   Here's a picture of Ken & Inga leading the way. Thank you, MK and Mike, for your efforts to learn more about the repair schedule! While chatting with Ken and Inga last night, they invited us to follow them and stay overnight at their marina, Lagoon City.  It is on the eastern shore of Lake Simcoe, about an hour from the entrance to the Trent River Waterway.  So with a plan on hand, and Bloody Marys  (it’s Thirsty Thursday everywhere!)  up on the Flying Bridge,  we started off on to Lake Couchiching, the Narrows (Orillia) then into Lake Simcoe! Check out the cool "divided" flag,  and the fabulous rock-patio that we saw along our way! At Lagoon City, we had a wonderful dinner, while sitting outside, and watching the sun set. Afterwards, we joined Ken & Inga for a nightcap and more advice & stories, on their boat. Then, off to bed --- to prepare for the n...

We were up and travelling by 8:30 AM,  from our semi-private anchorage, Discovery Cove.  Before we left, we saw/heard a Loon, about 30 yard off our bow.  It dove underwater before I could get a picture of it.  The loon made me think of my sister-in-law, Jennifer --> because she likes loons, and they have 1,2 or 3 often on Major Lake, NOT because she is “looney”! I took the loon-sighting as a good sign. I think both Rick and I were a bit anxious and concerned about starting the Lock system today. The channel getting to the first lock was narrow and shallow, but fairly well marked.  I still can’t believe we made it through those two markers. Per our Cruising Guide, Lock Masters don’t use the VHF radios; boats alert them of their arrival via cell phones or 3 horn-blasts. And unfortunately, our Cruising Guide is written as if a boat is traveling from east to west, not west to east, so we had to read ahead and try to figure out --- “is that low swing b...

Wow!  It is so beautiful here – lots of ROCK! clear water and sunshine!  But very few other boaters  >>> good and bad. Good – as we have the docks/marinas/anchorage’s to ourselves; Bad – as we were hoping for some advise/suggestions about the Trent Severn. It seems as if few people are travelling as the schools have started here in Canada as well..  What a big difference from the lively/busy/crowded lifestyle of Jefferson Beach Marina just a couple of weeks ago. Today, we left the quiet MacGregor's Harbor,  and traveled 7 hours across the southern part of Georgian Bay to the little town of Penetanguishene, Ontario (you’ll have to Google it)   We had wonderful weather, and fabulous travelling.  Our way in reminded us of Grand Traverse Bay, with the small thin peninsula in between, and lots of boats.  Unfortunately, Penetanquishene turned out to be a very disappointing town (and a bit scary!) So we anchored...

 Happy Birthday, Mom!    .... and the date that will always be sobering throughout our  US history. After a trip to the grocery store, we left Tobermory, traveling east, southeast around the Bruce Peninsula.   After viewing our charts, wind & weather apps., we decided to  head towards the protected area of MacGregor’s Harbor to anchor for the evening.  This was the first time, since my accident, that I was dropping the anchor.  But I did it!  With just a slight hesitation, complete concentration, and with my new rule>> hands on the railing before foot on the (electric-motor) winch button. It ended up being a fine place, although we had to use our Danford anchor, not the usual Bruce anchor, due to the weeds.  But, fortunately, we got settled in for the evening, and ...  WOW ... what an  awesome view of the Niagara Escarpment! The Niagara Escarpment is  –  "a series of lakeside bluffs that run...

We left Kincardine at 7:00, to start our 7-hour trip up to the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula, to the town of Tobermory.  The winds were light, and the travel was easy.  Rick even took a nap while I steered from the lower helm.  The only not-worthy thing was that (against my explicit regulation) we couldn’t see land for nearly 3 out of the 7 hours of the trip.  Since the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, we don't usually follow the shoreline.   But, as the weather was so fair, I gave in and followed the course. We had been to this little town of Tobermory 3 years ago (by car) when we stopped here for the ferry to take us to Manitoulin Island at the start of a North Channel Sailing trip.  It hadn’t changed much, still lots of ice cream, T-shirts, and Glass-Bottom Boat rides!  Except now it had a microbrewery!  You can just see Zingara's bow peeking out from beyond the red kayaks . I...

We woke up to beautiful, sunny, yet cool (50 degrees) morning at the Village of Bayfield Marina, in Bayfield, Ontario. (and I broke down and put on PANTS and SLIPPERS!)  After a quick breakfast on the boat, we followed Paradox out of the channel; Marc and Fran on Paradox  they headed south back to Lake St. Clair, we headed north to the Scottish-settled town of Kincardine.  Every Summer Saturday night since 1948, at 8:00 pm., the Kincardine Scottish {Bag} Pipe Band leads tourists and locals through town in small parade, ending at a town square.  As last weekend was their last “summer Saturday”, we missed the spectacle, but instead, enjoyed a wonderful meal at “The Bruce Steakhouse”, sitting on their back patio.   And enjoyed a fabulous sunset from Zingara’s flying bridge, while sipping “Dark & Stormies” – Rum and Ginger Beer.  Sweet Dreams!