Southeast Wooded Pine Island

Southeast Wooded Pine Island is the perfect dinghy day trip for boaters anchored in the vicinity of Go Home, Monument Channel or Indian Harbour. In fact I have even made the trip from Hope Island on a 10’ dinghy with a 15 hp tiller engine but that was on an extremely calm day!

Coordinates: N44 59’ 19”, W80 1’ 7”

A beautiful island with stunning 360 degree views of Georgian Bay, the expansive flat bedrock top is easy to walk while the gently sloping sides provide wind protection for picnics and afternoon naps.

The shore is lined with small coves – many perfect to swim from – and if you stay late enough on a sunny afternoon you will be guaranteed a stunning sunset for the ride home!

Continue reading “Southeast Wooded Pine Island”

Blackstone Harbour: Waterfalls, Hiking and a few Ghosts!

Blackstone Harbour is one harbour that hides its treasures well!

Located deep within the Massasauga Provincial Park the narrow shallow entrance can be found off Woods Bay just north of Moon River Marina. Depth through the channel varies from a few inches to about 5’ so keep a bow watch going through and try to stay in the middle.

Upon first entering the harbour only the occasional campsite or cottage can be seen lining the shore, nothing to tempt you onwards. However looks can be deceiving, especially on Georgian Bay!

Continue reading “Blackstone Harbour: Waterfalls, Hiking and a few Ghosts!”

Cruising Georgian Bay 2024: My four week – 12 stop itinerary

Following May’s hectic pace of getting boats launched, cleaned and the winter gremlins cleared out, June is the perfect month to research, plan, and then begin your cruising itinerary for the summer.

For Georgian Bay I utilize my charts, Great Lakes Cruising Club binders, and Ports guide when planning our trips. Occasionally I will check Google Earth and/or Google images for additional info when heading into an unfamiliar area or just searching for places to explore by dinghy or on foot, like rivers and forests.

Continue reading “Cruising Georgian Bay 2024: My four week – 12 stop itinerary”

Cruising the Bruce Peninsula Part 1: Tobermory to Wingfield Basin

The Bruce Peninsula, part of the Niagara Escarpment and located in the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, divides Georgian Bay from Lake Huron and is both an amazing yet challenging area for boaters to explore.

Last summer we took our time cruising from Tobermory to Owen Sound, touring the rugged shoreline up close, and what an experience it was! In this “Part 1” I cover our travels along the north shore, with stops at Tobermory and Wingfield Basin, including short videos of the escarpment cliffs and basin entrance.

Continue reading “Cruising the Bruce Peninsula Part 1: Tobermory to Wingfield Basin”

A Taste of the Bay: A 7 Day Cruise Itinerary from Midland

During my Toronto Boat Show’s “30,000 Islands” seminar, a common question asked by attendees, especially boaters new to the Bay was “where do you recommend we go?” Well, that’s an easy one for me to answer! Georgian Bay’s eastern coast is an absolute treasure trove of destinations filled with fun activities for boaters, regardless the size or type of vessel!

Wide open water for the good days, secluded tree lined anchorages for the bad; all with great swimming, paddling, fishing, and hiking. Add in stunning sunsets, star-filled night skies, sugary sand beaches, delicious local food, amazing history and you will never want to leave! But how/where to combine all of that into a one week cruise?

To make the ‘where to go/what to do’ part easier, here is my “Taste of the Bay” itinerary which is a “short haul” trip but ticks all of the boxes above. This is ideal for boaters new to the Bay who wish to venture out and try some interesting places plus learn a little about Georgian Bay along the way. And all locations are pet friendly so nobody gets left out on this trip!

Continue reading “A Taste of the Bay: A 7 Day Cruise Itinerary from Midland”