July 20-24,2011 . . . Enter Georgian Bay to Byng Inlet

The first navigational challenge in the Georgian Bay is just after you depart Port Severn . . . you travel through the "Potato Patch."

First a tight 90 degree turn to port, a short narrow distance and a starboard turn of again 90 degrees; shallow water and rocks all around.


From the entrance into the bay SONATA coursed to Beausoleil Island and the northeastern inside bay.

After anchoring we were visited by "Bonnie's-Loon".

She was calm . . . then started to talk . . .

Talking to another loon on the other side of the bay.

Then she got so excited that she was yelling . . . could see the veins in her neck...


Beausoleil Island was, is, a popular place for the canadian vacationers, so popular that SONATA decided to move on to a more peaceful place. Off to Bone Island.

The passage took us through Starvation Bay. A narrow entrance not uncommon with the Georgian Bay waters.

Narrow channels, beautiful waters, all so wonderful. (Temperature is cool, all the time)

Passing one of the Georgian Bay's land marks we must make a comment. This is Henry's on Fryingpan Island . . . a "must-stop" for most boaters ... for a fried fish dinner. We stopped in 2007 . . . no need to stop again.

One of the challenges on the charts is the "Canoe Channel"; and after quiet evenings at Bernadette Bay and Richard's Bay . . . SONATA decided to transit the channel. It is narrow, but not as frightening as the chart would have you believe. The chart says vessels greater than 40' should not transit....

Next was the Umwah Island channel

This tight, narrow, close space is one of Charlie's favorites in the Georgian Bay.

On our way to Byng Inlet to meet up with Don and Theresa we passed another "Kiawah Island."

A dress-up night for dinner at The Little Britt Inn, Byng Inlet. Dinner was very good . . . the owner needs customer service training.

July 19, 2011 . . . Back to Canada; Orillia to the Georgian Bay

Proceeding West from Orillia to Port Severn.

Our evening arrival at the "Big Chute" places SONATA first in line for a lift in the early morning. The travel-lift will take SONATA from one waterway over the roadway and back into the water.

Up over the roadway, then on the way down, down into the water on the West side . . . next stop Port Severn and the Georgian Bay.

We traveled through narrow passages and look everywhere for wildlife, in particular a moose. This was the only one we saw.........

Out of the Port Severn Lock, the last of the Trent-Severn Waterway and Lock System . . . into the Georgian Bay.

July 14-18, 2011 . . . The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, via Enterprise rental in Orillia, USAir from Toronto . . . off to the Sanctuary on Kiawah Island, the Patterson Dental Company recognition trip.

The limo took us through the oaks over-hanging the road to Kiawah.

The Sanctuary, arrival, then down the halls and off to our room and preparation for the evenings events.

The view outside the room...

The first evening Bonnie was greeted by

SCOTT ANDERSON, Patterson Dental Companies, CEO

Charlie and Bonnie at the Recognition Dinner.

Bonnie is called to the stage to receive her Recognition Award from the President of Patterson Dental Company. While speaking about Bonnie, the President recaped Bonnie's long dental history, her outstanding performance with Patterson, and thanked her for her long dedicated service. He along with the attendees then and wished her well on her retirement cruise aboard SONATA.

We were fortunate during the trip to Kiawah to be in South Carolina the same time as Jonathan, Brandi, and Taylor were vacationing at Folly Beach. We spent a day on the beach with them and dinner in Charleston before returning to Canada and SONATA.