August 6-9, 2011 . . . Benjamin Islands and departing Canada ... return to the United States of America

SONATA traveled West to the Benjamin Islands and the beautiful rock formations.

The shore-line in the Benjamin Islands, the rocks, the trees that are able to pull out a living. SONATA was in some 11-30 feet of water . . . checked the shafts, propellors, all looked well.

Continuing West on the 7th of August SONATA followed GREAT ESCAPE through the narrow opening called "Little Detroit". A small storm came up shortly thereafter and we pulled into an anchorage.

Using radar, the chartplotter, our depth sounder, and the good old Mark I, Mod 0 eyeball we anchored in the rain in Beardrop Harbour off Whaleback Channel.

Then, as always, God provides us the next morning with a beautiful sunrise, the promise of a new day . . . and we are ready to cross the top part of Lake Huron to St. Joseph Island and the Hilton Beach Marina.

A terrific day to travel some 50 plus miles; flat seas, a soft breeze.

West of Thessalon we see our first "Great Laker", an ore carrier.

The Hilton Beach Marina, St. Joseph Island, Ontario, Canada.

The morning of August 9th, another glorious sunrise for our travel to Sault St. Marie, Michigan and Lake Superior.

Looking back toward the East as we leave Hilton Beach we say good-bye to the Georgian Bay, the North Channel . . . our departure from that wonderful section of our travels and say hello to the deer passing under our bow.

We approach and then pass the light on Boswell Island.

Then on to the Twyning Bridge as we enter the channel to pass around Sugar Island.

Each time in the shower as I wash my eyes . . . scanning to the West, some 600 yards away, the first eagle of the trip is spotted perched in a tree on Advance Island. The photograph is not as good as the actual view, nonetheless, thanks is given to God for the gift of eyesight and the professional eye care received from Drs. Howard Ossen and Mark Pavilack of Virginia Beach; thank you!

Traveling around Sugar Island, Canada is on the right, the United States of America is on the left.

Arrival in the harbour, Sault St. Marie, Michigan and Ontario...

Into the canal and lock to pass into Lake Superior.

Lake Superior

SONATA returns to the lock with the local tour boat NOKOMIS and a cheering crowd . . . into the lock, then out of the lock and over to the GEORGE KEMP Michigan Marina . . . refuel . . . some 400 gallons of diesel to fill SONATA's hungary belly . . . $$$.

July 30-August 5, 2011 . . . On to Little Current from Collins Inlet

After Collins Inlet we traveled on to Killarney and spent two nights at the Sportsman's Inn and Marina.

The best thing about Killarney was the fried fish from the bus. Great fish all fresh, just cooked, ate there twice!

How do you want to travel, boat, sea-plane . . . as we leave Killarney we pass the sea plane in the channel close aboard SONATA's port bow.

From Killarney to Covered Portage Cove . . . for an overnight and a climb to the mountain top.

Sunrise in Covered Portage Cove.

On the mountain top, Bonnie, Theresa, Don (Charlie is in the dingy to take the picture). A telephoto shot, then a distance shot . . . way up there.

Having moved to Beaver Island Harbour off Strawberry Island . . . another beautiful sunrise.

Ice cream and Fish and Chips . . . at the end of the dock in Little Current; what a wonderful day. The hour is just past noon, Bonnie has returned from the grocery with a chicken . . . lunch. The bridge just opened and many new boats arrived.

July 24-29, 2011 . . . Byng Inlet to Collins Inlet

The entrance into the Cunningham Channel. When you enter this channel you cusomarily give a call on channel 16 announcing your entrance, direction of travel and the size of your vessel. It is tight.

In the channel, pass the green to port and the red triangle on the rock island, to starboard.

After a windy night in Sandy Bay we moved on to the Bustard Islands. This little dingy channel connects the two sides of the island's anchorage grounds.

The collection of boats at the Bustards included GREAT ESCAPE, SONATA, STRANGER (a Grand Banks woodie from Ohio), DRAGON FLY and others.

A rock statute on the beach near SONATA's anchorage. The rocks are called an INUKSUK (plural inuksuit) which is a stone landmark or cairn (man made pile of stones) built by humans. The inuksuk may have been used for navigation, as a point of reference, a marker for travel routes, fishing places, camps, hunting grounds and have been of varying sizes and shapes. Inuit describes the various groups of indigenous peoples who live in central and northeastern Canada.

Collins Inlet is just below those little mountains . . . we are on the way.

A tight entry marks Collins Inlet . . . with a fast boat on the way to SONATA's bow . . . nonetheless, we made it!


The inlet, our travel down it, our anchorage at Keystone Island . . . all so very pretty.

SONATA resting in the midst of God's beauty, God's peace. What a wonderful, beautiful, peaceful surrounding! Collins Inlet.