Burntside Adventures: Georgian Bay and the North Channel

I swear Canadian internet is third world. Our access has been pretty limited, and despite Verizon's plan which is supposed to give unlimited data even in Canada, they cut me off at 0.5 gigs of data. When I am using the internet for navigational support, that data allotment can be gone in a couple of hours. Anyway, we have crossed the Big Chute portage and into Georgian Bay, up the small craft "inside channel" on Georgian Bay, passed the Little Current narrows and swing bridge, and into the North Channel. The Big Chute was very cool. The boat was loaded on a rail system and hauled out of the water for 600 feet to the landing below. I videoed the trip and will post it when our internet is better. Reminded me again of Loon River. Our weather has been spectacular for crossing the big water, often just flat calm. We have had some beautiful camps. Georgian Bay using the inside route is beautiful. This whole country is like being at home. The rocks, plants, birds and critters are all the same. The inside route does pose interesting challenges navigtionally. Much of it is following the bouys and mrkers and in places they or only 30 feet between the reds and greens, and the bottom isn't Georgia mud if you make a mistake. We anchored the first might in Georgian Bay at Beausoliel Island, part of the Parks Canada system. Cindy got a run in on their trail system and I got a good paddle. Monday heading up the shore we anchored at Snug Harbor the next night, protected with a few cabins around. The Canadians call them cottages. Tuesday we took a bit shorter day to the Bustard Islands, anchoring in a long narrow deep channel called the "Gun Barrel". The water looked pretty fishy and I made a good effort but I swear it's the dead sea. Yesterday we crossed the top of Georgian Bay, all straight deep water, through Little Current, which has a swing bridge that opens on the hour. We timed it so we only had to wait 15 minutes or so, then made camp at the Benjamen Islands at the same place we anchored 10 years ago when we chartered a boat from Canadian Yacht Charters with Barry and Bethanie. It is one of the prettiest spots we have been. High bald pink granite hills, like Warrior Hill an Lac La Croix, only on steroids. Today we hope to cross the rest of the North Channel setting us up to go trhough the Soo Locks tomorrow and into Lake Superior.