EllisIslandLoop: Saturday, July 29 - Baie Fine and The Pool

Saturday, July 29 - Baie Fine and The Pool

Breakfast out! It’s been a long time. The building had an interesting history. It was built for a family, when they moved out it was given to the church to house the nuns. Now it has five guest rooms and the restaurant downstairs. The waitress said this chimney was original. I ordered Belgium waffles with fresh fruit that was amazing!

We had planned to stay in Killarney two nights so we could attend the Fireman’s Benefit Fish Fry Saturday night. It’s a big deal in these parts. Tour boats even bring people from Little Current. Wouldn’t you know - the dance is Saturday night and the fish fry is Sunday night. So much for our plan.

Bake Fein is another “must,” according to most Loopers, so we decided to take the time to check it out. The trip took us by some incredible forests, two large quarries, and these trees that looked like they had been mowed above the water line.

My camera GPS says these pictures were taken in North Channel, which means we have left Georgian Bay. And the North Channel has the most beautiful cruising water in the country, so the travel books say. There was a sign as we entered Killarney Harbor that we were leaving Georgian Bay, but what’s a few miles?

This property is at the turn into Baie Fine. It was a resort back in the day, has been restored but is used only by members that have cottages. Not us!

And here is Bake Fine, one of the few fjords in North America. It is 8 miles long, then you pass through The Narrows and continue on to The Pool. More about The Pool later.

We weren’t sure about anchorages, and the first place we tried was too rocky for the anchor to hold. That was a good thing, because we were still several miles from the Pool. Danny found a good spot, then Gil and Deb anchored, and we rafted up together.

After a hot dog sandwich lunch (running low on groceries), we launched the dinghies and left for the Pool. Again, I took way too many pictures. These were taken on the way to the Pool.

And this is The Pool. I counted 21 cruisers and large sailboats, didn’t even attempt to count the small boats. We pulled up to looper boats Sanctuary, Bad Habit and KiaMaeL and visited a while. One couple had filled their dinghy with water to make their own pool. Alex swam, but it was still too cold for Danny.

The Loopers told us to go up a tiny creek across the way and follow it to a waterfall. We would NEVER have gone in there on our own! We loved the passage but decided not to try to land the dinghy to walk the last bit to the waterfall. We heard it but didn’t get to see it.

As we passed one boat, Danny said, “That lady doesn’t have a top”. Sure enough she was standing up in the back of her boat topless as could be, with four other people on the boat.

These small boats were parked to hike up to Topaz Lake that everyone says has beautiful turquoise water and lots of blueberries on the path. We decided to pass on the hike and enjoy the view from water level.

This little island was at the entrance to The Pool. I love the water slide!

Pictures from the ride back to the boat.

As we got close to the narrows on our way back, Danny commented on the wind and how it would be so much stronger after we made the turn. Boy, was he right! I don’t know how to judge wave height, but these were pretty high. Whitecaps and waves crashing over the bow of the dinghy. What a ride!