Stel and I were on our own again as we slowly cruised through the western end of the Georgian Bay and into the North Channel. The emerald colored water turned clearer and colder with rock formations growing into mountains of white stone due to its quartz content. The remoteness of the area required that we spend many of our nights at anchor, which was a pure pleasure, dropping our anchor in the midst of some of God’s most beautiful creation. Navigating through some of these areas created some tense moments as we passed clearly visible rock formations just under the surface of the water, but we are extremely thankful for the well-marked channels that allow access to these special places for spending a night or two in the wilderness. After dropping the hook, the dinghy was our means to visit other boats, fish, hike and pick blueberries.

There were a few places where we would spend two nights at anchor, but we typically would pick up and move to spots that were recommended by other loopers or folks with local boating knowledge. All of the people that we met along the way were extremely willing to share knowledge of their local waters and encourage us to visit their favorite villages or anchorages.

We’re having a wonderful time, with all kinds of new experiences, but the seemingly simpler life of living on a boat comes with its challenges. A great deal of time has been spent getting access to current weather forecasts, battling the weather, studying and planning safe routes, cruising through difficult passages, finding provisions, preparing meals in a 4’x4′ galley, cleaning the boat, fixing the boat, finding laundromats, sleeping soundly in remote locations and finding ways to stay in touch with family and friends.

We have had some sad days as we have learned of tragic events with friends back at home. Some good church friends lost their 18 year old daughter and my parents lost one of their closest friends. With very limited phone signals and wifi, we have been very frustrated that we have not been able to have regular contact with our family and friends over the last few days. We are trying to make good time as we head back toward the U.S. border, where communication will be easier. We have discovered how dependent we are on our electronic devices during our time in these remote places. Please know that we continue to think deeply and pray for family and friends back home, especially those who are hurting. We love you and miss you.