Life on the Water is Always an Adventure...

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After finishing our chores in Gore Bay we headed northeast to the Benjamin Islands on Thursday. This group of islands is noted for its unique pink granite and multiple coves to anchor in. It's also located conveniently about halfway between Gore Bay and Little Current, our next planned stop. By planning our route to zig zag across the North Channel between stops, we've managed to take advantage of the consistent west winds that have been blowing ever since we left Charlevoix. Most years when cruising we find ourselves motoring more than sailing. Not this year. Each day we've traveled, it's been under sail. Our biggest hope now is that the west winds will either die down or change direction, as we now need to turn around and head back toward home. Fortunately the prediction is for south winds tomorrow and light winds for a couple of days after that. Dare we trust the forecasters?

The group of islands known as the Benjamins is actually made up of North and South Benjamin, Fox Island to the north, and Croker Island to the east, all laid out in a kind of circle. We anchored in a corner of South Benjamin and took our dinghy to explore the nooks and crannies of North Benjamin. The beauty of these islands never ceases to amaze.

Yesterday we made our way east southeast to Little Current, arriving just as a rain shower passed through. One of the things we enjoy about life on the water is that you can see the weather as it approaches, although sometimes that means getting a bit wet! Little Current is the largest town on Manitoulin Island. There is a swing bridge here that provides the only connection between Manitoulin Island and the mainland. Even so, the town is quite small, and very boat-oriented. We've been here a few times before and always enjoyed it. Still, it is "civilization," so we are eager to head back out to the islands tomorrow.