pics of the North Channel

[DavidF]

Small open boats can go some amazing places. One of these places is the North Channel of Lake Huron between Manitoulin and the Lacloche range.
http://www.fedpubs.com/maps/map_pix/manitoulin.jpg


I took my son, dog, and Chesapeake skiff up to explore islands and lakes of North Ontario. As luck would have it I got to test one of the great virtues of small open boats – their rowability. Some days is blows and some days you row.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pb3a2633f3d8163a0f819c57badb57462/e81c6c69.jpg


The spectacular thing about the North Channel is how powerful and creative the forces of geology can be. Some of these rocks are the oldest on earth.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pe667ff0b68fe8ab5103bd18ec77a0e68/e81c6958.jpg


I’m no geologist but I’ve read that some of what you see is more than a billion years old and dates to the middle Precambrian, just before Pangaea started breaking up. When you are camping on these stones it’s nice to think about time.

Perversely, after rowing five miles to find the perfect rock on which to sleep, the wind kicked up so I sailed while my son took pictures (do you know how hard it is to get pictures of yourself sailing your own boat!)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p78052a779c6a4a4e524a2f6859e58aed/e81cacf5.jpg


But that wind was a godsend when the sun set and the mosquitoes came out to play.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pdfc8e70e9f031e8cb8bd358e46ef9c80/e81ca6dc.jpg


Sometimes a skiff if too large and we switched to paddles to find those fabled cirques packed with fish. This is my son (yes, he’s a longhair) with his stringer. My stringer is on the ground. 26 pounds of fish in four hours of work! We ate like kings for week.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pa13834079c2004c7752111dbeca45a07/e81bf2bc.jpg

I’m lucky my boy has taken to the water. Here he is setting out in his kayak to explore the clouds.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pad4b9586960fecf3933dcd9c5cde6212/e81ca968.jpg


And then the best time of the day in this parts: Watching the alpenglow with the aid of a cocktail.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p2264a0a63818752ad8fde31598d5035d/e81c69be.jpg

[Bob Roncace]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing. :)

[dmede]

wow, very nice! looks like a great place for camp cruising. I need to find that around here!

[Ron Williamson]

Pretty sweet ain't it?
R

[Thorne]

David F -- very nice, great photos, more if ya got 'em.

David M -- just drive north to Anacortes, launch and continue north -- you will find some areas visually similar but not nearly as uncrowded.

[JimD]

Nice going, David. :)

[Ron Williamson]

There are anchorages that are very crowded this time of year,but in a few weeks,Nada.
It's kind of eerie,actually,especially if you've not been there in the off season.
R

[AlanL]

It is great to a dad with his son exploring the wilderness. Rich times and good stories that I'm sure will carry on for generations after you. And great photos too.

[rbgarr]

Simply beautiful. Excellent. Thank you. Those pics confirm why The North Channel is on my 'list of places to go someday'.

[brad9798]

Stunning ... thanks for sharing!!

[Robbie 2]

Many thanks ...enjoyed the story and photos..great memories for both you and your son of special times spent together