August 18, 2012 Wow, where did the time go ? Behind again on the blog. You cannot believe how much we do and how tired we are at the end of the day....not complaining, but once we eat we just quit...everyday is a new trip, which means more navigating, studying the charts, reading about the area we are about to enter and keep the engine/ hour logs We were disappointed in the Chocolate Factory, no free samples and no tour, but we got a lotof walking in finding it twice, it was closed the first trip. We did get something yummy at the Bakery. Next we anchored off of Spook island, very peaceful, we did some chores and read a rare thing on this trip....a newspaper !!  The wind came up during the night and had to get up several times to make sure we weren't dragging, even though we have an anchor drag alarm. We went through one lock, and tied up at Asburnham (Lock 20), Rich rode to town to buy a new toilet seat, turned out the forward head was leaking (fresh water thankfully) and it was cheaper to buy a toilet than parts to repair it. Another installation project.  We continued on going through more locks, spotted a Piper Cub on floats in Rice Lake (named by the Indians for it's wild rice).Stoney Lake was amazing, so beautiful, little islands everywhere with houses and boat houses.  One island had one bldg on it, a church ! While at a lock here in the night I heard something crash in the galley, with my flashlight I found a raccoon half way in the galley window...then I heard a crash in the forward head, thankfully the door was closed and I wasn't about to open it, went after Rich and sure enough another raccoon half way in !! We went through more locks, stopping at lock. 35, at iRosedale, Ontario, nice place but really a  tourist stop. We had a beautiful park just off the wall by our boat.  Went through Balsam Lake, highest point on the Trent Severn Canal Waterway, from here we started locking down instead of up.. Kirkfield Lock is 48 ft. down. actually it is a big bathtub they put your boat in check out the Kirkfield Lock on the web, it is amazing.  Later we went though the "Big Chute" lock, it is something else, we were on train rails....The Trent Severn Waterway was the best yet, beauty everywhere you looked, Canadian flags everywhere along with flowers even if it was on a shack, garage or mansion. We left the Trent Severn at Severn Sound and the Georgian Bay was next and lovely as well. We anchored in Hopewell Bay and the Loons put on quite a show for us, delightful.Later we were on our way and a trawler was in front of us, trying a narrow passage, they radioed us don't come this way, several channels were confusing with the bouys and the skinny shallow water, some places not much wider that our boat (14ft) with major rocks on each side,; We did go thru one we said never again, we were almost holding our breath to get through. We stayed in Georgian Bay quite awile, enjoying quiet anchoring etc. we took the dinghy up in Baie Fine and hiked up to Topaz Lake, that is Rich did, I got about 50 yards from the lake and had to quit, my tennis shoes were so slick I could not stand up !! Rich went on took some photos and we headed back to the dinghy, with my shoes in Rich's tennis shoes and Rich in stocking feet....What a Guy !! Two guys passed us carrying their canoes over the portage. We stayed in Little Current several days as I got sick, took a cab to the hospital where they had a clinic I could go to Rich rode his bike up and down all day chasing rx, atm's etc..another story too long to write about. I lost 4 days literally and so glad when well again. We stopped at Cockburn Island where in the winter the population is 1 !! The excitement there is when the ferry comes with supplies...dumps them off on the dock and people find their stuff!!Stayed there 2 nights due to the weather. On we went with several anchorages heading for Bois Blanc Island, where dear friends have a lovely home. We again got weathered in across Lake Huron from Bois Blanc Island. We tried twice to go but it was too rough so we holed up at a neat Marina. We finally go to Bois Blanc, and Bill and Carole greeted us. Dawn, Jim and Matthew arrived on the last ferry after missing 2 other ferries. We had a great time there with the Carole and Bill, again bad weather for crossing the Macinac Straits, so we stayed and Bill and Carole kept us busy, we made a 15 mile atv ride in the forest etc..absolutely wonderul trip. Saw otters, beavers, and deer and Bill took Matthew fishing on Lake Mary. From there we went to Macinac Island, where there are no motorized vehicles. Quainy,busy tourist place but we enjoyed it. Took a horse/buggy tour and went to the fort. Next is where I am today in Petoskey, MI at the marina, again too windy to travel lake Michigan.Jim D had to go home and Dawn and Matthew are staying with us to Chicago if all goes as planned.Caught up with more Looper friends along the way. This stop our generator acted up, and after surveying the situation Rich calle a mechanic. All fixed and now we are waiting for lower seas.While here the kids working at the harbor have been something else. They took us to Walmart, took Matt fishing, brought us salmon and we had them for dinner last night.Today Dawn and I hitched a ride to the casino near Walmart to pick up a few things, called the town shuttle to find out they aren't working on Sat so we got a cab home. August 25th. Our computer is acting up, can't add photos today, so I will go on with our adventure. Next port was Leland,mi, where we toured fish town, bought some whitefish at the fish mkt, and dawn cooked it from the recipe of a local lady, was great! Frankfort,mi was next,where Matt spotted a mink ! Interesting place. Got it's name in an unusual way. There was a fisherman there named Frank, and the snows were really bad, so the Indians built a wall of snow between his place and the lake, a fort thus Frankfort. In White Lake, the swans were our greeters. Dawn & Matt did laundry, while in the lounge the laundry doors got locked with our laundry and Dawn's lap top!! she left notes everywhere for the dock crew and as soon as they got there they brought our stuff. Aug 28th, We enjoyed several more small towns, saw a fantastic light and music show one evening. A lady in another marina, came by and said if you need to go to the market I can take you tomorrow !! How fortunate, for one of our stops the taxi fare was $30.00. We connected again with more loopers at various marinas. Today we left Michigan City, IN and arrived at Great Lake Naval Station, north of Chicago, tied up to a wall with power and water. Rough water coming over but not too bad. In one town a Marine store came and picked us up and brought us back, got a few things we needed and some we haven't been able to find elsewhere. Dawn & Matt are off this afternoon with friends that moved here some years ago. They leave the 31st after 455 miles with us. Just wish they could have been with us in Canada, but sooo glad they were able to join us. Spent a bunch to get the pc going again so will try and add some photos. Happy Labor Day all. Still can't add photos, will have to find some help, so here is the blog for now.