The Great Loop

After a few weeks of prep work we are finally under way and on our adventure. This should be a year long experience up the Atlantic Coast, over the Great Lakes, and down the inland rivers. Read more

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The Great Loop Traveler
Killbear Provincial Park
August 9, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F
We anchored for two nights at this wonderful sandy beach. Parts of the beach was lined with pink granite. Campsites were further up and inland. The water was clear and warm and welcomed us to swim.

There is a visitors center nearby.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Hopewell Bay
August 10, 2023 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 63 °F
We found a beautiful anchorage that is secluded and in a cove surrounded by pink granite. Little islands are scattered nearby. It’s a great spot to swim and kayak. Fishing was amazing here.
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The Great Loop Traveler
Hole in the Wall
August 11, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
We anchored close to the Hole in the Wall and took the dinghy in. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Pink and black granite cliffs with lush trees on either side. The water a green blue color. Around the corner is a sandy beach and then it opens up to the other side of the island. Before the sandy beach is a great spot for cliff jumping. We saw other kids doing it and quickly joined in the fun.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Obijwa Club
August 11, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
There’s a private club that is a mix of a hunting lodge and boating club on the islands. They’re open to the public for breakfast and lunch and is a pretty busy place. Boats were coming and going in the marina and people were everywhere having fun and dining. There was an art show going on so we took a peek at the art work. On the dock was ice cream, marina store, and small grocery store.

Of course we had to get some ice cream.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Wrights Marina
August 13, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
We need to fill our water tanks and pump out. Wrights Marina offers free pump out to loopers who stay the night and it was on the way! So we pulled into the marina. The staff was extremely friendly and the marina simple but nice. There’s a grill area for people to relax at and a marina store. Nearby is ice cream and a small grocery store. The marina was wonderful and drove us to the grocery store and back.

A few boys were around so Michael made friends and had a great time while I did chores and laundry.

On the way to the marina, we passed by a pretty lighthouse.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Bustard Islands
August 13, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
Arabella joined us in anchoring in a quiet spot in the Bustard Islands. We then dropped the kayaks and started exploring. There are 600 small islands in this area but it covers a large area. We stuck around a few islands and enjoyed the scenery.

We found interesting bugs like the beetle and wild raspberries.

Boris and Michael went fishing and caught a pike that was really tastyRead more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Bad River and Devils Door Rapids
August 14, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
We pulled into the anchorage in Bad River and it was full of boats. There’s a rock wall that has pins in it for us to tie to so we did. Never tied to a rock wall before.

It was a nice area to kayak and walk on the islands. A little way up is Devils Door which leads to rapids. I tried paddling up but the current was too strong.

We took the dinghy up and explored the area, attempting to go up the rapids, but we hit a rock and banged the propeller a bit. Deciding we were too heavy we offloaded a few people. Just then, a dinghy came down and showed us where and how to do it. We all took turns going down the rapids which was exciting and fun.

Later, the guys went fishing and came back with a couple of bass.

The area was nice and the evening clear. We had a great view of the Milky Way and saw many shooting stars.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Killarney
August 15, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Killarney has the Mountain Lodge Marina Resort and Sportsman. They’re sister resorts and share amenities. We got into the Sportsman’s and enjoyed the pool, game room, steakhouse, and got a massage. The area also had Herbert’s for fish and chips and a bakery with delicious sticky buns.

A storm rolled in so we stayed for three nights in total. There are two good hikes, one to the lighthouse and one on George Island.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Covered Portage Cove
August 16, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
We had a day of good weather before a storm rolled in so we headed to Covered Portage Cove which many people recommended. The rock formation as you enter the cove looks like the profile of an Indian Chief. We anchored right there and enjoyed water activities. We did fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming. The water was an amazing blue green color and pretty clear.

The cove was a nice area to explore with flat calm water and white bluffs.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Browning Cove
August 20, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
A nice little anchorage with beautiful water and bays to kayak through. Some underwater structures entertained the kids who went snorkeling. The shoreline also had a fire ring.
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The Great Loop Traveler
Little current
August 20, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F
The gateway to the North Channel and
Manitoulin Island. This is a small town with good provisions. There’s a brewery and nice hiking trail to the swing bridge.
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The Great Loop Traveler
Bridal Veil Falls
August 22, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
We anchored in Kagawong and enjoyed the small town atmosphere. There was a park with beach and a trail taking you to the falls. You can swim in the pool and go behind the waterfall.

The trail also had little gnome houses scattered around and carved boulders.

The town had a candy shop, ice cream shop, and chocolate shop.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Benjamin Islands
August 22, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
This place is beautiful. The group of islands are scattered with smaller smooth rocks making hiking and exploring very fun. We spotted a couple of minks and a dam. Matt also caught a large Pike and bass.
The water was a blue green color and the rocks a pink granite.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Gore Bay
August 23, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F
We continue our travels along the North Channel of the Georgian Bay and came to Gore Bay. It’s a small town with its own charm. The weather wasn’t the greatest so we had the mission of going into every restaurant. The brewery was good, as was the chocolate shop. The marina was nice with a large shop. The Main Street had lots of cute little shops and a boardwalk went around the entire bay.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Beardrop Harbor
August 24, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
We anchored for the night in beardrop. It was a quiet anchorage with a couple other sailboaters. A few islands dotted the area which made for great kayak exploration. Fishing was also good with 2 large small mouth bass.

I did slip in a rock and bruised my tailbone. The rocks looks climbable but can be slippery.

We also spotted a possible beaver dam.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Long point cove
August 25, 2023 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 68 °F
We moved anchorages and headed to Long Point Cove. It was very busy here with 8 other sail boats. A storm was coming so we had to hunker down. Despite the storm, we had some sunshine, a rainbow, and lovely sunset and sunrise.

The area also had some decent kayaking trails. I ended up hurting my back so I couldn’t do too much.

Michael caught his first pike but it was too small to keep.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Blind River
August 27, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F
We came to the marina in Blind River where a few other loopers were staying. Docktails were enjoyed in a covered pavilion.

The town is very small. It’s about a mile from the marina. There’s a beach, playground, and lots of churches. The Main Street has a few shops and a focus on the youth. There was an old mill that closed but can still be seen.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
DeTour Village
August 27, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
We’ve returned to the United States with our first stop in DeTour. It’s a very small village with a lovely memorial botanical garden. The Main Street has a pub and restaurant and a bait and tackle store. The marina was lovely with the blue water.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Anchoring near Government Island
August 28, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
We anchored two nights in a protected bay. A small island with hiking trails was nearby. We had a situation where our anchor chain broke and the only thing holding it to us was the bridal. After some clever thinking we were able to pull the chain in and didn’t lose the anchor.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Mackinac Island
September 1, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
Too many photos for this place. It’s beautiful. Streets are lined with lovely buildings, horse carriages clatter around, and the water is a teal color. No cars are allowed on this small island and the only method of transportation is horse or bike.

Lots to do and see here. Fudge, good food, the Grand Hotel, a forge, hiking, and nature. We had a splendid time visiting.Read more
Must watch the movie Somewhere in Time. First time I had heard of this island and always wanted to go there. [Joanne Bales]
9/5/23Reply
TravelerWe took a photo by the tree
9/5/23Reply
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The Great Loop Traveler
Petoskey
September 2, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
We traveled 7 hours in bumpy seas to get to Petoskey. The town is known for the Petoskey stones that are fossils of coral. We had some success in finding them. The town itself had a clock tower that chimed every hour between 8 and 10. The walk from the marina to town goes through a tunnel with a piano. People will stop and play a tune.

Next to the marina is a small museum, a breakwater and beach. People jump off the breakwater which we also participated in.

The town has a free trolly taking people from different areas into the downtown area, which is nice.

We happened to be there during a festival.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Harbor Springs
September 3, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F
We dinghied over to Harbor Springs which is a small town on a natural spring. The houses use the spring for their water supply and water feature. The town also has a bunch of fountains for the public to enjoy.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Charlevoix
September 4, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F
Charming little town with a wonderful beach and blue waters. The marina is right in town and you must cross under the bridge to enter. Lots of shops and restaurants line the street. The town is also known for the mushroom houses which are unique only here.

We also took a long bike ride to the Castle Farms to see gardens and a model train.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Leland
September 6, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 70 °F
We spent a few days in Leland which is a historic fish town. There’s a river lined with old buildings that flow into the Great Lake. Smoked fish, cheese, wine, and spirits can be found here. The water is a lovely blue and the beach a soft sand. Leland blue stones can also be found along the shoreline.Read more
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The Great Loop Traveler
Sleeping Bear Dunes
September 9, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
We anchored the boats next to the dunes and dinghied to shore to explore the giant sand dunes. We climbed a couple and had a spectacular view of the lake.
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