Day 75 Hotham Island to Bruce Mines Thursday August 2, 2018

Day 75 Hotham Island to Bruce Mines Thursday August 2, 2018

The sun did come up this morning clear and bright, but clouds marched northeasterly and brought rain by late morning. But the rain was in a front that brought back the sun by late afternoon.   Temperatures in the mid 60s- still in shorts!!

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The day was a true example of the saying that I usually hear back in Maine "If you don't like the weather wait a bit and it will change." And today I didn't have to wait very long between changes.

The day started off with a very nice sunrise at 6:17 am.  Note the nice clear sky. Now you easterners are likely saying "What? You mean 5:17, eh?" Well no. As we are near the west end of the eastern time zone the sun is nearly an hour off from home in Maine/New Hampshire - the evening light lasts a long time here. Just like when we go to New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. I kinda like it. But not sure what winter and late sunrise would be like. Enough discussion on the thoughts of winter.

As we planned to travel about 75 miles, we departed at 07:00. We exited Hotham and the islands line up kind of in a long lines for about twenty miles and then stop and plop you in open water for fifty miles. There are places to stop along the way, but we figured let's just go for it and get to the western end of the big water. That is where we ended up - Bruce Mines. It is on the Canadian side of the bay as we decided we wanted to take a run up to Sault Ste Marie - based on recommendations of several Gold Loopers (Gold means you have already done the Great Loop once).

So here are a series of photos that will show you the transition of our day. The first three are of a passage known as "Little Detroit" It is a narrow passage between the major island groups. It is used by many traveling the east-west line.

 This is Shanly Is on the right and Aird Island on the left - about 2 mile distance from Little Detroit.

 And this is at the end of Johns Island - about 12 miles distance - and 90 minutes later - notice the cloud cover.

The weather forecast called for showers and then clearing. I could see a line of showers on the radar that I hoped we would skirt - close but we did get a real downpour - but thankfully the wind actually died down in the rain. We closed the front enclosure panel and stayed dry, but it is no fun being in open water with very dark clouds blanketing you and then rain that reduces visibility to nothing.

But my reading of the weather tea leaves was correct and the rain was short lived. The clouds lightened as we traveled west and about 10 miles from our destination the sun began to poke through.

So we arrived about 3:00 pm and into our slip. Bruce Mines is as it implies, a mining town and still is with an active mine that you can see to the east of the town as you approach.

The town is essentially built on Highway 17 - TransCanada - which explained the seemingly surprising amount of traffic and the fact that it has three restaurants that are supported in this otherwise small town.

 And it has an Ice Cream stand - yum.

After our dinner at Bobbers restaurant and my ice cream, the sun has driven away all the clouds - completing a full circle in the weather in a day.

And as a fellow who was practicing his trumpet while seated next to the sign above just finished with a very nice playing of the Canadian National Anthem, I am sure it is time to say ....................

Good Night and May God Bless