September 1, Day 80 - In the Benjamin Islands

We slept in this morning as we planned on anchoring here at least one more day and exploring the surrounding islands, so no need to get an early start. After a breakfast of cinnamon rolls (bought yesterday in Little Current at the Pantry) we headed off in the dinghy. Our first stop was the southwest corner of the anchorage. There is a long, smooth, gently sloping rock that raises out of the water … it is worn so smooth it is almost like a driveway. We climbed to the top and the view was breathtaking. We took many pictures today as everywhere we went was incredible. Upon our return to the bottom, we met a lady and her Portuguese Water Dog, Lacey. Very cute and well-behaved dog. We want one …. Well maybe not now. We really don’t miss all the mandatory going-ashore trips that a dog requires.

We next took the dinghy over to Croker Island. The seas picked up a little during the passage over to Croker – exposed to the west wind. There was only one sailboat in the anchorage there. We explored the shoreline and stopped at a sandy beach. Linda tried her luck at seaglass hunting. Not much luck (a couple of ordinary pieces), but she did pick up a few very colorful rocks.

After a quick lunch we went back out in the dinghy and explored several of the rocky islands that make up a large portion of the Benjamin Island’s anchorage. Here again, we took lots of pictures so you can see what we saw. We did a lot of rock crawling over at North Benjamin – physical therapy for Gerry’s ankle.
Back on the boat we relaxed, read, looked at the pictures we had taken, and had a little cocktail. After all, it was time for happy hour. Gerry iced his ankle after the climbing therapy.

Gerry called about our mail – still no luck on that. Maybe tomorrow??????

Gerry grilled chicken for dinner and Linda cooked up a little rice to go with it. A much better effort than his pizza the day before,

We then headed for the “Bonfire” that we were invited to. One of our pictures indicated a perfect place for a natural bonfire and that is the designated location. All of the boats in the anchorage have been invited to the BYOB event. The boat that is setting it up was with us in Killarney. Most of the folks at the bonfire (there were 18 in all) were from this area just out on the water for a few days. The boat that set up the event was from Michigan, Ron & Ann Hodges, from Cheboygan. We had fun chatting with the other boaters and the fire added to the ambiance. As usual, Gerry had to get home to bed, so we were the first to depart a bit before 10:00.

It had been another wonderful day in paradise (except for the mail delivery part).


Sidewalk to the summit. This rock is so worn it was like walking up (or down) a driveway




Another shot of the mountain

View of the anchorage from above

Part of the cove dotted with rocks

Canada "on the rocks"

Linda "on the rock"
Dinghy "on the rock"

The natural rock firepit (the group in the anchorage later had a bonfire)

Lacey, the Portuguese Water Dog

Boat in the anchorage at Croker Island

Linda looking for seaglass (without much luck)

Some fellow boaters on top of the mountain

One of many unique rock formations

Trees, rocks and water ..... everywhere

Notice all the markings on the rocks

Cattails "on the rocks"

Gulls "on the rocks"

Lots of rocks with little pools of water

A natural ecosystem. Many different kinds of vegetation growing up from the rocks

While this little island didn't have a name, we named it the "French Bread Island". It looked like a loaf of bread that had been sliced.

Moss "on the rocks" It was growing everywhere.

Dinghies at play

Looking out toward Little Current

Monk's Vineyard NOT "on the rocks"

Smooth water - narrow passage

Wind-swept trees "on the rocks"

This leads out, but you have to be very careful getting out (we didn't try it)

Ducks "on the rocks"

There were strange markings on the rocks. It was like something had been drug across the rock in a straight line ..... probably millions of years ago. Geologists would love this area.

View out the channel ... beautiful (and dinghy "on the rocks")