July 16-17, 2017 Bad River Channel to the Devil Door Rapids

July 16th was rainy, windy and cold so we stayed put in The Flower Pot Anchorage.  Finally around 5pm the rain let up enough to launch our dinghy and explore more of the Henvey Inlet.  Came across this loon family.

Our friends Hal and Terri aboard C’est le bon arrived later in the evening.  Enjoyed a fairly decent sunset and another musical evening with them.

July 17 was bright and cheerful.  Noticed this rock carving across the bay.

Closer view, not sure how old this is, but likely hundreds, if not thousands of years old. I decided it means “good fishing.”

Headed out the inlet we noticed more boats on rocks and some cute kids.

Perfect boat for our friends Bob and Margie, the name of the boat is “Miller Time.”

Final stretch of the inlet before we headed out into Georgian Bay.

La Cloche mountain range in the background.  The white is not snow!  Limestone and quartz.

This unnamed island out in the Bay had 3 lighthouses on it.  Shortly after passing them we headed back into the 30,000 Islands up the Bad River Channel of the French River.  Per Guidebook this is the area that fur trades from Montreal canoed down on their way to Lake Superior.  It is considered to be a fjiord.

Looking back at the Bad River Channel.  There were of course a bunch of skinny passages along the way.

Entering the anchorage.

Of course our sailing buddies Hal and Terri have a sailing/rowing dinghy instead of a motorized one.

We anchored right on the anchor!  It was really exciting to go through Devil Door Rapids and explore the other chutes/rapids as well.

The current coming through here was unbelievable and there actually was a small waterfall to go up and over.  I had to close my eyes.

Happy Bob for not crashing the boat going up the rapids.

Scenes of the other rapids and chutes.  Sign on the little island says “no swimming.”  No kidding!

Another couple contemplating the rapids.  They did go up.  We visited with them later so I could show them a video I took of them going through. Turns out the husband, Dennis is a commercial diver who worked with the companies Bob did when he was a commercial diver.  Small world!

Bob dropped me off at the base of this cliff so I could take some pictures.

Looking down at the anchorage.

Looking out at the Bay.

Bob coming back to pick me up.  It was a clear night and we were  hoping to see the Northern Lights.  No luck, maybe next time.