KAGAWONG & CLAPPERTON ISLAND

Unable to post last night - no cell phone, therefore no hot spot.  We just left Gore Bay after a walkabout and lunch ashore.  We are crossing back to the north shore of North Channel and I have connectivilty, so here is out post for yesterday.  Just a note.  .  . fish for dinner tonight!

FRIDAY, JULY 27TH  -  CLAPPERTON ISLAND, ON

Trip Day:	138	Latitude:	46°00.57 ' N	Locks Today:	0
Miles Today:	26	Longitude:	082°13.74' W	Locks Total:	81
Total Miles:	2,774	Location:	Clapperton Island Harbor Anchorage

We lifted anchor and headed out Waubuno Channel to cross to the south side of the North Channel to the town of Kagawong.  With a following wind and two foot seas we raised the main sail, then the screecher, turned off the engine and all was right with the world.  Sailing 6-7 mph with just the sound of the waves for a couple of hours was the start to a good day.  Ron had entered way points into the chart plotter last night making our course easy to read.

 The small community of Kagawong is on Manitoulin Island, and like so many towns in the area, was once a thriving logging industry. In 1925 the  old mill was built to process pulp which was shipped by freight to the United States and processed into paper for Sears Roebuck catalogues.  Later the mill served as a hydro generating station providing electricity for all of Manitoulin Island.  Today the building is used as a museum chronicling the native American history through the logging and boat building years of this friendly community. 

The two main draws for Kagawong are the St. John Anglican Church, or sailors church, and Bridal Veil Falls.  The Church was originally a warehouse, then dedicated as the church in 1938.  It features a marine-related theme with items donated by parishioners, most of whom are sailors.  From the ships wheel, anchors, and boat-bow pulpit this church had a peaceful feeling,      welcoming a visitor to take a seat in the heavy wooded pews and reflect for a moment; which is just what we did. 

We took the hiking trail for about a mile upstream to find Bridal Veil Falls.  We guessed that in the spring after a heavy snow fall the falls would be more spectacular, but we still enjoyed the walk and the views. 

What would a visit to a small island community be without a concluding ice cream cone?  We can vouch for the Espresso Flecked and the Crème Brule flavors. 

We shoved off from the dock, headed toward Clapperton Island and anchored in the protected crescent-shaped harbor for the night.  Dinner at our place tonight.