Started the day by cleaning up, dumping the tanks, and topping off the fresh water. Met a couple in a beautiful silver Roadtrek CS Adventerous based on the same Sprinter 3500 van as ours. They had four solar panels and an underslung air conditioner. I asked how they liked the A/C and they said it hadn’t been warm enough to try it. Their son works for Roadtrek and got them the van as a loaner to use on a two week vacation. Between the solar panels and the battery bank, they have yet to plug it in!

Fueled up just outside the campground and headed East, then South. The town of Espanola had a big independent grocery where we refilled cereal, bread and milk. Knew we were in Canada when we ran across maple flavored marshmallows and milk in four liter bags. A big paper plant is the economic engine in town. 

Crossed onto Manitoulin Island at Little Current. An old railroad swing bridge is the only road access to the Island. Cars take turns crossing as there is only room for one lane. Beth checked out the visitors center while I walked down to the water. Courtesy docks had a great view of the swing bridge. Current was flowing swiftly past the dock and the water was almost as clear as in the Bahamas. Unfortunately the view revealed a shopping cart at least twenty feet under the floating dock!

Little Current is the most “touristy” of the towns on the island. We walked around for a bit, then headed out to see what else the island holds.

Beth did get her yarn fix in town.

And I found an old railroad speeder for my train fix.

Kagawong was billed as the cutest town in Ontario. Although it was a pretty spot, the town could use some restoration. 

An old mill contained government offices, a museum, and an art gallery. In the museum we learned that Daniel Dodge, heir to the Dodge Motors family fortune died on the Island. After being married in Meadowbrook Hall near Detroit, he and his bride honeymooned here in August of 1938. While experimenting with dynamite in the garage of their family hunting lodge, he seriously injured himself. Boating to Little Current for medical attention he fell overboard and was drowned. Talk about a no good, terrible, really bad day! 

I walked to the wee lighthouse and town dock while Beth cooled off in the van. 

She was disappointed when I came back with a photo of a mink walking across the dock.

Bridal Veil Falls is where water was once diverted to power the mill. People were swimming and relaxing in, around, and even behind the Falls. Seventy-eight and sunny is probably a high temperature for Kagawong. 

Stopped at a Ojibwe First Nation cultural center in M’Chigeeng. They told an interesting origin story about not having enough different men & women, so animals were asked to change into humans. A woman was teaching beading techniques. One beautiful piece of artwork was beaded on deer hide with some transistors mixed in for modernity. They mixed in so well that Beth didn’t notice them until I pointed them out. 

Split Rail Brewing in Gore Bay was our destination based on their listing in Harvest Hosts. 

We are parked in a free RV overnight camping lot across the street from the brewery, right on the bay. It would be hard to beat the view out our back windows.

Enjoyed a flight of their brews and talked with sailors who just came in racing against a Nonsuch 33 on a Catalina 34. One of them was in Georgetown, Bahamas at the same time we were in 2007. 

While it was a long wait, the Whitefish dinner take-out from Codmothers was delicious. It would have been even better had I thought to call ahead.

Chatted with the other RV here, the owner of a big Class A Newmar coach. He likes our little rig and wants to downsize so he can fit into more places. 

While eating dinner Beth noticed a doe munching on grass right outside her window. 

We are thankful that the town has these beautiful free spots for visitors.

2022 Update: Friends found that the town had discontinued the RV Parking because people were leaving a mess. PLEASE leave places cleaner than you find them.

Walked the town after dinner and checked out the boats in the Marina. There are four Nonsuch catboats here in their home Province of Ontario. We owned a Nonsuch 26 for ten years, sailing it in Michigan and North Carolina. Still have a soft spot for this unique vessels.

The Canadian Yacht Charter company was inflating three new Gala RIB dinghies. They looked good with aluminum hulls and nice detail work. It didn’t hurt that Beth’s mom is named Galah. If we ever need a dinghy again, we will investigate those. 

The small, nicely maintained, downtown had everything we needed, including a post office and bakery.