Mile 963: Tobermory

We were able to sail much of the way from Killarney, but the wind was on the nose for part of the way, and they it expired.  We motored for the final stretch to Tobermory.  After looking at the charts for a bit, we notice that we were going to be passing right by Flowerpot Island, so we decided to take out own round the island tour.  As we approached, we encountered a non-stop stream of glass bottom tour boats, and at the island, there is a place where they are shuttled to shore for a hike around.


There are only two flower pot rocks, created by the layering of harder stone on somewhat softer rock.  The same erosion pattern seems to have left the bluff deeply eroded as well with many caves or near caves along the shore.  The lower shoreline shelf is also littered with huge boulders that have fallen from the upper cliffs.  Some are the size of a house.

Our plan was to stop in at Tobermory for a few hours, and then continue on to Goderich, but the weather was getting a little wet, and looked like it would continue that way for a while, so we decided to spend the night here.

Little Tub Harbour is a city run marina that looks like it has had some significant investment.  The docks are in great shape, the showers and washrooms (although not close to our mooring) are clean and new, and the small town has centered many shops and stores around the harbour.  Diving is big here, and there are many dive boats of various sorts, from converted old lake fishing boats, to modern high speed RIBs.

After topping up on fuel at the main dock, and getting setup at our assigned slip, we took a tour of the harbour.  Candy shops, coffee shops, art galleries, and dive shops all encircle the harbour.  We were also getting hungry, so when we passed by the Crowsnest Pub, we were overcome by the need for food, and stopped in for dinner. The place looked like it had only been open a week, but upon inquiry, we found it has only been open wince July, and was just rebuilt because it burnt to the ground last year.  I don't think they've had enough time to even finish decorating or trimming it out before the tourists arrived for the season.

After dinner, the boys went back to the boat, and Linda and I walked around the harbour to the ferry dock to watch it unload and load.  It's very reminiscent of the snapping turtle we made friends with in Baie Fine in that it's bow opens up to let the vehicles in and out.

We had a quiet evening back on the boat, as the rain continued.  We fired up the last of Goodfellas.  "you laughing at me? ...."

After our morning showers, the decision was to make coffee (capicino) and then have Beaver Tails for breakfast.  Yes ... Beaver Tails ... yum.  After that, we going to get moving as we have to keep on schedule to make it back to Kingston.

90 km to Goderich.

Cheers
Chris