Kilbear to Point as Baril and the Payne Marina

July 30, 2002 - Kilbear to Point as Baril and the Payne Marina

We got up early and left for Killarny before 8:00. We were told that we were too big to go on the small craft channel and we were ready to get out into the open water again, after so many months in little canals and channels. The forecast was for waves of 1 meter or less, so we headed out. When we got out into the bay the waves were MUCH bigger and we were rolling and crashing around AGAIN. Not fun at all. What to do???????? We kept going for awhile hoping things would change, but they didn't, so we turned around and went back to Kilbear. Some other boats were supposed to be right behind us going to Killarny, but we didn't see them, so when I called the marina I told the dock person to tell them that the seas weren't good. When we got back to the marina we saw them taking off for the small craft channel and we waved good-bye. We hadn't had any breakfast, so I fixed blueberry pancakes and we pondered what to do. In talking to the people at the marina, they said we could consider going part of the way on the small craft channel and that we could go back into the Bay at Point au Baril and cross to Killarny, which is what we finally tried to do. The small craft channel was a beautiful route and wound it's way through islands and rocky formations. The water was fairly deep. But, when we got to Point au Baril and went out into Georgian Bay we found that instead of the seas calming throughout the day, the waves had built and the wind was wild. We started out and soon knew that we couldn't continue. What to do and where to go???? We tried to get to another cut called Hang Dog Inlet a few miles away to get back on the small craft channel, but we couldn't get turned to go there and there were so many rocks we couldn't see the markers, so we had no other choice but to go back into Point au Baril and hope we could find somewhere to stay the night. We had been told that there weren't any marinas in that area that could handle a boat our size, so we were worried and didn't have a plan. I started going through all my books and discovered that there was a marina about 5 miles up the channel, called the Payne Marina. I took a chance and called them and said, "We have a problem". Could they possible take us for the night??? They thought about it for a while and came back and said yes they could. We were so relieved. They gave us directions and we followed the channel to them. It was a very busy spot - like a racetrack. Boats of all sizes and shapes going somewhere. We were so delighted to be safe and tied up for the night. I was visiting with some folks on the dock while they were getting gas in their pontoon boat and found out that they are from Texas and had a cottage nearby. Later I went up to the marina office to ask if there was a restaurant within walking distance and they said no, so I guessed we would have to rustle something up for supper. The two couples on the pontoon boat were shopping in the ship store and, I guess, overheard me ask about a restaurant. A little later I heard a knock on the side of the boat and the Texas people introduced themselves and ask if we would join them for a Mexican dinner at their cottage. How incredible!!!! Maybe I'll try that act again when I'm hungry and don't want to cook. We said 'sure" and jumped onto their boat and away we went to their lovely cottage for a delicious Mexican dinner and a great evening. Rebecca and Bob, Lee and John and Bob's parents, Elizabeth and Jack were all interesting and very nice people. They have traveled all over the world and were interested in hearing about our journey. Lee and John's son won a gold medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 in the backstroke. What a thrill that had to have been. A great evening after a very stressful day. About 10:00 we got back into the pontoon and they took us back to Rendezvous. Hopefully we'll see the Frisco Texas folks again someday and we surely thank them for their warm hospitality.