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Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Boat Tour at Tobermory

We all decided to go a 2 hour boat tour on the Great Blue Heron out of Tobermory, Canada.  We got a first hand view of:  the 'Big Tub' Lighthouse (in Tobermory Harbor); two shipwrecked vessels (the Sweepstakes and the City of Grand Rapids);  and nearby Cove and Flower Pot Islands.  We took the mid-afternoon launch and it was a beautiful day for it.

The Big Tub Lighthouse (named so because the two harbors Big Tub and Little Tub are similar to bathtubs) is at the entry point near shallow water.
The Sweepstakes is strikingly visible and went down after it was pulled to this location while burning.  Most of the coal, rigging and equipment was salvaged before it sank. It was built in 1867 and went down in 1885.
The City of Grand Rapids was a propeller steamer built in 1879.  It also caught fire and was pulled into this area to prevent other vessels in Little Tub harbor from catching fire.  It went down in 1907.
Along the bay, there are many beautiful cottages.
While onboard the tour boat I was able to get photos of Adam and me, Pam and Bill, Pam and me and Pam and Kelly.
As we rounded Russell Island we could see two vessels used to take student scuba diving.  Tobermory is a known for its great scuba diving.

In the distance we could see the large Chi-Cheemaun ferry about a mile out of Tobermory.

The rocks and cliffs along the shoals were beautiful.
From Russell Island, we went over to Cove Island Harbor then to the east by South Otter Island.  Our last point of interest on the tour was Flower Pot Island where we saw unusual rock formations along the eastern shore.
From there we made it back to Little Tub harbor of Tobermory.  The weather was great, the water was crystal clear and the scenery was spectacular.

We drove back to the Bradley cottage where Marg had prepared a lasagna dinner.  Yum!
Adam stayed at the other cottage and Pam, Kelly and I returned to the Roadrunner.  On the way back, we caught the sun going down on the waters of Dorcas Bay.

Thanks for viewing the Roadrunner Chronicles today!  Hope you are having a great week.

8 comments:

  1. Thanks for taking us on that beautiful cruise! The pictures are terrific especially the one of the Sweepstakes - very eerie looking!! What a great way to spend a day with your family! Looked like perfect weather too.

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  2. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. It's been about four years since we were there and we did all that you've done plus took the Chi Cheemaun over to Manitoulin Island and back just to say we'd gone. It was a lovely trip!

    We also stayed in the same campground where you're staying. Are they updating it any? When we were there they seemed to be working on it.

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  3. What beautiful clear water! Those "cottages" looked pretty darn nice from where I stand! I loved the rock formations and the picture of the boat that sank underwater...What great history that area has! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Glad you enjoyed that tour. I think you were on the same boat Kelly & I took on that tour years ago. Some nice trails on Flowerpot Island as well & it's a nice place to just hang out on the rocks watching the nearby scuba divers. Tobermory is definitely a special place with it's harbors, rock formations, crystal clear cold water & nearby lighthouses & coast lines. East side of the Peninsula on Georgian Bay is cliffs, caves, forest, & big rock formations. West side of the Peninsula on Lake Huron is wide sweeping sandy beaches, windswept trees & tiny islands along the shore.

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  5. That water was so clear and pretty. I was wondering if anybody dove on those wrecks, but you answered my question. I'll bet the water is really cold though! That's a beautiful area.

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  6. What a wonderful tour and a spectacular day!!
    I agree with Rick....the Sweepstakes gives you an eerie feeling like peering into a grave.
    Glad you were able to have the entrie family with you.

    You all enjoy your time together!!
    Mike & Gerri (happytrails)
    http://freedom2roll.blogspot.com

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  7. Oh My!!! I have never been on this tour - but will do so the next time I'm lucky enough to be in the area - The Sweepstakes looks SO CREEPY!!!

    Love all of the beautiful faces though!!

    Much love!

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  8. What a nice cruise and such beautiful scenery! Sure looks like you had a great time.

    *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

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