Day 5: Little Current, Manitoulin Island: Finally, An Internet Connection!

Today is the fifth day on the cruise, but the first day I've had success accessing the internet. If you read my posts according to title (e.g., Day 1, Day 2, etc.) you can follow along chronologically. We woke to a warmly glowing morning sun speckling the islands in the Northern Passage that flanked either side of the ship as we entered the small town of Little Current on Manitoulin Island.

After an uneventful docking at the pier, most of the passengers disembarked and mounted a charter bus for an excursion to a nearby church where members of the First Nation community would engage them in a traditional sage-rubbing ceremony. I can't really elaborate on that excursion, because we didn't participate. Instead, I reviewed my notes for the evening lecture, then we walked around the lovely marina. We inquired with locals about a nearby beach, and after taking a few photos of the sailboats in the marina, we got our bathing suits and towels and headed off to the nearby "beach." The access was disappointing: about a 10 foot opening amidst shoreline vegetation where pier jutted out about 200 feet into the small area of Spider Bay.
The "beach" may have been wanting for shoreline access, but the water was clear and inviting. Standing on the pier, one could see down 15 feet or more to the sandy bottom. We waded in the water, relaxed on the pier and when it got too hot, dove into some of the most refreshing water I've experience in my life. Another nice surprise was the backdrop: looking out onto Spider Bay, and beyond the North Channel, there, one can see the skyline of the La Cloche mountains. (hope the spelling is right:) This little jewel was a wonderful find.