Monday July 17, 2006 Byng Inlet (NE corner Georgian Bay) L46 46.2l9' L80 32.897' July 4, 2006 - After years of planning and preparation we finally pushed off from the dock at Penetanguishene. We still have a number of works in progress on board, but hopefully most will be completed by time we get to the Erie Canal. After four nights "on the hook" at Bone Island, we commenced motoring along the small craft route through the 30,000 islands in Georgian Bay. Our anchorages on route so far have been: Beausoleil Island, Bone Island, Twelve Mile Bay, Ermyn Island (Massasauga Provincial Park), Kilcoursie Bay (Killbear Provincial Park), Regatta Bay (Franklin Island). There have been several thunderstorms since we left. A sure sign of a hot summer. We're getting used to occupying our time waiting out the proverbial "weather window". Wild blueberries, mosquitos and turtles are in abundance everywhere. We've spotted 3 osprey, loons, terns, many cormorants and gulls. The Scrabble tournie is in full swing - tied at present though Barry feels our Scrabble dictionary is not up to snuff. Life is tough on board - been watching the Georgian Bay DVD on our laptop in the evenings in anticipation of our next day's travels. Listening to CBC radio. You may form your own opinion on that. As we passed by Franklin Island we spotted an island of special interest to the Wilker family - Ro-chelle. Near Parry Sound we passed through our first swing-bridge. We're told we'll encounter 80 or so on our way through the Intercoastal Waterway to Florida. All is well as we wait out the weather window in 20 plus knot SW winds in Byng Inlet.