Four Corners of Manatoulin

We woke with steady rain falling but superchef managed to cook eggs and turkey bacon for breakfast on the BBQ during a break in the weather. On the road by 9am as there was a fair bit planned for the day.

Driving towards the Meldrum Bay lighthouse we were stopped when our own David Attenborough pointed out some Sandhill Cranes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhill_Crane They were unaware of the intrepid photographer and even danced "like the books said they would"!

Following the onithological expedition we went in search of the north coast of Manitoulin Island and found Gore Bay http://www.gorebay.ca/ which is a nice little town with a great lookout over the North Channel and the mainland. The difficulty of finding the lookout is that the sign for it is very small and the lookout doesn't seem to be publicised very well. Even on a misty day the view was spectacular.



We wound back down from the lookout and turned right and as we headed further west the sky was brightening and the rain was clearing and by the time we bumped along the dirt road to the Mississagi Lighthouse the sun was shining.
The lighthouse and the museum http://www.themississagilighthouse.com/museum.html it contains were a little tired but I don't think they have benefitted from huge slabs of government money. They are interesting and the stories in the museum give a great history of what the lighthouse keepers faced in the 1800's. 

Diving into the crystal clear water of the Lake Huron looked very inviting but someone forgot to pack my swimmers and diving gear. ME!!! Maybe next time.....

 

After a coffee and cinnamon bun at the Foghorn Restuarant http://www.themississagilighthouse.com/foghorn.html we decided to buck the trend and "go east young man (and girl)". On our way we called in at the Zhibaahaasing First Nation lands home of the world's largest peace pipe and the world's largest native drum   http://www.canuckster.com/links.asp?id=22154 



Not certain but I think "little broken wing" may have been practicing her steps for the annual pow-wow which each of the 6 Maintoulin First Nation groups hold annually. These are summer attractions which I doubt we'll see.

We had been using lot of ideas from an acknowledged Manitoulin Expert Ella (a student of Julie's) and one of them was Mum's Restuarant and Bakery at Mindemoya. We always take advice and when that advice is for a cake shop that takes special significance to one of us. It was good advice!!!

After a stop at Wikwemikong  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikwemikong_Unceded_Indian_Reserve we were heading back towards the Cup and Saucer hiking trail but the 10 Mile Point Trading Post caught our eye and an hour later we emerged with a really neat pair of moosehide moccassins and dreams of stone carvings.   

Took a quick look at the First Nation's Church at M'Chigeeng (another Ella suggestion) before the sprinkles of rain intensified to something approaching a torrent and we headed for home along what I hoped was a road and not a river. Amazingly the rain disappeared almost as quickly as it came and we arrived at our cottage in time for Julie to go for a walk and for me to take some photos of some really neat snails  

We chose not to cook up a pot of them and dinner was at a slightly disappointing fish and chip shop. Oh well everything else on this trip has been superb and at least there was nothing for the chef (cook) to do.

The evening had got clearer and clearer and we decided on a last look at Providence Bay 



It was worth it! A glass of wine and then bed. Serendipity!!!!!!