To Uncle Al, 1997 seemed like a good time to sample extended cruising for a second time. His first such experience, 25 years before, had ended with him and the then Registrar of York University, Milt Bider, on the last night of the Cruise, buying up (at exorbitant rates), all the aerosol cans they could find among the rest of the dozen or so members of Don Davis’s 1972 Georgian Bay Cruise. Cackling with glee, Al and Milt chucked the cans into our bonfire before rushing to hide behind an old mattress that had been mysteriously abandoned on the beach at Franklin Island while we waited for the exciting explosion that was sure to follow. To say that some of us were going stir- crazy would be accurate. 

But it was an older, more mellow Uncle Al that would give cruising another try in ‘97. No following ignorantly and obediently behind those who had actually brought charts! If all else failed, Al fully intended to cruise solo. But then, our Cruising Secretary, Tim France, let it be known that he would be organizing a Cruise in Georgian Bay, somewhere north of Killbear Park in late July or early August. And at our Annual General Meeting in January, the final piece of the puzzle fell into place when Doug Gilchrist not only offered to come along but to have us sail Whirlwind (W7222) which was already fairly cruise-equipped from Doug’s previous cruising adventures with his wife, Anne. 

As the winter drew to a close, many of the potential participants gathered chez Tim and Rosemary France in Guelph over some delicious munchies as we more or less finalized plans for a week’s cruise, Tuesday 5 August to Tuesday 12 August. We would launch at Killarney, take three days to reach the Benjamin Islands via the town of Little Current, spend a couple of days in the Benjamins and then dawdle back home via McGregor Bay where Al wanted to re-visit Wilma Starke and some other sailing friends whom he hadn’t seen since 1985!

Late in June, Tim sent out a finalized list of participants which indicated five boats: four Wayfarers and one CL 16. Having decided to join the cruise from his wife, Julia’s parents’ cottage near Huntsville, and having prevailed upon Doug to pick him up there, Al (and Doug) were sadly unable to join in a Monday evening bash at Tim and Rosemary’s where the rest of the group gathered for a warm-up BBQ. Instead, Doug, Tim, his wife, Rosemary, and Al had met at the Fifth Wheel Truck Diner in Milton so that the rookies could do a final pre-cruise check and get Tim to tell them if they were forgetting anything major.
 

Monday 4 August 1997
As planned, Doug arrived at the cottage with Whirlwind in time to join us for dinner on yet another lovely, warm summer evening. We decided to make it a relatively early night, as Doug and Al were planning to leave by 0800 hours in hopes of reaching Killarney before noon.
 

Tuesday 5 August 1997
A fresh, sunny morning as we took Hwy 11 north from Huntsville, stopping for a leisurely breakfast at Jim & Elsie’s Restaurant in Sundridge on our way to Trout Creek where we headed west towards Hwy 69 for a scenic hour or so. Our brief stay on Hwy 69 was extended by repeated construction delays - a factor which almost proved costly when we found not a single gas station in the 100 or so km. in to Killarney along Hwy 637. Doug figured we were running on fumes when we spied Killarney Outfitters and its lone gas pump.

While we were stocking up on a few last-minute necessities, the young lady behind the counter asked: “Is that an Albacore?” Aghast, we corrected her misconception. “A Wayfarer?” she continued. “Have you heard of Frank Dye?”  We had. “Well, his boat’s right out back here. We’re expecting him about the middle of the month.” So we rushed around the back and sneaked a peak (below) while the goat and horse on guard were having a coffee break.

......................................

..............................................

............................

.............................

...............................

...............................

..................................

..................................

..................................

.........................

.....................

...............................

......................................................................

..................................

.................................

.................................................

........................................

...............................................................

...............................................................

..............................................

.............

........................

.............

........................

.....

.....................................

........................

..