Canadian Yachting April 2021 - 15

Killarney Prov. Park - View from top of La Cloche range down to anchorage in The Pool and to Baie Fine in distance

proprietor topped up our fuel, we took
off to explore. Weaving past tiny Irving
Island, we made our way up the waterway
that separates Big Burnt Island from the
mainland. It was easy to do in this year
of high-water, the only obstacle being
lily pad stems that had to be periodically
cleared from the prop. Through the afternoon, we photographed lilies, inspected
old hunting blinds, checked out beaver
lodges and lay on warm glacier-smoothed
outcroppings watching birds of prey circling overhead. Socially-distanced dock
drinks at 5pm with the locals, followed by
a steak BBQ back on board, made for a
perfect day.

" Socially-distanced
dock drinks at 5pm with
the locals, followed
by a steak BBQ back
on board, made for a
perfect day. "
The call of loons woke us early. Having
stopped at the beautiful Bustard Islands
and the lovely Bad River on a previous
trip, we decided to see a new spot en
route to Killarney. After a windless day of
northbound motoring, we pulled in behind
Burnt Island in Beaverstone Bay for the

night.
From Beaverstone it was roughly 20
NM to Killarney whether we crossed open
water or took Collins Inlet. It was another
windless day, so we chose the Inlet's scenic route.
At the northeast corner of Philip Edward
Island, our sounder flashed depths as low
8.4 feet (2.5m). Considering we draw 6
feet (1.8m), this was cutting it close, but
with lake levels high we made it through
without incident. Rounding the lighthouse
at the west end of the channel, we emerged
from the pristine pink granite landscapes
to the striking view of the sugar-white
quartzite of the La Cloche Mountains.
We emerged in open water briefly
before entering the busy channel at
Killarney. Between weather delays, cottage stops and windless motoring, it had
taken us a week to arrive at the gateway to
the North Channel.
After a comfortable night in Covered
Portage Cove (aka Portage Couvert) -a
" must-see " anchorage 1.5 NM north of the
west end of the busy Killarney Channel-
we met with friends for a morning walk.
Landing the dinghy near the well-trodden
trail at the head of the cove, we hiked up
through the bush over crystalline quartzite
to enjoy views overlooking the anchorage
and Frazer Bay.
Later, we dinghied to town and tied
up at the government wharf just west
of Herbert's, our lunchtime destination,
famous for their delicious fish and chips.
Killarney's busy waterfront boasts all you
need in marine services. Settled in 1820,

banners around town announced the
bicentennial, but COVID put festivities
on hold. Celebrations are now planned
for July 3-11, 2021. Even without special
events, it's easy to enjoy your time here.
Walk around the new conference centre,
check out Pitfield's General Store for
supplies, grab an ice cream midtown and
continue walking a block back from the
waterfront to find the small museum and
the old jail.
Departing Covered Portage, we saw
the famous silhouette of a man in the rock
cliffs, then turned our thoughts to Baie
Fine (aka Bay Finn) another " must-see "
anchorage.

Covered Portage anchorage - The face in the
rock

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Canadian Yachting April 2021

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