Memories tend to fade, the aspects that are so pleasant to us we retain, yet the reality portions continue to age, and, when we check back, show their age.

In a move to make new memories, Kathy and I decided upon a trip to Manitoulin Island, the largest fresh water island in the world. After consulting weather patterns from the North Lake Huron weather buoy as well as North American satellite and ground tracking radar, we chose Tuesday and Wednesday as our window to travel. We wanted to catch the 11:20 AM ferry to Manitoulin Island. To do so we left Little Pike Bay early in the morning, drove to Tobermory, got our tickets and parked "Big Red" in line. We walked to "Craigies" for breakfast. 

We sat down in the sun porch next to a couple from Toronto. She had been coming to Tobermory as a little girl, and now returns for a reminiscent tour. He retired as City Manager for the City of Toronto two years ago, and they have been traveling back and forth to a cottage his parents had in the Mescoka area, North of Toronto.We chatted for an hour or so until the Chi- Cheeman's whistle blew, signaling ready for boarding.

As forecasted, the barometric pressure was high,  the winds were calm, the seas were mirror flat. The ship spun around and we headed at 16 knots North by Northwest to South Bay Mouth on Manitoulin Is. From Tobermory we pass a number or uninhabited islands, part of the Five Fathoms National Park, the last island is Cove Island and its Cove Island Lighthouse. The figurine of the Cove Island Lighthouse that Bob and Kathy V brought for the cottage, is identical to this picture except for the 150 years sign. Seagulls flew to the top decks and matched precisely the ship's speed, appearing motionless as they glided upon the air currents created by the ship. An hour and 45 minutes later, we docked at South Bay Mouth, picked up route 6 again heading North; a few miles out of town we turned Left towards Providence Bay and its local Chamber of Commerce published literature "awe inspiring sand beach"; really, not any better than our own Bruce Peninsula's "Sandy Beach." By traveling roads, we saw lots and lots of trees as we headed West to Meldrum Bay, at the most Westward portion of the Island. Before stopping for the night, we visited the Missisagi Lighthouse, where, on the road we saw a large black bear. He/she looked at us, paused, then loped off into the bush. "We see a lot of them around here, and they generally leave people alone" so said the caretakers of the lighthouse museum. Hmmm "generally."

Meldrum Bay B&B was charming. We had dinner with a couple from Wisconsin whom we had met on the ferry and at Providence Bay, who were completing a tour from Madison, to Toronto via the Northern Lake Huron/Georgian Bay route. After dinner, Kathy and I hot-tubbed it for an hour; relaxed, then trundled off to bed.  

Wednesday we awakened early to await our 9:00 AM Continental breakfast, which we shared with the Wisconsin couple, then headed, through the allies of tree forests, to Gore Bay. Another lighthouse, met an artist from Atlanta Ga. and his traveling companion, more pictures then followed the North Channel Eastward to Little Current. A trip across and back over the "swing bridge," ice cream, the obligatory gift shop stop where we found surprise surprise something we both like for our home in East Lansing. We head South along route 6, stopping at 10 Mile Point and its scenic overlook, purchased home-made soap, back onto Rt. 6 to Manitowaning, the berth of the now retired Tobermory to South Bay Mouth coal fired ferry: SS Norisle. 

We have a 1937 view of the SS Norisle at the cottage, a print of a painting by Kent Wilkens, "Norisle coming into the coal pile: Tobermory".

Now she is in need of a major restoration; hence, the reality of time moving on. My remembrance of traveling on the Norisle are of coming back from South Bay Mouth after Bill and I had canoed to Manitoulin Island. The ship was loaded from the Starboard side, automobiles were jacked up and swung into a lineup and secured. Quite a difference now with the easy roll-on roll-off of the Chi-Cheeman. Bill and I carried the canoe onto the Norisle, then headed aft to talk with the crew who had quarters in the stern, port holes open, and black smoke wafting inside when the wind swung astern.  I remember greeting my mother in Tobermory, I had slung my arm in a sling to appear as if I were injured, she, so grateful to see me alive, either did not notice or care as she hugged me tightly. My other trips to Manitoulin Island have been by water, this one, 300 miles in all, by land and by sea, made new memories for both Kathy and myself.