Here are some drone shots from the previous day anchorage at Chimney Bay which did not make the post from yesterday.
July 4
Another bright sunny day greets us as we weigh anchor and head back to Midland's Bay Port Marina. this is our last full day with our son, Kyle aboard.
We settled in at the dock and then took our rental car into town to explore. Had lunch at Phil's Pub, a local favorite, and wandered a bit through town. There were some impressive brick homes just outside of downtown atop the hill and brick/stone city hall and library.
We then took off for the Huronia Museum which has
1. A replica of a 1500's Mendat Village complete with palisades, longhouse, wigwam, sweat lodge, and shaman lodge, as well as, birch bark canoes, lookout towers, game area and of course gardens for growing, squash, corn, and beans.
2. Maritime history of Lake Huron from pictures and artifacts of steamships, tugboats, canalers (narrow boats that plied the canals), to the large freighters who carried the grain, and wood products. Also had the uniforms and memorabilia from naval personnel who served in Lake Huron.
3. Huronia Indian and early settlers artifacts and tools and artwork. Had some impressive samplers from the early 1800's which did not show in the photo very well.
Next we visited the Martyr's Shrine which sits atop a great hill over looking Midland Bay. The church and shrine were built in 1920. The church is an imposing stone cathedral which has an interior entirely of wood- ceilings, floors, and pews and altars, all wood, and beautiful stained glass windows.
After our afternoon of playing tourist, we retired to the boat to relax, have dinner, and play Yahtzee. Kyle beat the pants off of both Bill and I. Bill likes to think he let him win, but I know better.
July 5
Returned Kyle to the Toronto airport early this morning. Was fun to share our adventure with him and give him a taste of living the lake lifestyle in Canada! He even collected a few rocks and a walking stick along the way.
Returning to the boat, we stopped at the grocery store and then did chores. Not too exciting! Am getting ready for our next guests, my sister Kathy and her husband Dick.
Met two more Loopers, who visited us by dinghy. They were traveling with another boat and they began their journey in Chicago, so they are almost done with the Loop.
As we had a rental car, we ate lunch out, a real treat. We then drove a bit downtown and found lovely homes and gardens and a waterfront filled with marinas and parks, as well as mural painted silos left from the days where grain and wood pulp were shipped by boat from Midland. Also enjoyed viewing the many murals on the sides of the businesses downtown.
The city has lots of murals downtown which depict the history of Midland- its lighthouse and shipping economy.
