General/Travel

Looks Like August, Feels Like April

Environmental / Weather, General/Travel, Parry Sound Area, , ,

We’re now about about two months away from the Summer Solstice, and it looks like late August with the chill of April. Makes sense of course, as the sun is exactly where it would be in late August. The differences range from the water temperature (brrr!), to the absence of leaves on the trees. It will be nice to be on the water when it’s warmer, but don’t tarry. The boating season is too short not to be enjoying an August sun in April. This is a view of Parry Sound’s Big Sound from the Rotary Algonquin Regiment Fitness Trail with Two Mile Point to the left. (April 2016)

Redwood1890-20160423-20160420-_DSC2823-copy

Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron AGM – April 23, 2016

Events and Presentations, General/Travel, Information/Reports, ,

PARRY SOUND SQUADRON AGM

At our last meeting the bridge agreed to continue with the same members.

The following slate of officers will be presented at the AGM on April 23, 2016:

John Mason – Commander, Educational Officer

David Hardie – Treasurer, Past Commander

Horst Mattern – Administrative and Environment Officer

Lois Ritchie – Membership Officer

Josef Bossart –  Secretary, Communications Officer

Joseph Grasso – Supply Officer

Roger Alexander – MAREP Officer

Gerald Shipman – Port Captain

The Parry Sound and Voyageur District AGM is scheduled as follows:

  1. A Wine & Cheese reception at the Museum on Tower Hill, April 22, 5:00 to 7:00 PM.
  2. Voyageur District AGM, Saturday, April 23, 9:45 to 12:00, at the Stockey Center: 9:00 coffee and morning snacks.
  3. Lunch 12:00 to 1:00.
  4. Parry Sound Squadron AGM 1:00 to 2:00.

As a member of the Parry Sound Squadron you are welcome to attend. Please let John Mason, 705.342.1315 — masonj@vianet.ca, know that you will be attending the AGM to permit for appropriate arrangements.

John Mason

Return of the Risley – March 2016

General/Travel, Parry Sound Area, , ,

Sitting out on the North Shore Rugged Trail last week enjoying the arrival of dawn I was surprised to see three beacons looking west. I recognized two of them, the beacon at Three Mile point (3 km away), and in the distance Killbear (10 km away), but there was a third between the two of them. Within minutes I was able to confirm that it was the Samuel Risley returning to port at the Parry Sound Coast Guard base for the first time this year. I guess boating season has officially started in the Parry Sound area. That’s the beacon on Killbear Point in the distance.

The Samuel Risley Rounding Three Mile Point – March 19, 2016

Return-Risley-2016-03-19y

The Big Sound – Mostly Frozen Over

Boating News, General/Travel, Parry Sound Area, , ,

It’s one month past the Winter Solstice and we seem to have finally developed a skim of ice over the Big Sound. (That’s ice, not water.) There still seems to be open water further out when seen from Belvedere Hill. Things will continue to be cold, but it will be many days before people can get their ice huts and sleds out on the Big Sound. The Walleye season ends March 1st, so there may be little incentive to get the huts out, once the ice gets thick enough to be safe. There may be an early start to the boating season.Redwood1890-20160121-_DS72924

Beware “The Man”

Courses/Training, General/Travel, ,

Aren’t you in awe of this ad from the Boater Exam people? I found it the other day when looking at the 2014 Ontario Fishing Regulations handbook.

Young, strong cop in shades who is a foot taller than the obviously guilty senior boater. It’s a good thing he just wrote him a ticket and didn’t punch him out. Check out the body language. Check out the gun on “the man’s” hip.

Wow – don’t take the course to learn anything, or become a safer and more courteous boater, take it to avoid being put in this type of situation. And with the recent reports of police abuses it becomes even more intimidating. At least they didn’t dress this ‘cop’ in a brown shirt.

Carrot or stick? The Boater Exam people seem to think the threat of the stick works much better. We don’t offer education, we offer protection. This is using Freudian intimidation in advertising at its best. Or is it at its worst?

BoaterExamOnline_2014_Fishing_Guide

JB – Communications Officer

 

State of the Sound Report – 2015-04-12

Environmental / Weather, General/Travel, Parry Sound Area, , , ,

Redwood189020150412-_DSC9451_DxOThis photo was taken a few hours ago and shows the extent of the open water. We received a considerable amount of rain in the past 48 hours and today it’s above 10°C (50°F), so things may move quickly. Commander Mason at the last meeting of the Parry Sound Squadron Bridge promised the Big Sound would be clear by April 21st, plus or minus one week. It won’t be a week early, but hopefully no later than the 28th. If you can’t play on the ice it may as well be gone.

‘Clic on the Pic’ for a larger view.

State of the Sound Report – January 21, 2015

Environmental / Weather, General/Travel, , ,

Redwood1890-20150119-_DSC7557_DxOCold and crisp, full ice coverage, all with gorgeous shades of blue. There have been a few snow machines on the ice but discretion is the better part of valour, and a little more cold will ensure safe travel. This is the view from the ground at Waubano Beach in Parry Sound looking to the northwest. That black ‘blight’ to the upper right of the photo is the salt pile on Smelter Wharf. Parry Sound provides the only practical deep water harbour on Eastern Georgian Bay for the marine delivery of road salt. The shipments start in the Fall and are gone by the time Spring arrives. It was a tough season this Fall with deliveries delayed by wind and waves.

The ice coverage has meant the daily dump of snow, largely lake effect snow, has eased and temperatures have dropped. Time to get out and play on the trails.

‘Clic on the Pic’ for a closer view.