As we were sitting at the town docks in Little Current, a large sailboat went by and asked another boat if they had gone to the pool. They hadn’t; they thought they were too big and had too much depth. (Apparently Mrs. Evinrude has her 110 foot yacht brought here for days – oops).The sailboat, to me, had a keel that was probably deeper than the power boat, replied that that was too bad, because they had seen a bear come down to the water.

Next thing I know, Kelley is on the bridge and returns to say that he has charted our course. Yeah? To the Pool.

We made the 9 am opening of the swing bridge and continued out towards Strawberry Island and Heywood Island and on to the small entrance to the Pool. We passed the lighthouse on Strawberry Island.

What a beautiful cruise. Open water, few boats, not much wind, if any, and a destination we were anxious to get to. How many others on this overcast Friday would be working their way there to spend the weekend, or gasp, how many boats were already there, swinging, taking up all available room?

We round the corner into The Pool.

Up the 7 mile Baie Fine we went. There was another boat that had passed us going fast and causing a bumpy wake for us – but that boat appeared to be going to another destination. On we went, looking for the green buoy that would lead us towards the opening. Oh my, the New York boat had stopped and was coming in our direction. Kelly called and offered to let him go first….he could race and we would watch his route.

It was suppose to be so shallow, but not….on through Baie Fine and to the small forested entrance that would lead us to the Pool. Granite rises on both sides of us. If the sky had been clear, the greens of the trees and the white of the granite would have played against the blues of the water and sky; but it is gray. Gray might be to our advantage.

We round the corner – a Grand Banks and the “fast boat” are anchored. We find a great spot; drop anchor; and eat lunch.

Oh, sadness, the “fast boat” is hassling with his anchor.

Our day passes with an afternoon dinghy ride around the pool looking for the hiking trail where we will be able to look down and see the Pool and also pick blueberries. I am prepared to bake muffins, or at the very least pancakes. But, it and ends with reading, knitting, and drizzle. Another perfect day on the Loop. What a gorgeous part of the world this is. Now, where is the black bear or the moose that I have read about?

On the Fourth, Kelley does take a hike – and he was pleased that I hadn’t gone. There were bugs. But, it wasn’t an easy hike – but it was gorgeous. I give you his hike (alas, too early for blueberries):

We had a visitor a couple of times.

But, it was time to move on. So on the 6th we pulled anchor and set off for Snug Harbor, where we would be safe from a storm that was approaching.