Thomas Bay to Killarney Mountain Lodge

Aug 20-22-Mon to Wed - Thomas Bay to Killarney Mountain Lodge

People are leaving the anchorage cause wind and weather are predicted for today and tomorrow.  John unties us from shore, and we slowly inch our way out of the anchorage, following our tracks and again watching for rocks.  We make our way again to Killarney, this time with the big boats and pull into the Mountain Lodge.  This place is luxurious - a hotel with cabins, rooms, a marina, a float plane launch  and all the extras. - so we plan our day.  We take a guided rugged hike out to the lighthouse.  The trail is well marked but goes thru the woods, over steep rock formations and down the other side and eventually comes out on the rocky shore that we follow to the point and the lighthouse.  The hike was good but more difficult than anticipated.  Later we take another guided tour, this time of the largest log cabin convention center, under construction, in the world.  It is amazing - the logs, the materials, the construction - just amazing .  In the evening we walk to sunset point which is actually a privately owned cabin and deck area of a friend of John and Pam's.  He is not here now but told us to come and use the porch for sunset cocktails.  It is a wonderful place to view the water with good friends at the end of the day.

Rain has been predicted for the day but actually starts in the afternoon  On this dreary day- one of few rainy days of this cruising season - the time is spent doing laundry, washing the boat, catching up with e-mail communications and a couple of games of Taboo.  We are invited to dinner aboard Aurora and enjoy a great evening of laughs, conversation, and dinner, topped off with homemade key lime pie by Steve.  A local Irish singer was performing in the Carousel lounge so we went to enjoy his music.

The sun was shining but the wind was blowing so we stayed at the marina one more day.  We took a final walk thru the one street town.  Colletta sat at the point and read and relaxed while Tom took advantage of the kayaks and did some paddling.  A German dinner was shared with John and Pam and then one more evening listening to Andy in the lounge.  Andy has been performing at the Lodge for over 15 years.  He writes his own songs about Killarney Bay and the Georgian Bay and sings other boating favorites.  A talented singer/performer.  

Killarney Lighthouse

 

Killarney Mounttain Lodge

The family Rhodes family who now owns the lodge

is investing over $50 million to upgrade the facilities.

Harold Rhodes mother was from Killarney and he

spent many of his summers here so it is his way of

giving back to the community.

Details

A very classy place in the middle of nowhere

Preparing to dock

These are pictures  of the convention center under

construction. They haven't completed the facility but

are booked out until 2021 already. The general manager,

Kelly, who gave us the tour stated that one young lady

booked a date already even though she hasn't found a

husband yet. Planning ahead.

You cant appreciate the magnitude of the place unless

you see people in it.

this one of the bars in the center. Notice the wood

working on the corners, amazing.

This gives you and idea of the timbers

size being used.

the big dining room will hold 350 people

The grand foyer entrance. There will be a chandelier

suspended from the center

The general manager stated that they expect the

building to settle over time so they incorporated

screw jacks that they can use to level things out over

time. Who in heavens name would thing of that?

Big bucks spent everywhere.

Our hike to the lighthouse. A little more

strenuous than we had been led to believe

View from the top, oh wait we are only half way

there

Taking a well deserved break from the trek

Did I tell you we were only half way there?

Our guide, Cassy on the right. Interesting young

lady.

The shores of Lake Huron

A fellow traveler we encountered on the way to

the lighthouse, a friendly non poisonous water

snake

Finally, at the Killarney Lighthouse

The waters of Lake Huron, would have been an even

bumpier dinghy ride today.

the sunset porch of Pam and John's friend. the guy

is an architect so it figures, the gentleman has

vision.

the gang in the screened in sunset porch safe from

mosquitoes

 

Steve taking it easy

the view out over the bay

A guy who has vision of what to do with nature,

reminds me of an architect I know in Galien, Michigan.

They see possibilities where most people see rocks

 

Dinner on Aurora with Dave and Barb( Hallelujah),

us, Pam and John ( Short Vacation) and our hosts,

Steve and Diane (Aurora)

One of many float planes that land at Mountain
Lodge. They had two float planes and one helicopter

on the landing pad while we were here

Wheels down and approaching the ramp

Up and out we go

 

I was kayaking around the landing ramp when the

above float plane landed so I got a front row

view.

Looking out into Lake Huron with the flags of

two great nations

 

Sunset in Kilarney

 

A final picture of the convention center