August 6-7, 2016: Departing Little Currant for Kagawong, also on Manitoulin Island

Two Looper couples recommended leaving the beaten path of anchorages, tucking into the very protected Kagawong Municipal Marina and hiking up to Bridal Veil Falls. With wind still in the forecast, we were happy to follow their advice. Kagawong translates from the First Nation’s native language to “Where the mists rise from falling waters.” With hiking shoes on our feet and a packed lunch, bathing suits and towels in our day pack, we headed through the village and onto the wooded trail. About 20 minutes into our hike we began to hear the purr of car and motocycle engines. Then the slamming if car doors. Rounding a turn in the path we discovered that most of the visiters were parking above the falls and accessing it by a sturdy metal staircase. Concessionaires were serving lunch and ice cream to the weary hikers, huh! So much for a remote and little-known discovery!  We joined the thong in the pool beneath the falls and enjoyed the refreshing cool water. The pathway did provide a shady egress for us, however, and along the way three sculptural rock carvings were there to delight us and others who took the path less travelled. Colorful little doors were tucked at the base of trees or tacked on tree trunks... we loved finding them along the way, whatever their meaning might be. Back in the village, we were impressed by a community museum housed in a lovely cut-stone building. Built in the mid-1920’s, the building had originally been a pulp mill. Shipped to Wisconsin, the pulp was made into catalogue covers for Sears, Roebuck and Company until the Great Depression. Later the building was converted to a power plant providing all the power to Manitoulin Island, the largest fresh water island in the world. Above the museum, an art gallery displayed the works of local artists... very talented, everyone. Next to the marina, the Sailor’s Church, was open and happy for visitors to see the mariner adornments... a prow of a boat for the pulpit, anchors, ship’s bell, ship’s latterns, ship’s wheel. We joined the congregation of the St. John Anglican Church Sunday morning at 9am and felt right at home surrounded by the nautical theme.

Created by Darcy O Campbell