Today was a travel‑by‑water kind of day — the ferry from Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island, a neat little shortcut that lets you skip a big chunk of Ontario wrapped around Georgian Bay. Our sailing wasn’t until 13:30, but checkout was 11:00, so we had time to wander Tobermory and pick up a few bits and pieces before lining up for the crossing.
The ferry itself felt uncannily like the Vancouver Island boats — same vibe, same layout, just… slightly scaled down. Later we chatted with a guy onboard who’d actually worked on its electrical systems when it was built, and he confirmed it’s basically a mini‑BC Ferries cousin. Nice when your hunch gets expert validation.
The crossing was smooth and quiet, and before long we were rolling onto Manitoulin. Hunger hit immediately, so we searched for lunch and landed at Garden Gate, a small, local‑produce spot that turned out to be exactly what we needed — good food, options both Georgie and I could eat, and that cozy “someone actually cares about the ingredients” feeling.
Fed and happy, we headed to our second Harvest Host stay: Farmer Ted’s. It’s exactly what it sounds like — a farm run by Ted Smith, with Harvest Host parking beside the produce market. We met Ted and his wife Fiona briefly as they were heading out to a family event, then set up, dropped the trailer, and went exploring.
Providence Bay was the target — advertised as the best sandy beach on Manitoulin — and it lived up to the hype. Long stretches of soft sand, a boardwalk running behind it, and warm(ish) surf perfect for a barefoot wander. We walked the beach out and the boardwalk back, ticking off the daily hike with a bit of style.
A simple day, but a good one — ferries, friendly locals, unexpected food finds, and a beach walk to finish it off.
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