BURNT ISLAND: WELL, THAT SOUNDS PROMISING

August 13-14, 2026

Imagine numerous outcroppings of granite interspersed with groves of deciduous trees and evergreens growing on islands. Just miles and miles of this beauty.

We get to drive amongst and through channels, lakes, and narrow spaces to get to Burnt Island. We picked our anchorage spot and put down anchor. Once we feel that the anchor is holding, we go about “buttoning up” the flybridge and getting the tender ready to drive Bella over to a close island. We call the tender ride over, “the tinkle taxi.” Once she has “done her business,” we can begin to think about lunch and the afternoon plans which typically include swimming, planning for the next day, and a bit of relaxing.

“Tinkle Taxi” at work.

Today, I had the distinct privilege of staying on the island and throwing the ball for Bella while Howie went back and made lunch. He brought it over on the tender to eat as a picnic. We had leftover hamburgers, cut up veges and some chips. There is a “pinch me” feel to this type of experience as you think about being in the middle of Georgian Bay and having lunch on a piece of granite where no one else is around.

There was a firepit on the island, so around 8:30 p.m. we headed back and had a fire and roasted s’mores. They weren’t very good as the graham crackers were mush and tasted like cardboard. I fed mine to Bella and I think Howie threw the rest of his into the fire. Yuck.

Campfire craziness.

Night tender ridge back to the boat.

We were heading to Killarney which wasn’t that far away so the next morning there was no rush to head out early. Howie dropped Bella and me off on another granite island and he went fishing in the tender. I was thinking about taking a hike, but as I headed through the woods, I kept thinking about snakes and Bella being bitten. I quickly turned around and threw the ball for her on the safe granite space. I know, I am a wuss.