Jale Fancey of SWOPA is generously organizing an outing to Georgian Bay for August 24^th to 28^th.  It will include a boat trip to Franklin Island (about 25 km as the crow flies, west northwest of Parry Sound) followed by a visit to Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve Nature Reserve.

The Basic Plan

The plan is to meet and stay at Snug Haven Resort in Snug Harbour for three nights and then spend one night in Gravenhurst.  On the first full day at Snug Haven, an optional boat trip to Franklin Island is planned.

After leaving Snug Haven, the trip will include and outing to Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve Nature Reserve.  Accommodation is available in Gravenhurst, which is about 30 minutes from Torrance Barrens.

Although the trip arrangements are being kindly coordinated for the benefit of SWOPA members, SWOPA members may include partners or guests.  SWOPA and Jale assume no liability for participants.

The costs include:

Snug Haven Resort – three nights accommodation $72 per night person (or less, depending upon the number of participants.

1. Boat ride to Franklin Island $40
2. Gravenhurst accommodation – one night
3. Various food and/or meal costs

Items 1 and 2 above are being arranged by Jale in advance and require advance payments.  Jale will need an initial down payment paid to Jale by June 15 at the very latest!  The balance of those costs will be required by August 1 and will depend somewhat on what accommodation is arranged for how many people.

The costs of items 3 and 4 will be paid directly by participants.

Jale was at these destinations last year, and it is expected others will enjoy the photographic opportunities they provide.

Those who register for this event will need to send a down payment amount of $120 to Jale via email transfer, to jfanceyphotography@gmail.com

More Details

Saturday, August 24^th

Carpool to Snug Haven Resort at Snug Harbour, just north of Parry Sound.

The cottages will have full kitchens and since there are no restaurants nearby, it will be best to bring or pick up some groceries at Parry Sound for the next few days. Perhaps some sandwich and salad materials as well as snacks for during the day especially at the Island.

Snug Haven Resort is approximately 4 – 6.5 hours depending on where you are starting from (Woodstock to Windsor)

Hoping everyone gets there by 6:30 pm.  for some pizza after registration at the office for the cottages.

When you arrive at Snug Haven Resort, there will be a desk by the parking lot near the office. You will sign in, receive your packages, and then register at the office. I will have already paid them for the cottages. You may want to stay with people that you know so you may form groups of 4 or 5.  There are 3 cottages with 3 bedrooms and a sofa in the living room and 1 cottage with 2 bedrooms and a sofa in the living room. The rooms have queen, and double sized beds and the sofa is queen sized I believe. There will be more info on the rooms once I have the number count. There are other cottages in the area also.

That first night pizza will be provided, courtesy of SWOPA.

One of the 3-bedroom cottages, the larger one with 3 queen beds and a double pullout couch is $260 + tax ($293.80).

The other 2 cottages are a little smaller.

The other 3-bedroom has 1 queen bed and 2 double beds, and a pullout couch are $235 + tax ($265.55).

The 2-bedroom cottage has one queen bed and one bunk with a twin top bunk and a double on the bottom is $220. + tax ($248.60)

The 3-bedroom cottages can hold from 4 to 8 people depending on sharing.

Sunday, August 25

Weather permitting, go to Franklin Island in groups of 5 or 6. Depending on how many will be there, may have 2 or 3 groups go for the early morning (5:30 am) for sunrise, at different areas of the Island and then those groups will be back by 11:30 am. there will be then a break and at 3: 30 pm, there will be 2 or 3 other groups (if there are that many registered ) who leave to go to the different areas for sunset. Again, this will be organized once we have the numbers.  Those who are left behind in the morning and evening will be going along the coast across from the Franklin Islands to photograph until 11:30 am in the morning and after sunset in the evening then return to their cottages for late dinner.

Monday, August 26

With cooler(s) full of sandwiches, drinks, etc.  leave at 5:30 am to go to Killbear Park so photograph the sunrise from the beach. After sunrise, go on the trails around the park and at noon meet at the parking lot to get our lunches and enjoy them by the water.  Later, photographing “The Tree” and if there is a clear night, we may even go back after dinner to see if we can capture the Milky Way behind the tree.

Tuesday, August 27

Check out at 9 am and stop at Parry Sound for breakfast then start driving towards Gravenhurst.  Enroute, at noon, have a picnic at a designated area. Then, go on trails (info in your packages) in the area during the day until about 4 pm.

Everyone books their own stay in Gravenhurst.

A few Gravenhurst accommodations:

• Howard Johnson by Wyndham Gravenhurst  844-247-8465
• Gold Pine Inn Motel   866 500-4938
• Oakwood Motel   705 687-4224
• Skyway Motel 705 687-6608

Bracebridge can be an alternative to Gravenhurst and may be cheaper.

• Bracebridge Inn 705 645-4424
• Cedar Lane Motel 705 645-9757

Drive to our accommodations in Gravenhurst and get freshened up.  Making sure all our equipment like tripods, chairs, remotes, etc., in our cars/vans, we will meet at Boston Pizza at 5:30 pm for dinner. Reservations will be made a few days before by Jale.

After dinner, drive about 15 minutes to Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve Nature Reserve.  Set up tripods and cameras and wait for sunset and later the Milky Way.  FYI Northern Lights have also been seen frequently at Torrance Barrens.  We will pack up around 1:30 am and go back to our rooms and have some deserved sleep.

Wednesday, August 28

Check out and return home after brunch.  Check out time is by 10:30 am.  Plan to go for brunch at the Old Mill Family Restaurant.  (Again, reservations will be made.)

The entire trip could be as low as $285 +food + gas, or up to $420 + food + gas.  This should include the accommodations at Gravenhurst (depending on how much you are willing to pay for a room for one night).  This estimate is per person for staying at a cottage for 3 nights, a motel for one night, plus boat driver fee.