It was all hands on deck at the harbour in Thornbury on Sunday as a pair of cranes hoisted boats back into Georgian Bay after spending the winter high and dry.
Carla Nicholson says the weather is still a bit cool at this time of year, but boaters have to make the most of it.
“The season is so short, something less than five months, so the sooner we get in the water the better,” says Nicholson. “We have had a couple days that people could paint the bottoms and polish the sides, but it's great when they are in the water.”
Glenn Lowes is looking forward to the summer on the bay.
“Up to Tobermory over to Parry sound, so it's quite interesting. It's the best fresh water sailing in the world,” says Lowes.
While boaters launched their season, Sunday was also the first weekend of camping at most of the provincial parks throughout the region. Colleen Crawford expects next weekend to be busy.
“Book ahead if you love the place, you need to book ahead,” says Crawford.
The summer tourism season will also ramp up along the Trent Severn Waterway when the historic lock system opens next Friday. This year, Parks Canada will be trying something new, offering a two for one deal for boaters until June 30.
The general manger at the Dam Grill in Port Severn expects the promotion to help increase boating traffic early in the season. He says some summer-like weather has already kicked started the year.
“Summer has come early this year we have been quite busy,” says Allan Firth. “The deck from this point, we should be having a great summer.”
The first boats will be able to begin traveling through the lock system Friday at 9 a.m. The lock system will have extended hours over the long weekend.
