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Sunday 20 November 2022

Tobermory Ferries

Tobermory Ferries Over The Years.
 
Location: Tobermory, Ontario, Canada
Address:  8 Eliza St
Date:  September 2022
Website:  www.ontarioferries.com

  There have been ferries travelling between Tobermory and South Baymouth, Ontario for over 100 years.  Tobermory is at the top of the Bruce Penninsula and sits between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.  If you wish to travel further from here you will have to either take a boat or else head back and go the long way around.  On a trip from Sault Ste Marie, Ontario we travelled south by ferry to Tobermory.

Burns Wharf Manitowaning Ontario

   The ferry service started in the 1920s with the SS Hibou.  Later came the MS Normac which could hold up to 16 cars.  There were a couple of other ships before the SS Norisle came along in 1946.  You can still find the Norisle docked at Burns Wharf in Manitowaning on Manitoulin Island.

Norisle Docked In Manitowaning.

     The Norisle was capable of holding up to 46 cars as it made its journey from Manitoulin Island to Tobermory and back again.  In 1958 the Normac returned to help share the work load. When the Normac retired, the MS Norgoma joined the Norisle in making the 46 km voyage.

Chi-Cheemaun Tobermory Ferry

     In 1974 the Chi-Cheemaun arrived and replaced both the Norisle and the Norgoma.  The Chi-Cheemaun can hold 143 vehicles and over 600 passengers and it is still running to this day. 
 
Chi-Cheemaun Arrives in South Baymouth

   The Chi-Cheemaun can also hold large transport trucks like the truck full of livestock in the photo above.  You can get an idea of the size of the Chi-Cheemaun as it prepares to dock.

Collingwood Ship Builders.

  Like the Norisle and Norgoma that came before it, the Chi-Cheemaun was built in Collingwood, Ontario.

Indigenous Turtle Artwork Chi Cheemaun, Tobermory.

     The beautiful indigenous art, like the turtle pictured above, gives the Chi-Cheemaun a bright colourful look. 

Chi Cheemaun Ferry Indigenous Artwork.

    The sides of the ship also feature birds and fish. 

Cars Enter Stern Of The Chi-Cheemaun South Baymouth.

    In South Baymouth we entered the ship through the stern.  We first had to wait for the vehicles that had arrived from Tobermory to leave from the same opening at the back of the ship.

The Bow Of The Chi-Cheemaun Flips Up In Tobermory Ontario

    Upon arrival in Tobermory, the bow of the ship flips up to allow the vehicles to exit and a new group to enter.  If you see the Chi-Cheemaun in the harbour with its front flipped up you have not yet missed your ferry, but you better hurry.

South Baymouth Ferry Terminal.

    It was a beautiful, clear day when our ferry left South Baymouth to head south to Tobermory.

 View From The Front Of The Chi-Cheemaun Tobermory.

    The Ontario flag at the front of the ship blew in the breeze as we started our one hour and 45 minute journey.

Flowerpot Island Mural.

    The Chi-Cheemaun passses by the famous Flowerpot Island.  The flowerpot formations made from the rocks are shown in the mural above. Unfortunately as the Chi-Cheemaun passes, these rocks are on the other side of the island.

Cove Island Lighthouse.

    The ferry does pass Cove Island and you can get a good view of its lighthouse.

Chi-Cheemaun Ferry View.

    At some points during the journey you can see nothing but water as you look from the deck of the Chi-Cheemaun.

Chi-Cheemaun Approaches Tobermory.
 
   Before we knew it, the time came for us to head back down to our vehicles and get ready to drive through the Chi-Cheemaun and out into the town of Tobermory.  Just like the artwork that graces the sides of the ship, a voyage on the Chi-Cheemaun will brighten your day.


Map of Our World
Chi-Cheemaun Ferry
SS Norisle

Post # 317