Sea Kayaking, Bustard Islands via French River
Details
http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/c/0/5/0/event_191149232.jpeg
Entering earth's atmosphere as a ceremonial fireball, the spacecraft plunges into the clear waters of the archipelago...spluesh!
Timed for the full moon, the Bustard family exists their still steaming craft to once again walk on ancestral ground.
http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/c/e/b/0/event_191152912.jpeg
Judging by striations in the local rocks this ceremony has repeated itself for generations.
Through inordinate effort you too can join in their mysterious ritual. But, first you must paddle the mighty lower French River, navigate narrow channels used by bygone traders, and cross the open waters of Georgian Bay. There you will find the ancients in meditative state.
In reverential hushed tones, "Welcome to the Bustard Islands."
Intinerary:
Option 1: Friday, July 19, 5:30 pm, or as soon as folks get off work. Congregate at a Tim Hortons near you, most likely, Weber and Northfield, Waterloo. Form a loose caravan and drive 5 hours to Grundy Lake Provincial Park for the night. If still open, purchase French River permits at the variety store at final cutoff to the park.
Option 2: Join the group en route, at Grundy Lake Friday night, at the breakfast diner Saturday, 7:30 am, or at Hartley Bar Marina Saturday 8:30 am.
Both Options: Saturday, July 20, this will be a long day involving a portage with kayaks and lots of water to cover. 6:30 am, the buggle call resounds. 7:15 we're on our way to the diner, greet options 2's upon entering, no special breakfast orders. 8:15 on to Hartley Bay. Pay, park, load, re-reload, start paddling. 9:30 the French River glides along underneath sleek kayaks.
Paddle the Main Outlet of the French River to Georgian Bay, portaging around Dallas Rapids on the way. Find campsite on the Bustard Islands, setup. There is an extraordinary site there but sites are on first come first serve basis. With luck we get it.
The highlight of the summer will be a moonlight paddle through the sheltered islands of the Bustards!
Sunday, take a relaxed clockwise tour of the islands, cross back over to the mainland, and setup camp at Bass Creek entrance.
Monday (this is not a statutory holiday), paddle up Bass Creek, negotiate nasty Boardwalk portage, continue north to 'The Elbow', cross over to the Eastern Outlet, and back north to Hartley Bay.
Think of this as the traditional lower French 'figure eight' loop with the Bustards appended to the bottom.
Guestions:
To answer your first question, this trip isn't on a long weekend in order to 1) avail of a full moon, the festival after all 2) avoid holiday motorboat traffic on the busy lower French
To answer your next question, this trip isn't suitable for canoes. KW-Backcountry doesn't do canoes on open Georgian Bay crossings.
Cost:
- Without kayak rental = $95
$10 (Friday night campground) + $20 (French R. per night camping 2 x $10) + $15 (marina parking 3 days x $10 / 2 persons) + $40 (shared gas, two persons per car because two kayaks per car) + $10 (launch fee per boat) = $95 before tax
- With solo kayak rental = $207
$112 (estimated three day solo kayak rental) + $95 (other costs above)
- With tandem kayak rental = $169 tandem
$74 (estimated 1/2 of three day rental) + $95 (other costs above)
Kayak Rentals:
As with all rentals, the problem is hours of operation.
Adventure Guide, Waterloo. Great policies for weekend pickup and return. Poor gas mileage hauling boats long distance.
Sojourn, Barie (http://www.sojournoutdoors.com/about-us/rentals-services/rentals/). (705) 739-9694 Possible to make closing time Friday night, impossible to make closing time Monday night.
Swift, Waubaushene (http://swiftoutside.com/stores/rentals.php). 705-538-0881 Hard to make closing time Friday, ditto for Monday, although, they have drop off at you own risk options.
Difficulty:
Previous kayaking experience an asset. The two portages require considerable muscle power, or alternatively good co-operation. Taken sufficient time there is no reason a prized fiberglass boat can't make it unscathed.
Inspiration:
Photos from last summer's Bustard Islands scouting mission (http://www.flickr.com/photos/65337815@N02/sets/72157631350955520/show/)
Photos from overlapping French River meetup last summer (https://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/10540072/).
http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/5/e/6/c/event_191184172.jpeg
Bass Creek on the return
Shared Document (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtI1mHVqaf-jdDFXaHg2cGZMcWFUS1N0UjBzVk1rYUE#gid=0) for car and kayak sharing
notes: Grundy Lake Supply Post, Hwy 69 at Hwy 522, 705-383-2251