Minks & McCoys, Georgian Bay

Georgian Bay:
Minks, McCoys & Franklin Island

Day 1

Please note, click on any image to see original size.

After a hiatus of several years I am finally able to return to Georgian Bay to hopefully complete my exploration of the Minks & McCoy islands which due to strong winds was not completed on my previous visit.   On Tuesday June 21 I set out with paddling friend Dave with the intention of meeting another paddler Ray, at Snug Harbour around 2 pm.  Our original plan was to leave Monday but weather report called for 30 km wind with 70 km gusts and likely thunderstorms in the area, hence the delay.   Yet another delay arose as my travelling companion met with traffic delays en-route to my home, so we were not on the water till almost 4 pm.  No worries, while still quite windy weather is fair and and the decision is made to look at sites on Franklin Island's west side.

Depart Snug Harbour

Camp 1

We stop first near Lenice Island a  site I have previously used, then travel north to look at possible site at Spears Island or Cunningham Bay.   The former did not look suitable for 3 tents or easy unloading and I know that Cunningham Bay could require a lift-over at the access point if water levels are low so we decide  on the known quantity and return to the island about 150 m NW of Lenice island to set up our first camp.   Parking is a little tricky here in the small cove behind the island but we get unloaded and lift the kayaks on to the rocks and secure bow lines just in case.  This site is equipped with a thunder box, always a welcome amenity !   Plenty of room for our three tents and after setting up we go about getting our evening meal and preparing a fire for later.

Boat parking *

Campfire

After dark there are a few mosquitoes and we decide to call it a day.  I am awoken in the early hours by high winds shaking my tent and start to worry that I did not spend enough time securing my tent.  We are on bedrock so no pegs just boulders attached to the guy lines (I hope).  I consider getting up to check but realise that while I am in it I am helping to hold it down, so stay put!   Around 5 am the wind begins to drop and by the time I get up it is looking like it will be a very pleasant day.

Sunset from camp 1

Day 2

Our second day, breakfast over we head NNW for our next camp on Big McCoy, there is a bit of wind mostly west or NW so we tend to keep to the lee of islands as we work our way along the coast.  We spot an adult Bald eagle lift off from it's aerie on Ardagh island and then at Edgar island we stop for lunch.

Aerie

Lunch

Dave

We begin bearing more NW as we pass Oak island, heading first for Twin Sisters island then Colley island  turning west towards Big McCoy where we plan to spend the next two nights.  Shoals abound off the east shores of Big McCoy and care must be taken as we thread our way through.  This time of year pollen is at its peak coating the water and any rocky shore that is lapped by waves.  This results in rock that is deadly slick which makes for difficult landing or boarding a kayak but we manage to successfully get the kayaks to safe storage away from waters edge.  Later that day I become first victim to this condition as I slip and dunk while trying to scoop a pot of water, but luckily no injury is sustained except perhaps to my pride.  Plenty of room to camp on this island and a fire ring surrounded with rocks suitable for sitting or supporting stoves is in place, there is also a thunder-box for added convenience.

Heading for Big McCoy

The tree that never was

Fox snake

Big McCoy #

We find we are not alone but have a Fox snake sharing our campsite which we are delighted to see.   I have come across this species on previous visits to GB but so far I have yet to encounter the Massasauga rattlesnake common to the area.   Looking SE towards the mainland one can see what appears to be a giant conifer towering over everything else; on closer examination it appears to be manmade, the branches being extremely uniform and the trunk curiously square.  Like a big Xmas tree from Wal-mart!  We reached the conclusion that it is some kind of communication tower tarted up to blend into the environment.  There certainly is great mobile phone coverage on the island!

Dusk tranquility on Big McCoy

Sun sets over Chippewa & Little McCoy

After dinner the fire is prepared for later, plentiful supply of dry wood from trees that failed to withstand the Lake Huron westerlies and their tenuous hold on the meager topsoil.  Then a short walk to view yet another spectacular Georgian Bay sunset.  Tomorrow we will head out to paddle around the Minks.

Day 3

Our third day dawns gorgeous and very calm, ideal for a paddle down the Minks with it's numerous shoals and we can visit Green island which is known to have campsites so a good place to stop and have our lunch.  There is also a shipwreck just west of Green island that we could try to find.  Perfectly calm so we leisurely paddle taking in the varied sites, wild Iris and orange coloured lichen cling to rocks and one island abundantly covered with some very yellow flora that I could not identify.

Wild Iris

Unknown flora

A waypoint for the wreck of the Seattle places us over a shoal just NW of Green island but we can not determine any wreckage.  A little research determines that the Seattle a steam barge was wrecked Nov 11,1903 when she lost power and was washed onto the shoal.  Out of Parry Sound carrying lumber to Detroit: no loss of life!  So on to Green island and lunch.

Ray

Self on Green island

This is not a large island but there are a few spots suitable for camping, many of the Minks are private or small so Green island is best bet before reaching Snake island further south of the Minks.  On our return paddle we take a look at an islet populated by nesting Cormorants and find they are trying to protect young from predatory Herring gulls who are feasting on Cormorant chicks they snatch from nests.   Nature is brutal!

Cormorant roost

The wind has suddenly picked up from the west as we travel back towards the McCoys where we decide to visit Little McCoy by first paddling through the channel that separates Chippewa from Big McCoy.   Little McCoy is signed as conservation land so no camping or fires permitted here but you are allowed to visit.  From here we circle around the north end of Big McCoy to complete the circumnavigation of the island.  The evening brings us another wonderful sunset to watch then it is time for some relaxation around the campfire before calling it a day.

Waiting for sunset

Campfire #

Day 4

Another lovely day dawns and we break camp as today we will paddle back to the north end of Franklin island coasting along the mainland to check out areas as yet to be seen.   We plan to stop at King island for lunch, this is not private and can be camped on but I would prefer to camp at Corbman Point if available, there is a nice sandy beach there so landing kayaks will be a breeze.

Abandoned cabin

Exploring coast

A swim at Corbman Pt. beach

Lunch over we paddle the short distance to the beach campsite at Corbman Point and find that happily the site is vacant so land and set up what will be our last camp of the trip.  After getting our camp set up there is time for a refreshing swim before getting back in the boats for a trip over to Dillon Cove marina for some ice cream.  Round trip is only about 5 km.

Dillon marina

Dillon marina

Real luxury at this site, thunder-box and a picnic table plus the ease of sliding off and on a sand beach.  Once again we are treated to a spectacular sunset for our last night of camping.

Corbman Pt. camp *

Sunset at Corbman Point

Day 5

Our last day and it will be as nice as the previous ones.  We have decided to return to Snug Harbour via the Sheshebong channel, my companions have never been here before so would like to see the inside passage and I plan to check out the campsites for possible use on future trips.  So packed up, we bid farewell to this comfortable site and head for the inside passage.

Corbman Point camp

Travelling SSE we hug the eastern shores of Franklin island, exploring all the little coves and bays and evaluating any campsites as they appear.  The only drawback if I may call it that, is the mainland side of the channel has quite a few cottages so you tend to encounter more power boats than you would on the western shore of Franklin.  It is still a very pleasant paddle and a couple of the sites look promising if you had to escape rough weather.   As we near Burritt Pt one of our group decides to make for Snug and an early start for home, the other will accompany me to explore Regatta Bay and possible camp sites I am aware of referred to as Island Lakes on Franklin's southeast shore.

near Regatta Bay

Regatta Bay

Just north of Regatta Bay are a couple of sandy beach areas suitable for camping and in the bay itself is an area designated as Boaters Camping which includes a dock and some mooring facilities for power boaters.  A kayaker could find a spot to camp on the rocks but would not have much privacy.  A little further south we find the narrow entrance to Island Lakes, if water levels were down you might have to carry over but this time we were able to travel almost 1.5 km through connected lakes into a lovely peaceful environment very nice for camping and no power boat could make it in here.

Possible Island Lakes campsite

Narrow exit *

From here we head northeast to pick up the channel behind Snug island to take that as yet unpaddled route back to Snug Harbour to take out and head for home.

Snug Island channel

Happy Paddling

from

KayakJock

Images marked * courtesy of Dave
Images marked # courtesy of Ray