Lyndhurst to Red Horse Lake

 Lyndhurst to Red Horse Lake - Squaw Island - 18.1 km

Squaw Island

This is a very pretty paddle and one I generally reserve for late fall probably just because it is so peaceful and with the sun traversing a lower ecliptic at that time of year one experiences some quite dramatic reflections which can make for interesting photos.  November 15, and we get yet another perfect day for paddling with a high of 13 c promised.   I find this time of year when heading out alone that I am in no great rush to get moving in the morning; dark and usually cold in the mornings I tend to linger with coffee and my ebook so that by the time I get to my launch it has usually warmed up some.  

Lyndhurst Lake

Today I launch from Lyndhurst public dock which has already  been dragged out and now sits on shore.   From here it is less than one kilometer to the entrance of Lyndhurst Creek which leads to Singleton Lake.

Creek

Red Horse Lake Rd.

Singleton Lake

There are a few dwellings along the first part of the creek on the west side, some year round, some just cottages.  Singleton flows out on the east side as the creek continues.  Here we have some sharp bends and there is now a house built at this scenic spot and just past here I sight the first wildlife, a Red-tail hawk.

Another kilometer and the creek flows into the Long Reach, a long narrow body of water considered part of Red Horse lake.

Bend to Long Reach

Long Reach

Now travelling NE, the Long Reach terminates at a narrows beyond which is Red Horse lake proper which is my destination today.  Historically I have always landed at the start of the portage from Red Horse to Charleston Lake (see hiker symbol on map) but today a picnic table on a small island catches my eye, no habitation or signs saying private so I decide this will do very nicely for lunch.  Turns out this is Squaw island and in addition to the table there is a fire ring; this would be a very nice campsite!

Squaw Island

Lunch

This works out well as it shaves a kilometer off each direction, having had a late start I'm monitoring my time to make sure I take out before dusk.  If one continues across Red Horse and turns right you can paddle all the way to Gananoque and the St. Lawrence river this being an ancient canoe route that served our indigenous people.  I may do this someday and I have previously paddled about half way, on that occasion taking out at Marble Rock after the first of the two portages necessary to reach the St Lawrence.   Lunch over I retrace my route, on the Long Reach I catch a glimmer at some distance from ruffled water on the otherwise flat calm.  With the binoculars I can determine that it was a kayak crossing and heading back into Lyndhurst creek, first and only sign of life today.  As I mentioned reflections can be quite dramatic this time of year and if viewed differently can create something almost mystical.

Lyndhurst Lake

Spirits in nature?

It is around 4 p.m. I arrive back at the put-in and the sun is setting as I pack up my gear for the drive home, about one hour and fifteen minutes.  Along the way I watch as the sun disappears setting fire to the western sky ending another great day on the water.

KayakJock

1000 Islands New York State

Grindstone Is. - U.S. Thousand Islands

Click on any image to see full size!

November already, and the weather of late has been rather crappy, perhaps foreshadowing the possibility of a harsh winter to come. The temperatures have been running much lower than the norm, so when they predicted a high of 17 c for November 2nd it was a no brainer, get out and paddle as it might be my last chance this season as I need to knuckle down and get some work done at home.

I have done much paddling in the 1000 Islands but only briefly traversed u.s. waters (see my Boldt Castle post) so have had it in mind to make a circumnavigation of Grindstone one of the largest islands belonging to New York state and this seemed like an ideal time to do just that.

Grindstone Island

As forecast, the morning was mild but overcast as I load up the car, but by the time I reached 1000 island parkway the sun was shining and it promised to be a glorious day.  The plan is to circle anti-clockwise as wind from SW changing to W; so into it at the start but later it should be more help than hindrance.  Also I plan to stop for lunch at Thwartway Island before entering u.s. waters.

Launching a few kilometers east of Gananoque at 11:00 my first waypoint will be Corn island where from a distance I can spot a large raptor atop a tree.  This proves to be an adult Bald eagle.   

Put-in

Bald eagle on Corn Is.

I head SW into the wind which is close to the prediction of 9-10 km so very pleasant and I make landfall at the Parks Canada kayak landing in the bay on the SE side of Thwartway (aka Leek Is.) at lunchtime.   These waters are so peaceful now compared to the summer season when they would be just humming with Sea-Doos and a variety of power boats.  Today I have seen two small run-abouts quietly engaged in fishing.   The bay is sheltered from the wind so shirt off and catch a few rays while sitting on the dock to have my lunch.

Lunch on dock

Thwartway

Lunch over I paddle south into u.s. waters swapping over the map in my GPS to a NY topo obtained from the web.  Skies suddenly become overcast with high stratus creating that "calm before the storm" feeling which proved to be unjustified as within an hour it was back to sunny skies.

NW Grindstone Is.

Near Cummings Pt.

Rounding the SW corner of Grindstone the town of Clayton N.Y. appears in the distance.   I have never been there but for a small town it has some interesting attractions.  It is home to the Antique Boat Museum as well as an historical opera house.   I know the museum houses some fast boats once owned by Frederick Bourne, builder of Singer Castle down river opposite Mallorytown Landing.  On an island between Grindstone and the mainland I spot what I first thought might be a Martello tower similar to the one on Cedar island which was built by the British to defend Kingston.   Wrong! Just some fancy real estate.

Clayton N.Y.

The tower

Grindstone appears to be low laying and fairly sparsely populated, the real estate generally not on a par with what you find in the Admiralty Islands off Gananoque; nothing of great interest!    As I continue NE I pass first a laker going upstream then my second small flock today of White-wing scoters which come to the Great Lakes to winter, and I think at least one Black scoter.

Laker

White-wing scoters

From here I enter the channel between Grindstone and Picton islands to work my way up the eastern shore thence back to Canadian waters.  I had thought the tour boat season over so was surprised to see a pontoon boat belonging to Clayton Island Tours come chugging past with about half a dozen passengers. Travelling at a sedate pace, so not a bad way to see the islands for those who can't do it under their own steam.

Picton Is. channel

Clayton Tours

A small strip of land along the east shore is a state park which appears to be for day use only, with docking facilities but no camping or overnight boat mooring.  At about this point I am stopped watching two mute swans fly overhead and taking photos when I hear a powerful motor coming up the channel behind me.  Prepare to repel boarders!  I am being apprehended by a U.S. Border patrol.

Picnic Point State Park

U.S. Border Patrol

Their vessel pulls along side me and three of them step out of the cabin, I was still brandishing a paddle you see, or I might have made a dash for it... Citizenship? Where have you come from? Have you landed anywhere?  I.D.? Yes sir, in a little black barrel in that hatch back there if you care to dig it out! Did you see such and such islands along the way (trick questions). They decided to forgo trying to open the hatch, its a bit of a monkey puzzle for first timers and decide to look up my name, d.o.b. and I tell them I was last in U.S. last week with the cats at the vet (read setting up my drop).   Satisfied I wasn't a mule for the cartel they wished me Bon voyage and enjoy the rest of your day! It was all quite amusing although they are quite serious, they were very polite and hey, no shots were fired!

From here I'm about 6 km back to my put-in, about 1 km to Canadian waters. Squeezing first between Prince Rupert and Sugar islands, then Squaw before skimming past Gordon, one of the Canada Parks islands.

Downstream: a dead calm

Prince Rupert Is.

Kayak heaven!

It's 16:40 and I am back where I started after a very enjoyable paddle, almost 27 and a half kilometers in perfect fall weather and now a pleasant drive along the 1000 islands parkway before taking 401 home.

Psst, wanna buy some ganja? Fresh off de boat mon!

Happy paddling!
Doug