St. Lawrence - Jones Creek

Browns Bay to Jones Creek

Jones Creek & Mud Creek

Today I am going to explore Mud Creek a tributary of Jones Creek having paddled Jones before, going up as far as the 401 highway which crosses at a point roughly where navigation ends.    It is a glorious day, the beginning of a warm spell that promises to last all week and for once there is little wind which makes a nice change.    I'm launching at the boat ramp by Brown's Bay and will then head NE along the west shore of the St. Lawrence river for about 2.5 km to reach the entrance to Jones Creek.

Boat launch

Dark Isle

Looking SE from the launch one can see Dark Isle at about 3 km distance, home to Singer Castle.   There is a very impressive property one passes as you reach the small bay leading to Jones Creek, the bay itself is fronted by a string of small islands.  The largest; Princess island I have used several times as a lunch stop on longer trips, being uninhabited and having a little shallow lagoon that is ideal for parking the kayak while getting out for lunch.

Nice home

Guests?

Jones Creek entrance

Entering the creek you pass beneath the new bridge on the 1000 Islands parkway completed last year.   The creek falls in property owned by Parks of the St. Lawrence and includes hiking trails as well as the Skywood adventure park with zip lines.    

Jones Creek

After travelling two kilometers on Jones I come to the entrance for Mud creek and turn  left.   I have done some walking of these trails earlier this spring and both the wife and I sustained tick bites for our trouble.  The one I got had the tell-tale bullseye necessitating a visit to the emergency room to get the necessary to prevent Lyme disease.   I have been informed that this is a bad year for them so be warned.  I see movement on the bank and paddle over to investigate.

Busy Beaver

Just a beaver who doesn't seem too perturbed at my presence allowing me close enough to capture an image before slipping quietly away.  A little over half a kilometer down I come to a floating bridge which normally connects north and south sets of trails but presently detached from one shore so trailing with the current presumably as a measure to prevent ice damage during winter months.   But as the park is currently closed due to pandemic restrictions has yet to be re-connected.   Even when in use it has an opening with elevated walkway to allow passage of small vessels.

Floating bridge

The marshy shallows of the creek are alive with huge carp which I imagine are spawning this time of year.   These are easily 10 lbs or more and sometimes 2 or 3 at a time.   Great blue heron as well as Caspian and Common terns can be seen feeding along this waterway.   A couple of Adirondack chairs offer a scenic spot to sit and while away the time.

Relaxing spot

Checking my time I see it's time to turn around as I plan to have a late lunch at home so will need to return sometime just to see how far you can get down this pretty creek which doesn't look like it ends any time soon.    On my return I stop and take a photo of the zip line platform in the trees.   The longest zip run parallels the creek and allows the zipper a panoramic view of the creek; I did this back in 2018 and found it very enjoyable.

My long Zip 2018

Landing platform (centre)

Back under the bridge and out onto the St. Lawrence I pass the other side of Princess island and its little lagoon where a couple of Common terns are having a rest.  There is a bit more of a breeze here and from the SW so i'm grateful for the cooling effect as i'm wearing a dry top, probably for the last time as it just gets too hot when weather turns nice and hopefully water temp will improve if this weather continues.

Lagoon

Common terns

my take-out

So it's back to my starting point to take out, pack up and head home for lunch after a pleasant paddle of 12 kms.

Happy paddling!

KayakJock

Paddling in the time of Covid

Charleston Lake

Charleston Lake 21.3 km

These are trying times to put it mildly with a pandemic running amok worldwide and all the restrictions on social liberties inherent in the measures to contain the virus there has been little opportunity for recreation and enjoying the great outdoors.   For myself paddling is uppermost in my outdoor activities, the 800-1000 kms a year providing me my main source of exercise.  Normally supplemented by gym time but that has been unavailable for two months so I am extremely happy to see some restrictions being lifted and I'm finaly back on the water.    Please note, on my recent post to the Tk2o paddling list titled "FREEDOM" one respondent asked if I was looking to get an $800 fine so just to clarify I always ascertain whether the access point I use is legal to use and that was the case with Mississipi Mills and for this paddle to Charleston Lake.   So please before heading out check with the appropriate municipality to verify right of use.

Wednesday was near perfect weather at 13 c and sunny, a cool breeze which is fine and keeps you from over heating when your wearing cold water gear and this lake has so many islands you can always find a route that will avoid much time in a head wind.     Only three vehicles in the lot normally full this time of year so looks like I get the lake pretty much to myself.

So i'm off heading roughly south with most of the islands to starboard intent on making a loop around them coming north again to the Captains Gap.  From here i'll go west then SW until reaching Donaldson arm at the lakes western extremity.

Judging by some of the names of islands (Republican & Democrat) several are likely owned by Yanks now unable to visit due to border closures.  Rounding the south end of Rebublican I travel north along the mainland which is all part of Charleston Provincial Park.  Entering the Captains Gap where there are three wilderness campsites and a day use picnic site i'm looking to stop for lunch.  I pass the first site and continue to check the picnic site but reject it as more difficult landing, so not wanting to chance a dip return to camp 507 which has a gravel beach so easy peasey!

Campsite 507

Always on the lookout for birds on my trips I spot a Brown creeper as I sit having lunch but this is only the third sighting today, A Caspian tern and a Loon the others.   Perhaps they have been told to stay home too😊.

Lunch over I again head through the Gap then turn SW towards the entrance to Donaldson Arm.

Donaldson Arm

The west side of Donaldson belongs to the Park as do the islands at the top. This ridge separates Charleston lake from Redhorse lake, the subject of the FREEDOM post and today i'm going to have a look at the Charleston end of the portage joining the two.   This also serves to remind me why I would never ever consider doing this portage.

Portage to Redhorse

The portage is approx half a kilometer, up and then downhill and totally unsuitable for wheels.  Only once did a portage and that was about 140m with wheels on a reasonable trail. Lyndhurst to Gananoque 

From here I turn around and start for home, retracing my route as far as the Gap but then continue northward; along the way I get a fly by of a Pileated woodpecker easily recognised even at a distance by its undulating flight, then a Raven swooping along cliffs.

Rounding Camp Vega island it is east to Joe island and its narrow channel then on reaching Hen island I turn north to run back in to my Charleston take out.  Another fine day on the water.

Keep your distance and stay safe!

KayakJock