Sea Kayaking, Limestone Islands with Big McCoy R & R option

As the sun set on on our last sea kayak expedition you may have noticed two blips on the western horizon.

Those blips, shrouded in mystery, are the North and South Limestone Islands.

During the winter they serve as iceberg parking lots. During spring and summer they serve as a bird birthing factories. During late summer and fall they serve as sea kayaking end points for intrepid navigators of horizons beyond. That would be KWbackcountry, hurrah!

Due to their environmental sensitivity camping is not allowed on the Limestones. For a two day weekend this requires a race against the setting sun. On one of the days we need to paddle the distance-equivalence of three horizons.

Dillon -----> Big McCoy -----> Limestones ------< Big McCoy

The first horizon is base camp on Big McCoy island as seen from the mainland (Dillon). This is the rock we hung out at on the second day last trip.

The second horizon is the Limestone Islands as seen from Big McCoy, the picture above. I suspect the push to the second horizon will be on Sunday. Anticipate your scout leader at the crack of dawn, bugle in hand, rise and shine!

The R & R (rest and recreation) option is to remain at the first horizon. Hit snooze and hang out on Big McCoy or nearby islands for both days. Let the others knock themselves out sprinting to the Limestones, those wannabe Vikings!

Speaking of Vikings, some sources rate the Limestones portion as intermediate to advanced kayaking due to potentially larger waves further from shore.

Logistics:

Second timers will know the drill. For the benefit of first timers here is some cut and paste from last time.

Summary:

Drive north Friday after work to a campground near Parry Sound. Pickup kayaks Saturday in Nobel. Proceed to Dillon. Paddle Saturday and Sunday. Return late Sunday.

When:

(optional) Leave Tim Hortons, Hwy 7, on the west end of Guelph at 5:30 pm Friday. The corner of Woodlawn West and Imperial to be precise. Carpool, caravan, to Parry Sound.

(optional) Camp at Oastler Lake Provincial Park Friday night.

(mandatory) Saturday, 9 AM, meet at White Squall Paddle Center, 53 Carling Bay Rd, Nobel. Proceed with gear to Dillion (not Snug Harbor as last time). Launch by 10:30 AM and paddle due west to base camp on southern Big McCoy Island. Saturday or Sunday explore North and/or South Limestone Island.

Return Sunday to Dillon, late afternoon.

Cost:

2 day kayak rental + Friday campsite + gas.

Sample costs,

$60 (single kayak) + $8 (campsite) + $40 (gas) = $108 before tax.

$41.50 (tandem kayak) + $8 + $40 = $89.50 before tax.

If you own your own kayak and leave home at 5 AM Saturday,

$40 (your share of the gas) = less than you would spend at Wal-Mart if you hung around town.

Saturday and Sunday we are on crown land where no camping fees apply. Anticipate $5/day for parking at the Dillon marina.

Rides:

Marv, Assistant Organizer, will co-ordinate. Please specify whether needing or providing ride(s) when signing up. Use the meetup's comments or email Marv via 'send mail' button on his profile.

Kayak Rentals:

White Squall Paddle Center, 705-342-5324 in Nobel. Please use these guys first if possible, they are 15 minutes from our launch. Rental includes foam pads and straps to mount kayaks on car roofs.

Swift Canoes, 705-538-0881, in Wabasheune. Wabasheune is on the way up. The problem is getting there before they close Friday, 7 pm. Picking up Saturday, 9 am, delays the group since it is another 1 1/2 hours to Dillon.

Adventure Guide, Waterloo. For future reference this is an interesting option. For an early start Saturday, get boats in Waterloo, Friday (their weekend rental policy allows this), hit the water paddling Saturday by 8 AM.

Regardless of where you get your boat please ensure you have all the Coast Guard mandated safety equipment, tow rope, bail bucket, whistle, waterproof flashlight, PDF (life jacket). You will also want a kayak skirt to keep water out of the cockpit in rough weather, the whole point of not using canoes.

Suggestions:

Visit http://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/messages/boards/thread/13285141#49863861 in the discussion section for suggestions from the previous trip.