Wednesday 16 May, 2012 Brockville/Gananogue Trip

Note:  clicking on a photo will enlarge it to full size.

Awakening to see mostly clear skies, allowed me to believe today’s paddle would be another amazing adventure shared with a few good friends. The weather forecast for the Brockville area had threatened rain, thunder storms and high winds starting early afternoon. 08:00hrs everything loaded we got on the road Brent looking bright eyed and bushy tailed and as usual being his witty self. We arrived at the meeting point 20 minutes early, next to show where Rob & Jane and while we where checking out the maps looking for a good launch point Linda rounds the corner into the Park & Ride. With everyone here, we headed out east to Brockville, Mollie now riding shot gun in Linda’s little wagon. This freed Brent from the pain of sitting in that little jump seat behind me….smiles now on his face.

Group launching from Brown's Park

Rob and Jane had some experience in our selected paddle area and they had mentioned Brown’s Park for a launch point. As it turned out, the lane I had chosen off the maps/interweb was a private lane. Turning the group around we headed the 100 meters back to Brown’s Park just to find the gate closed, BUT!!! not locked. We could see people working on the grounds so I said to the group wait here and I will go and ask if they will let us in even though they are closed. I chatted with Marvin Darling, grounds supervisor that day. Marvin was kind enough to allow us in the park and launch from a great location just meters from my originally selected start point. Thanks Marvin, for your kindness.

Rob siding into his kayak like a pro.....

Linda gloving up for this paddle.



Paddling to the U.S. side and Crossover Lighthouse

We started our 1.6 km paddle to U.S. waters and Crossover Island Lighthouse as planned for a westerly wind. In our favour both wind and waves where mild, sky slightly cloudy and the group excited to reach what looked to be a beautiful lighthouse and location. Part way across to the lighthouse we had chatted about Freighters moving quickly up and down the seaway. Rob noticed an orange and white spot way to the east. Well you know where this is going, we came paddling up to the Island on the north side and rounded it on the west end to take in the lighthouse from the front.

Crossover Lighthouse U.S.A.

We figure out real quick why they call this lighthouse Crossover Island. That freighter started to cross from the Canadian side of the seaway right by the lighthouse over to the U.S. side. Besides taking in this beautiful lighthouse we where thrilled to have the freighter right there at the same time. Nothing like an example to set the lesson home……..smiling. I truly knew in my heart this would likely be one of my favour lighthouses and fondest memories. I had the feeling my paddle partners felt the same. The photos say it all. 



Rounding the Lighthouse to the west side as Frieghter is coming.

Group enjoying this lovely Lighthouse

Freighter coming up the Crossover.

Trying to get a good flag photo before
the Freighter get to us.

Once we killed the lighthouse with photos, we headed easterly with the wind and waves still at our backs. We paddle thought the channel makers the freighter had used to navigate it’s crossover. To our pleasure on the top of one, was a very large Osprey nest and there to meet us where two very excited Osprey’s parents. What a treat and just a little further was another channel marker with a great number of Terns flying around it and then us.


Linda & Jane getting photos of the Osprey's



This Bird was checking us out....real close



 Many Many Terns flying around the light and then Us



Cole Shoal just ahead.

This leg of our paddle was about 4.6 km to Cole Shoal, the waves and wind had slightly increased, Jane had checked her GPS which said our average speed was around 7.5 km/h but on some waves we got up to 8.7km/h I heard her or Brent say this is nice paddling. The clouds had started to take over the sky but still a great paddle to Cole Shoal.






Poor…… Cole Shoal light. We arrived to find what looked to be a white box with a rail around the top. No light to be seen and looking around, Sewer Pipe Markers had been placed on other shoals near by to replaced the Cole Shoal Light. With the increased waves and winds this was just a fly by visit. We took a couple of photos of what is now part of Canadian nautical history. The poor thing, like Rob said it’s not even high enough for a an Osprey nest.


Flag Shot Poor Light



Group paddling around checking the poor light out.

Notice, not even a bird on the old girl. 



de Watteville front

Still traveling east, the 2.7 km paddle brought us past Hudson’s Point to de Watteville Island and the last two light markers on our list. The clouds come and go but the winds are increasing, making paddling easy as well as enjoyable. Arriving at the first of the de Watteville lights it is just another Sewer Pipe light. Our Lighthouse reference site stated “ Normally a simple sewer pipe light like this would not be included in this index (there are a million or so lights like this on the St. Lawrence.) This light is included only to match the light de Watteville Rear Light “. For our paddle team sadly this was another fly by photo op, not really an exciting light or spot.

Molly's Island just behind Rob and the De Watteville
Rear Light just above Brents head.

With this our focus now turns to Mollie’s Island, which happens to be in Molly’s Gut and on Mollie’s Island where two things. First a pee stop and secondly a Geocache called Molly’s Treasure. So in honour of our number one shore crew Mollie who by the way has been chasing us along the shore and staying in touch by two way radio, while scouting out a good landing location for us paddlers.

Before turning into Molly's Island another
Freighter passed us by.



Brent leading the group into Molly's Gut

Groups resting on Molly's Island

Landing on the Island in the calm bay “ Molly’s Gut “ smiling, we all got out of our kayaks in search for Molly’s treasure. By this time Rob & Jane have mentioned that they have been on this island before and have found the cache. 
The booggers, they just watched as I walk from one point to the other till I located what I thought was the correct location. To get the cache I had to “ well correction “ I didn’t have too, but I selected to climbed down the rock face leaning around a large stump to find the cache. My way the cache could be easily seen, that’s my story…...smiling. Really, I could have just leaned over the ledge and recover the cache…oop’s 

De Watteville Rear Light from Molly's Island

This search for the cache on Molly’s Island placed us across a small channel right under the de Watteville Rear Light









The Happy Gang less Mollie with the
De Watteville light behind.

What a photo op for our group. Well like any good plan, it has it’s challenges, after many 10 second delayed photo try’s and lots of laughs, we managed to get this shot of our group kind of under the last of our lights for today. While trying to get our photo we saw Mollie drive by on a shore road across the channel, she was still trying to locate a good pull out location as the one we had selected off the Map was private…...Hummmm







Brent's Head is not on backwards, group coming
into Mollie's Landing spot.

Rob & Jane came to the rescue again with a recommendation to paddle east for another 1.8km to the Brockville cemetery which has a road that leads right down to the water. They had used this launch location while on a previous Geocaching paddle in the area. We radioed Mollie directing her to the cemetery and minutes later she came over the radio saying she had found the spot. As our group around McDonald's Point under now heavy skies we saw Mollie walking down to the shore camera in hand, at what appeared to be a awesome landing location. 



Group shot taken by Mollie from shore.



Flag shot before getting off the water for the Day.

It was a excellent spot to come ashore and with Mollie to help, Brent was the first to have his kayak on shore. With Brent’s landing the first drops of rain fell from the skies. The group all ashore Mollie loaded Linda & Rob in the truck and headed back to Browns Park to get their vehicles. Jane, Brent and I stripped gear off the kayaks and got out of our wet outer clothes, in between rain showers.



This was an excellent landing spot, truck parked
no more then 100 ft away.

With in 20 minutes all vehicles arrived back at the pull out, we got everyone loaded and a plan made to stop along the 1000 Islands Parkway at a location with a cover for lunch. We found a very pretty location at the St Lawrence Islands National Park visitors center. This site has lots of history and the prettiest views from it’s gazebo, which is located out on a point of land that shows off many of the small islands in the park. We eat our lunch under sunny warm skies, no sight of rain anywhere.



Eating under cover at the
St Lawrence Islands National Park visitor center.

Just a few clouds that left by the time we finished eating.

These are the wonderful folks that I got to
shared a wonderful Day

The Boys on the hunt for the Geocache
and the ladies following behind with the Camera's

Lunch completed, we had said our good byes and Linda had already left the parking lot when I noticed Jane getting out of their truck. I asked if everything was ok, with a big smile on her face she said “ there is a Geocache 168 meter from the parking lot".  Well now all of us are out of the vehicle following Rob with GPS in hand. We headed out to a historic point of land which looked out at Bridge Island.






Group reading info sheet from cache.

It took the group about 15 minutes or more to find the cache. What a beautiful spot. We will return to this site soon, even just to have lunch.
" Opportunities ", had we not gone on this little Geocache adventure, we would have missed one of the highlights of our day. Thanks to Jane & Rob for checking their GPS.

1 of the four points engraved like this. 

This was just one of many many engravings on this historic site, what a treat.

Information Board explaining the writings on the rocks
in front.

What a beautiful location, note the Freighter passing by out on the Seaway.  Plus feet.

What an awesome day we had, I wish to thank Marvin Darling of Brown’s Park our paddle friends Linda, Jane & Rob, naturally Brent my old time paddle buddy and Mollie for being there not just for me but on behalf of today’s paddle group. Because of you it was made easy.

Once again Folks remember we are raising Awareness & Funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Kingston Chapter. If you wish to make a donation/pledge please call the Kingston Chapter at 613-384-8500 . Tell them you wish to pledge to 20 Years To Enlightenment and it all stays in the Kingston and area.

Thanks Rob & Mollie

Out Takes