20 Years To Enlightenment: 13 June, 2012 False Duck Island and Prince Edward Point Lighthouses

13 June, 2012 False Duck Island

and

Prince Edward Point Lighthouses

Wow!!!! The “ Weather Gods “ were with us again this Wednesday. When paddling the great lakes, weather watching takes up a great deal of your time, however it's always time well spent. Saying this, paddling to False Duck Island has additional challenges. They would not be the 5 direct kms off shore, but it's the area. These waters are known for quick wind changes “ direction and strength “. Wind equates to wave height, power and type. So in the case of False Duck, the locals say the waves size can increase very rapidly with the slightest of winds, this is a result of the many shallows in and around the False Duck Islands chain.

Ideal winds for us would be zero, however it would be a rare occassion and not likely to happen on the day we wish to paddle. What we would like to see, are winds 10 to zero knots, out of the north, northwest. This would have the winds coming off of Long Point and Prince Edward County and protecting the area we wish to paddle. Wednesday morning we had winds 15 knots, from the north northwest and the marine weather station forecasted winds dropping even further late morning, early afternoon. Excellent!!!

Tuesday night I talked with Tim McCormack a very kind commercial fisherman, who offered to be our guardian angel during this paddle. Tim confirmed that I had the forecast correct and he suggested that we move back our launch time an hour or even two to catch the calmer waters. After getting off the phone with Tim I wrestled with his suggestion of a later start. I was anxious to get there and get started, why I don‘t know. On many occasions I have paddle longer crossings in crazier places. As was the case when paddling Lake Superior and having to cross Batchawana Bay. This 9 km crossing took me from Corbeil Point Lighthouse on the northwest side of the bay opening to Rudderhead Point on the southeast of the bays opening. Batchawana Bay is noted for taking the lives of several unprepared or unsuspecting paddlers and boaters alike. The winds and waves of Lake Superior come crashing head on into Batch Bay the majority of the time. Then add the currents from three rivers flowing out of the bay, meeting the oncoming Superior waves at the opening. Well all I can say is what a ride……..Crazy!!!! One of the most challenging paddle days of that 53 day trip. So why was I anxious of this some what easy paddle, was it because I had Brent with me, who knows. But I do know we plan well and are both strong paddlers.

So saying all this, I had to listen to Tim with his years of experience and extensive knowledge of the local waters. I called Brent my paddle buddy on this trip and backed our start time up by an hour. To Brent and Mollie an hour later is always good……smiling. I would come to question this decision later the next morning.

Truck loaded, all team members with coffee in hand, we heading for the Glenora Ferry and on to Prince Edward County‘s long point. " The Glenora Ferry " Mollie and I always enjoy taking this short ferry ride, for years it has always made us feel as if we are embarking on a spontaneous treasure hunt. It seems that way, 'cause we always arrive home having seen something or doing something new.

Off the ferry our road trip to Long Point launch takes us past places with names like Lake On The Mountain, Black Creek, and the Black Creek Cheese Factory,The Mariners Park Museum and Waupoos, all places we love to stop.

As we pass the Mariners Museum we noticed a Lighthouse, brakes on we stop for a look. We come to find out that this lighthouse is a rededication of the original light from False Duck Island.

Hear is the interesting information we found by stopping:
The oldest lighthouse in Prince Edward County, Ontario was built in 1829 on False Duck Island. The 63-foot concrete and stone tower marked an island often confused by mariners for Main Duck Island.

In 1905, the station was struck by lightning, which destroyed the lantern room, keeper's house, and oil house. Keeper Dorland Dulmage and his family survived the storm in the fog signal building - the only structure not damaged by the storm.

So clear sky, I would say not!!! But they do change
quickly in the county.

On November 3, 1965, the light was extinguished by keeper James McConnell, and replaced by an automated tower. The old tower was torn down - only the lantern room and parapet was saved. On September 17, 1967, the lantern room and parapet were rededicated on top of a 30-foot memorial lighthouse along South Bay in the Mariner's Memorial Park and Museum, during Canada's Centennial Year. The park houses a museum, numerous nautical artifacts on the grounds, and a picnic area.

Brent and I loading kayaks Long Point Harbour

We arrive at the boat launch late morning under very dark clouds, the winds in the little bay seem light, but the waves in the outer bay appear to be larger then I had anticipated. Now the later start "doubts " start to hit. I look at Mollie and I notice she keeps looking up at the dark sky. I reassure her that if we get out in the bay and it seems to rough we will return and we can head over to Salmon Point Lighthouse.

Rob checking harbour for Tim's boat.

I say nothing but I notice Tim’s commercial fishing boat is still at it’s dock. However Tim’s father's fishing boat is missing from it’s mooring, I’m not sure what that means. I take it that Tim and his Dad are fishing together, using the smaller fast boat today. A good sign, they are out on the water laying nets already. Our safety net is just a radio call away, if we need them.

What dark skies, Hummmmmm Note False Duck
Island in the background.

With our Hummingbird Marine Band Radio on, Brent and I paddle out of Long Point Harbour on a easterly tack to False Duck Island. It was with great shock and pleasure to find the winds and waves outside the harbour where really quite light.

With our heads down we set a pretty strong pace, at approximately 1.5 km off Long Point we are noticing that the water depth below us is very shallow. At times we could put our paddle down and touch bottom, this was where the waves increased in size, but no where near a show stopper. 25 minutes out we hit the little sand bar type island, covered in birds ( Cormorants ) mostly.

The sand bar just to the left of False Duck
In front of my kayak.

If we had wanted to stop at this Island we would have no doubt changed our minds, for sure. The smell coming from this little chunk of land would repel the strongest stomachs.

As we got closer to the sand bar
the cormorants took to flight all around Brent.

Dark skies, but really light waves coming at us head on mostly. Life is good.

We made the island, light just ahead and to
many shore birds to count.

Brent and I keep our pace and with in 50 minutes we reached our goal. Paddling 100 meters off False Duck's stony beaches, we are in awe, the cormorants have made their mark here as well.

We can smell the island from this location.

What a shame, this awesome island. I'm not sure I can say what I really feel about these birds on this blog. hummmmmmm

You need to double chick on this photo to really
see the nesting birds.

Every tree along the shores of this island is filled with nesting Double Breasted Cormorants. Here too the smell is not pleasant, so we paddle on.

Brent check shore for a landing spot.

With lighthouse/light in sight on the most easterly point of the island we notice the trees have become small evergreens and brush. No Birds here, not sure why, but thank God. No Smell.

Nice spot, check the waves behind Brent. None
on this side of the island, excellent.

As lead kayak Brent starts to look for a good landing spot, he selects a nice rock shelf just to the left of the light and we land.

This light has a different shape
for sure, looks like a prison tower.

Once on the island we explored a little of the shore line near the light, however we could not get very close as the light has an 8 ft fence all the way around it with barbed wire at the top. There is a nice sign but it’s a little difficult to see as the underbrush outside the fence blocks any view from the water. What an interesting shape for a light.

Happy to walk the shore line.

Water on the lens....oops

Brent or I have no real desire to explore deeper inland in fear this island, like Main Duck, is cover in snakes. Snakes are not my best friends.

So happy with our progress we take the token MS Flag photo’s, have a little snack, do the nature calls thing and within 20 minutes we are back in our kayaks heading for Long Point Lighthouse, then back to the harbour.

This is Brents 14th light visited
thanks buddy

Looking good young man, 14 lighthouses, how cool.

Click on this photo to make larger, then notice
behind the kayaks lay Main Duck Island
13 kms out from False Duck. This Light will be our
real challenge.

In the short time since we have started our trip, both Brent and I have noticed a huge difference in the sky and the winds. As predicted by the marine forecast, the winds are lighter and waves have decreased in size. Brent and I agreed that we would have a nice easy paddle back to Long Point Lighthouse. This time paddling over the shallows, we take the time to look around. Now with the light at the right angel, we get to see the very large fish moving below us. How cool. But no shipwrecks this trip.......smiling.

As we pass Sand Bar Island, now named by us “ The Cormorant Toilet “ we see Tim’s father's fishing boat entering Long Point Harbour.

Note: in front of my kayak, Sand Bar Island, my finger points it out on the map.

Now lazily paddling side by side, before we know it Brent and I arrived at our second lighthouse under sunny skies. Once again here is another old lighthouse that has been left to rot. Right beside the sad old lighthouse building sits a newer light tower.

This photo of Prince Edward Lighthouse was taken when we where leaving Long Point Harbour a couple of hours before the above photo with Brent holding the flag. What a difference a couple of hours has made on the weather, nice.

MS Flag shot, Brent's 15th visited.

Paddling up to dock full of people with Mollie.

My thoughts are they have a working lights that basically looks after them selves so lets allow the old lighthouses to rot away. Sad really. On the positive side, the swallows in the area have found a great location for their mud homes right under the eaves of the old lighthouses roof.

Again with the MS flag photo’s completed we paddle into the harbour where Mollie, Tim, Tim’s father and mother and the crews from both boats are all on the dock waiting our landing.

Tim's Tug and Fishing Boats

Tim's boats...........neat colours.

Tim McCormack and Mollie chatting on the dock
waiting for us to return.

Sitting in our kayaks, we chat with this nice family of commercial fishermen. A trade which has been passed on from father to son. We found out that today was not a good fishing day, cause of the algae coming out of the bays. So good winds for us, was not so good for our new fishermen friends.

Check out the clear skies.

After 20 minutes of chat about fishing, cormorants and snakes we decide to hit the boat ramp where to meet me was a 3 ft water snake …. gggrrrrrrrr I hate snakes!!!!!! Using my paddle I persuade the snake there are better place to be. Brent and I climb out of our boats and carry them to the truck.

While kayaks are being loaded Tim and his family left we say their good byes. Tim saying to let him know when I do Main Duck. What nice people.

Mollie & Brent lunching on Long Point Beach.

With our kayaks all loaded, talk turns to food and where we will eat it. Mollie informs us that she has found a great beach. This is where she had watched us travel to and from False Duck. All in agreement we hit the beach, really it would not matter to Brent where we were as long as food was involved.

Great place for an Ice Cream

It was during our picnic lunch on the scenic shores of Lake Ontario, that our shore crew “ Mollie “ negotiated dessert. It took a lot convincing but Brent and I finally gave into her request for Black Creek, Ice Cream. The things we endure to keep good team members, happy.

Bellies full of treats, the Galloping Goat Gallery explored time to hit the road for home. What a great day.

Are we Lucky, Yes. However good planning and the ability to know your limits will always keep you in good stead. We wish to thank Tim McCormack for sharing his knowledge of the local waters and kind offer to be our safety net. Fishermen safety net !!!!! I crack me up.

Blopper Photo's

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.