Aug 12 Hopewell Bay to The Bustard Islands

Aug 12

The weather continued to break with favorable conditions for our crossing from Point Au Baril all the way up to The Bustards Islands.    It’s been awhile since we’ve done a longer day like this on open water.   We’re cutting the upper corner of the Georgiam Bay with several hours of   cruising barely in sight of land.   Overall it was a 6 hour day with the first hour traveling from our previous anchorage through a series of passages to get past Point Au Baril  to the Bay and then 4 hours on the open water followed by another hour coming in the Bad River inlet and getting anchored at The Bustards.    Point Au Baril (point of the barrel) harkens to the days before the building of the light house when a barrel  was burned  on the point to guide in ships and warn them off the rocks. 

Passing Point Au Baril lighthouse 

We were told the water on the northern bay was very clear and very cold compared to the lower bay regions around Midland where water temperatures were in the lower 70’s.   So I wasn’t too surprised when doing my engine checks and the infrared temperature gun on the water intake was only showing 66.  It had been as high as the mid 80’s when in the shallow Trent Severn Waterway.     We had a mild 1-2 foot chop for the first half of the crossing before it laid down to almost nothing the reminder of our trip.    Another blast of NE winds coming tonight so we’ll see what tomorrow brings.  May stay hunkered down in this secure location or move on to another anchorage perhaps 10 miles away.

Calm seas - weird sky - cool water

The Bustards are a tight anchorage, but it’s known for the clear waters and many islands that make up the area.  Lots of great kayaking opportunity so we dropped them over the side and took a tour.   I was hoping to find some good fishing spots but everything that looked like it had potential was barren of fish.  It’s a bit weird to simply look down to the bottom and see there’s nothing swimming around.

Passing the "Three Sisters" lighthouses on Bustards Rock

Our anchorage in The Bustards - that's us way back  in that opening

Enjoying a bit of kayaking

One of the things we’re seeing more of in this area is loons.  It’s a nice change of pace from all the Canada Geese and Comorants we’ve become accustomed to seeing.  Their call is very unique and somewhat haunting the first few times you hear it.    They make a number of  other very odd garbles that make you wonder "What's in those woods?"

Nothing more than rocks, trees and water around here - Pretty scenic. 

Journey for Aug 12