by Anna Mallin
Just before the Solstice (June 19-20, 2010) Keith Rodgers led a group of five “virgins” (no previous trip experience with GLSKA), plus Gerry Croney to the Massassauga Park. Despite forecasts earlier in the week of 25 knot winds and thunderstorms, the weather was perfect, the winds light and the temperature warm. All participants arrived well before the appointed departure time. We (Lisa, Jody, Philip, Wolfram, Keith, Gerry and Anna) launched our boats at Pete’s Place Access Point late Saturday morning, paddled across Blackstone Harbour, through Woods Bay (passing the osprey nesting on top of a navigational marker), lunched in Captain Allen Strait and meandered over to Sharpe Island. On our route Gerry, in his beautiful boat, cheerfully identified rocks to avoid by landing on them unexpectedly. Philip, following in his wake discovered more rocks. The rest of us adopted appropriate avoidance measures!
On Sharpe Island, we set up camp at an idyllic site on the interior bay. In the afternoon Jody waved the rest of us off for a paddle to Wreck Island, as she contemplated a quiet afternoon of reading and meditating and assuring that our tents were not disturbed by wildlife.
Wreck Island has a fine interpretive trail which introduces one to the extraordinary Georgian Bay geology with swirls and layers of different coloured rocks. We headed off on the interpretive path which begins at the landing area. Alas the path got lost somewhere around the third interpretive station. What had been advertised as a kayaking weekend turned into a scrambling-over-rocks weekend as we made our way along the shoreline back to the landing spot. We passed the wreckage of a small sailboat caught up on the shore – which Philip assessed with an eye to salvage – and we passed on.
After our scrambles, we had a lovely and uneventful return to Sharpe to find Jody discussing the subject of dinner with a seagull which she had named Fred. Fred was rather a pest and was not at all happy that we had not brought him any provisions.
After good dinners, lively conversation and a lovely campfire (with Keith generously acting as a magnet for mosquitoes and horse flies!) we were in bed barely past sunset. Philip reported staying awake long enough to watch falling stars. We were on the water the next morning after leisurely breakfasts. We sailed back, retracing our route out – with a lovely light wind at our backs. Wolfram tried out Keith’s Greenland Paddle on the return journey, and is intrigued.
Not only was this a fine weekend of good fellowship, there were “lessons learned”! Lisa has perfected new methods of entering a kayak from the shore and discovered that seal launches (propelled by Philip) work well. Philip and Lisa have learned that boxes of wine float and need to be weighted with a rock when thrown into the lake. Our fearless leader proved that a good night’s sleep is possible in a tent without tent poles. Keith would like a GPS with a larger screen for Christmas. Anna confirmed that her GPS and obsession with maps is useful.
It was with some sadness that we arrived back at Pete’s Place. It was a lovely trip! Keith and Gerry guided us in a gentle, low-key, and patient manner which guaranteed that everyone was totally comfortable and at ease. Indeed, we all want to repeat the trip – and will try to persuade the powers that be that, since the supply if virgin GLSKA paddlers is diminishing, the first-timers trip should be expanded to allow repeat participation from former virgins!