Great Loop: Paddle Boarding the Bustard Islands

Beth (of Amy Marie) and Amy (of Selah Way) paddle boarding in the Bustard Islands

Beth had been waiting patiently since we started our Loop in October to use her paddle board.  The opportunity finally presented itself in Georgian Bay.  We had struggled to find the correct combination of conditions to entice her into the water.  Alligators were a big deterrent in the southeast.  Strong winds or waves also resulted in the board remaining safe in it's storage bag.  

Finally, the weather, water temperature, water clarity, water smoothness and desire converge to create perfect conditions.  She found the correct storage compartment, extracted the paddle board bag, emptied the contents on the deck, attached the pump, inflated the board, changed to suitable attire, applied sunscreen, launch the board, got a big grin on her face and off she went. She was a very happy lady.  

It didn't take her long to find a partner in crime.  Amy, from Selah Way, joined her and they set off on a voyage of discovery.  You have to understand that the Bustard Islands in a labyrinth of passages, tiny islands and rocky outcroppings, This creates a wonderful playground for a paddle boarders.  Beth and Amy were able to visit with other Loopers who had chosen their own secluded anchorage.  It was perfect.  It offered exercise and social contact.  Similar to walking a mid-west neighborhood and talking to the people out on their front porch.  

The islands are a wonderful combination of scenery and wildlife.  Loons were especially plentiful.  They have a variety of unique songs and an odd way of running across the water.  We enjoyed trying to emulate their calls and also watching them run across the water.  One bird in particular kept running back and forth, expending great amounts of energy.  We were unsure if this was normal behavior or perhaps  part some other ritual.  It was entertaining!

Beth and Amy stop to chat with the crew of Pivot.  Actually, they were hoping Ollie could come out and play!

Visit complete, Amy and Beth move on to the next adventure.

Some of the arms they explored were dead ends.  With a little creativity, this arm was of sufficient size to provide a secluded anchorage.  In this case, a front anchor and a stern line, or two, to shore would be adequate for a secure overnight stay.

The calm weather, blue skies, and clear water made for ideal boarding conditions.

Beth found a narrow passage which provided access to another large area of islands and passages.

My paddle boarding role was to follow at a distance, provide tech support, and be prepared to return the paddlers to their boat if required.  This was a role I enthusiastically embraced!

Here is Amy Marie in her own cove.  We have deployed a bow anchor and a line from her stern to shore.  By doing so, we achieve better control of her position.  This allowed us to safely anchor in a smaller area.  One which did not have adequate swing room for deploying just a bow anchor.

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Berthing Information

• We anchored in the vicinity of the Pearl Island anchorage as shown on Navionics.
• This anchorage is FREE!
• There are many suitable spots to anchor.  We liked it so much we spent two nights.
• Cell service was very poor at this location.
• No other services - remote and loved it!

Trip Log

Note:  We originally planned to travel from Hopewell Bay to Bustard Islands in one day.  The weather changed and we ducked into Byng Inlet and spent a night at Wright's Marina to let the storm pass.  It started raining just as we tied up at the Marina!  We were happy we had the SiriusXM real time weather on our Garmin MFD.  This allowed us to see the storm approaching and make a timely decision to seek shelter.