Pat and Cindy's Great Loop Adventure

Bustard Islands, Beaverstone Bay and Collins Inlet

August 28 – 31

Sunday, August 28, we departed Wright’s Marina in Britt and headed for a few days of anchoring in the Bustard Islands. Our plan was to anchor out until Thursday, and then travel Collins Inlet en route to Killarney. Collins Inlet is a route everyone advised us to take. It is considered a premiere spot in Georgian Bay.

The first night we anchored in the Bustard Islands in the bay between Strawberry and Tie Islands – Burnt Island is behind us, and Philip Edward Island is in front of us.

See top left Tie Island and then Strawberry Island, in the Bustard Islands.
See Beaverstone Bay on bottom left. We anchored here and then took the Collins Inlet to Killarney.

Travelling to the Bustards we saw these beautiful windmills.

Entering the bay of Strawberry Island

In the bay of Strawberry Island we saw this lone seagull. There were no other boats or creatures. It was so quiet! Scary quiet. Our cell service did not work so our only means of communication was the VHF boat radio. I thought of Tom Hanks in the movie, Castaway, when he befriended Wilson the soccer ball. It can get lonely without sound or creatures around!

Finally the last day I broke down and fed some bread to the seagull, and he was most happy. I just had to feed him.

In Beaverstone Bay we did see a family of loons. But here, in addition to no cell service, we experienced gale force winds. It was a fitful night for Captain Pat. Thankfully the anchors held and we were secure.

Family of loons – first time I’d seen so many together.
We heard them during the night and in the mornings, especially after the storm,
as they were hunkered down as well.

At the islands, Captain Pat takes the dinghy first to explore and check things out. Then he’ll take the Admiral to the islands, as he knows she is antsy to get off the boat. And it is good for both of us to hike.

Captain Pat scouting out island trails.
Letting the Admiral know he is ok.

The storm and the lack of cell service didn’t hamper the beautiful views. We hiked and rowed the dinghy, did our exercises and swam.

One stormy afternoon I looked out the galley window and spotted two fishermen in a bass type boat go by. I called to Patrick to take a look. By the time he got to a window, the fishermen were nowhere to be found. Patrick couldn’t believe they dared venture out into the storm. He thought I had been seeing things! I swear they were there. They must have tucked into an island camp. Earlier I thought I saw a white dog on one of the islands. So Patrick was already wondering about me. -:) Too much eerie alone time I guess.

The days went fast and before we knew it we were travelling Collins Inlet.

View from the island
View from Sunshine
The Admiral settled in comfortably in her “chariot,” with Captain Pat rowing away.
It was a tad bit chilly one day.
Look what Pat found on the island! Katherine and Becky, what do you think of this outhouse?!
Beaverstone Bay

Here are more photos from Bustard Island and Beaverstone Bay, before we head to Collins Inlet.

Dinghy at sunset
Lighthouse on way to Bustard Islands
Incredible sunset – last night

Here are photos as we travelled through Collins Inlet, on our way to Killarney for the weekend. The photos just don’t do the Inlet justice.

Water reflections from the rocks and cliffs
Fish camp in Collins Inlet. We saw many canoes, kayaks and people fishing.
The trees somehow find a place to grow in the rocks.
There’s a boat ahead that we followed. The water was spectacular, like glass.

cmclaughlin80outlookcom

10 responses to “Bustard Islands, Beaverstone Bay and Collins Inlet”

    • Hello Katherine. Finally responding to everyone’s comments. We didn’t have cell service for so long. We are in the Penetanguishene marina where we will store the boat for the winter. Sunshine’s first winter not in Florida! Hope she surves. We will be home September 27. Love and hugs to you and the girls. Can’t wait to see you in December!! Cindy and Dad

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    • Hello Doug! For a time there we had such sketchy cell service. Difficult to blog and to reply to people. Now we are in Penetanguishene and will store the boat. Pat’s sister and brother-in-law are driving here from New Hampshire (14 hour drive) to visit us on our last weekend. They will drive us to the Buffalo airport Tuesday, September 27, where we fly home to Ft. Lauderdale. Can’t believe this first portion of our trip is about to close! We will have to touch base to see if you’re still interested in doing a portion of the Canada Georgian Bay trip next June! Thanks again for all of your support.

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  4. It just keeps getting more incredible with every leg of this trip. Looks like it is getting chilly! What I wouldn’t give for some of that delicious air!! Have fun, be safe!

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  6. Beautiful part of the world and for sure North America. Canada does have the “wide open spaces” with many having a lake or river.
    All we can see is the toilet hole and base on the ground……..I understand they have a comfortable mahogany seat suspended 15 feet above.
    Checked your house again and don’t know if you will like the fact that they dressed up your entryway with a bunch of barber poles and a corrugated steel roof. Also, there was school bus in the drive and a bunch of kids were inside viewing your tenant’s collection

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