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That's an awesome story to accompany this video, thanks for sharing. I've read similar stories over the years. It does seem like an enchanted place especially when you are there alone. While filming I even made the comment that "this island protects itself", I felt I was not exactly welcome there...but maybe I was just being overly sensitive. Ha, not sure. It is a beautiful spot. Feel 100% free to use any parts of the video you find useful, no problem at all. I'd be honored. During this trip I met a sailor in the Winfield Basin (part of Cabot's Head) who said a woman up the shore was interested in writing a book about Lonely Island...I paddled past the place to chat but saw no activity. Thanks for your comment, it brings back fond memories. One day I'd like to return there. All the best. I'd be most interested to see any video you produce about the island, I'll keep an eye on your channel. I'm sure you'll tell a great story. Reggie was my dog, I am Jason. Cheers.

@@MadRiverReggie Thanks Jason, I'll tag you in the final result! I appreciate it. Reggie seems like he was a great dog, a born adventurer. And I wonder if that lady ever ended up publishing that book, I'd love to have a copy on my shelf. I have to ask, did you encounter any rattlesnakes during your time on the island? It won't be a focal point of my video but apparently the Island's famous for its high density of massasauga rattlers, I hope there weren't any problems

Hey, thanks for the comment. I have hours and hours of unedited video from other trips and really need to sit down and edit out some interesting stuff. Thanks for the motivation! I've been meaning to do this for ages. I'll put up a few new vids soon. All the best.

​@@MadRiverReggieYou made my day. I really like your content and the easy-going style of your videos. I'm looking forward to seeing a new one. 👍

My track? Ha. Departing from Big McCoy to the Bustards (or vice versa) I follow my compass bearing and stick out in the big water. 10-15 kms from shore does it. Usally its an 8-10hr paddle depending on weather. Most times I'd rather deal with the large, rough predictable waves than get caught too close to shore. The Magnetiwan Ledges area (amoung others) can be crazy to paddle through in rough conditions. 7 out of 10 ten times I can make it in one day. Other times I have been blown East off the water and needed to find shelter after threading the ledges and shoals. The big water is better as far as I am concerned but I still have butterflies as I depart. Depending on the exact route it is about a 65-80 km paddle. Fully loaded for a month, with dog and all, I aim to paddle 8km per hour. The backwater route is nice trip for a couple days. One trip I did make it from the Bustards all the way down to Franklin Island in a single day, it was too rough to make Big McCoy so I kept on going. It was a crazy day. Cheers, Jason.

@@MadRiverReggie 8km is a pipe dream for me, my average is about 6.3km/h and I'm not sure I could sustain that for 10 hours! That kind of speed/distance certainly makes the lake seem smaller!

Hey thanks. It is a rig from Balogh Sail Designs called the Twins and is a 40sq foot downwind kite sail. Balogh makes great, high end, canoe and kayak sail designs but this is not one of those :-) I do not think they made many of these before being discontinuing. It is a lot rigging to lug around for a specific downwind sail. I brought it along just for fun but will probably never use it on a trip again. During 30 days on the water it came in handy maybe 3 times. And, on a narrow boat a 12 foot mast and 40sq foot sail can get a bit too unruly when the wind does pick up.

@@MadRiverReggie Thanks for the reply. I’m thinking of getting a sail for my Klepper Aerius, so I’m interested to see what others use, or have used. From your comments this would be a bit too much sail I think, even if it were still made 🤔.

No problem. Your Klepper would be a great boat to add a small sail to. My old Pouch RZ 85 folding kayak (a Klepper cousin) has its' original small gaff rigged sail and jib, they seem like the pefect size, and great for my style of paddle-sailing. The Klepper rigs are very similar. Sail power alone may be a bit under whelming is most cases but combined with paddling it works very well indeed, and feels safer. These folding kayaks make awesome tripping boats on big water. Oh, I also have a video of my Pouch on this channel if you want to see it in action. Cheers, Jason.

@@MadRiverReggie Thanks again. I have seen the video of your Pouch - in fact I think I’ve seen all of your videos 🙂! I do like Sea Winds, Monarchs, and Loons, but I don’t think there are any in the UK.

Thanks Kurt. I have lots of other footage stored away from privious trips in past couple years...alas, editing is not one of my passions :-) but I'll get to it. Cheers.

I am not 100% sure about the Coast Gaurd regs, but I can not imagine any issues at all. Also, I have heard one of the reasons boaters infrequently visit is due to the lack of any protected anchorages. How ever you manage it, the island is worth a visit. I plan on going back again some day.....I almost went again last summer. Good luck.

Hi Dave. It is a model called a Monarch, manufactured by Mad River Canoes and designed by Verlen Kruger. Essentially it is the same canoe as the Kruger Seawind...a decked expedition canoe.

The Western Islands makes for a great paddling day, not everyone can make it out there. And in September none-the-less when the wind is most often blowwing hard. My boat is a decked canoe. A high saddle, single blade, rudder foot controls, and large cockpit make for a very efficient, seaworthy and quick boat that holds a ton of gear. I can easily carry enough gear and food for at least a month without resupplying and get through very tough conditions.. It is a boat designed by Verlen Kruger called a Monarch and built by Mad River Canoe. Verlen's custom designed and/or built Loon, Monarch, Seawind and Dream Catcher canoes are the apex of versatile all round expedition boats. I would not trade my boat for anything else...period :-) It is the ultimate Georgian Bay tripping boat.

Tobermory has been ruined by overcrowding due to tourism. I went there last year and probably wont be back. A quiet little town is now completely jam packed with people in line ups, parking meters everywhere.....not a place for peace and quiet....what a shame.

Yep, I just took a video of that area a couple months ago. It is very surreal to see all those windmills on the shore of Georgian Bay. Even while camping on the Bustard Islands or further away at night you can see the red flashing lights 50kms away at night. It is very odd.

You won't regret spending a couple of nights there. It is an enchanted place.

The only bears I saw were on Carthcart Island. It is a small island but there always seems to be a couple bears there. I did see some bear scat on the the Bustards but no actual sightings.

Phillip Edward Island is a very paddler friendly place. Lots of campsites and lots of little bays to paddle into. If you head further East you can get past the crowds that may be there this years. I paddled through the area on my way to Little Current and there were a lot of kayakers out and about. The Foxxes were particularily busy with groups of kayak campers, but lots of friendly people I am sure.

We circumnavigated PEI this summer in 4 days, 1st night at the Big Rock / southern shore, 2nd on Pine Tree Island of Beaverstone Bay , 3rd on one of the islands of Mill Lake. Fantastic experience! Did you make your trip in September?

@@mississaugajam Awesome. Sounds like a great trip. Philip Edwards Island area was certainly a busy spot this past summer. I paddled through the area a few times and could not believe how many people were out on the water, and the islands, enjoying some kayak camping. I did a few amazing trips this summer and managed to spend most of the summer paddling and island hopping the Bay, French River, Kilarney, the North Channel, La Cloche, etc. The best summer yet :-)

I probably saw 2 or 3 while I walked around the island. I was keeping a very sharp eye out because of my dog and may not have seen them otherwise. They tend to disappear quickly. Seems to be a healthy population of them around other islands as well, like the Bustards, McCoy's, Cathcart, and O'Donnell Point. In the evenings, almost every other day, one would come out of no where and slither past or just hang out in the evening sun. Again, I was always aware of what was around because of Reggie and did not want him harming any of them.

Yes, the original light house along the shoreline is gone. It was demolished (in the 1980's I think) and apparently some of it was pushed into the water. There is a new(er) light house a long ways up the hill that is accessed via helicopter. I tried to climb up the hill to reach it but the brush is very thick and there is no real trail leading to it. Having my dog with me I turned around and did not continue bushwacking my way up there as I was a bit leary of rattle snakes.

Hi there, I may have messed up numbering some of these. I will double check and retitle them accuratly. Thanks, Jason and Reggie.

Yes,it is an amazing Island to visit. Go for it. Your Windrider would be an awsome boat to make the trip in. I always wanted to try one myself. Lots of spots to set up camp and get a few hours sleep along the way, then spend a few days on Lonely Island. Several Rattle Snakes bzzing around so watch your step. Cheers, Jason and Reggie.

Glad you enjoyed the vid. You will really enjoy Lonely Island if you can get out there and spend a few days. It was one of the highlights of this paddling trip from Toront Harbor up and around Georgian Bay via the Trent-Severn. I enjoyed a few of your vids as well, good stuff.