Watch for The Bustard's Lights

Phil awake about 5:30 am as we had decided to make an early attempt to do the outer water before the wind picked up. Unfortunately, it had already started so we did “second bed”, thinking that we would either stay another night in the anchorage or just go around the tip of the Bustards and head up into the French River.

Second awakening about 8:30 and the wind was gone, sky looking good, forecast good and we were “outathere” in 15 minutes flat.
The run from the Bustards to Beaverstone Bay is really an easy open water run if the wind and waves are right. We had a south-west wind which meant the waves were not hitting us directly abeam and the height was about 1/2m which was good for planing. The run is easy, skirt east of the Bustards, hang a right at the lighthouses - watching the bouys for sure - and then a straight line almost to Beaverstone Bay. One feature that stands out here is Grondine Light, which is a 47ft high white lighthouse on your starboard side. Can’t miss it. There is another red marker about ½ mile further offshore than the light at which point you start your turn north into Beaverstone Bay.

Beaverstone Bay is one of the prettiest places on the route. A lovely bay with lots of islands, rocks, beautiful scenery and places to anchor safely out of the wind. On the south shore of the bay is the Point Grondine Indian Reserve. As you cross this Bay to the north side, winding through islands all the way, it is here that you see the first huge rocky cliffs. Granite flowing into the river from heights of over 125 feet. It is awe inspiring. At the north end of the Bay, you make a sharp 90° turn to port through a series of paired markers with several Hazard markers indicating “Low Water”. The silt that builds up in Collins Inlet flows through this narrow channel and can quickly bring the water level under your prop to next to nothing. Phil said the depth today was 1ft under the prop which would make the depth about 5 ft. Once past this point, the depth is no longer a problem.

Beaverstone Bay ShorelineCollins Inlet is one of those places where only the locals go fast. Everyone else is too busy “oohing” and “ahhing” at the magnificent scenery. The Inlet is frequently described as fjord-like, which it is. High rock on all side, topped with green trees of every shape and shade of green. Shorelines of rock rubble where the walls have fallen in. Rocks of all colours from red to white to grey to black. Although the route is actually quite straight, the shoreline itself has been made with pinking shears, leaving the impression that, up ahead, the channel has disappeared or is very narrow and we won’t fit through!

After several miles of this wonder, you spot old pilings on the eastern shore where an old dock used to be and tucked in behind this there is a small marina where, if stuck, you can get gas. We’ve never been up to it but there is a larger lake in behind so suspect it is mostly used by fisherfolk.

And then you arrive at Mill Lake. This is a rather large rectangular shaped lake opening up in the middle of the Inlet, which continues past this lake. It has many anchorages, 80 ft at its deepest and 4 at its shallowest. Masts and antennas peek out through the islands, the glacial finger rocks and the tree tops. There were 4 huge trawlers in one anchorage and in the one we chose, three boats similar to ours. The bottom is silt and weed but we seem to be in for good and the anchor held this afternoon during some puffs of wind so hope there will be no more “PRANGS” like yesterday. This is an excellent place to wait out any storm (did that already in 2003) or just to laze away some nice weather. Phil caught a 14" baby pike here last time but don’t think he will try to-day.

Typical Collins Inlet ShorelineOur plans are to head into Killarney tomorrow for groceries and hopefully an internet connection with Ma Bell. Imagine, we had phone service last night in the Bustards but today, on shore, nothing. Tried to get dau-in-law Holly to wish her Happy Birthday today but no service whatsoever. I was talking to younger son Trevor - her husband - late last night and every time the boat swung behind the rock, no service, then it would swing back again, and we could talk again. Cost of satellite phone is too atrocious to even think about so guess we are stuck with what we have.

Thanks to all who send us e-mail about our log. We really do appreciate hearing from you even though we may not be too good at answering you. If you are replying to one of our logs, please turn off the “automatically copy this e-mail in your reply” setting in your e-mail as we then have to down-load our log which has been copied into your e-mail.

Our eldest son Brent in Halifax informed us that he has set up a web-site for our logs and hopefully the photos which we will send him. I will continue to send out the logs to all as he travels so much that he may not get it up on a too timely basis. We’ll see what happens. [Web Master Note... I don't get around nearly as much as my parents. If the log is late it is because they forget to send it to me!]

We also understand that the log is being posted at our home port Pecks in Ivy Lea on the bulletin board. Just need to let everyone know that the board is in the wash room so I suppose the log can always be used as toilet paper in an emergency. Hi Patti and Andrew. The boat is working fine thanks to your hard work and we love the hot water through the engine thingee that you did. We don’t smell as bad as we used to. Really enjoyed the Bustards as you suggested.

A glorious evening here, heading up on deck to enjoy it. Maybe there’ll be a sunset....

Location