The First Day . . .

The Great Circumnavigation Adventure! 

 “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.  I travel for travel’s sake.  The great affair is to move.”   

- Robert Stevenson

Traveling counterclockwise around the Island our first stop for lunch found us just southwest of Bass Cove in a tiny State owned bay. Here we regrouped, enjoyed a wee bit to eat and shared a good laugh over crossing into Canadian waters. 

With full bellies we paddled along the shore heading to Shale Beach.  

Located on the eastern shore the beach is very wide and about 2 miles in length. Paddling up to it the shoreline has a feel of rolling sand dunes made up of small pure white rounded shale stones. The water is crystal clear and you can easily view the floor of the lake where it immediately drops off to 60 feet just out from the water's edge. 

 

Too beautiful to resist! We beach our kayaks and spend some time wandering. 

I leave my heart on Shale Beach and we shove off, paddling along the shore with slow, steady strokes. 

From this vantage point, Marble Head is nothing more than a rock outcropping high above us. Tucked into the trees of the shoreline we can't make it out from any of the other ledges lining this section of Drummond coastline. 

But there is no mistaking Pilot Cove! The Cove has a landscape befitting of a postcard. It curls tightly and forms a brilliant blue water lagoon with a rocky beach and pine forest. The loons call at night and the deer invade the shoreline as the sun sets. I can’t imagine a prettier setting in all the Great Lakes. We paddle in and take a swim! 

With all Pilot Cove has to offer why didn't we stay for the night? CARNIVOROUS BLACK FLIES! While mosquitoes might drill for lunch these black flies were strip mining for it! My botanical bug dope was simply a lure, enticing them in. Nella's DEET proved to have no effect what so ever. So without even toweling off we shoved off!

Pointing our kayaks northeast to a small strip of State owned land above Glen Cove. 

Once beached we set-up camp, have a much needed hot meal and reflected on the events of our first day. 

I am truly the MOST content woman in the world!