2020 - Sept 26-27 Kayak Trip – North Shore MN

Solo Trip;  Tom L / Scott Laven – had interest in trip but had to cancel.        Drove up Friday, 9-25 evening; stayed at Scott Laven’s(Tom’s house). 

SATURDAY 

Got up 6:00 AM Saturday.. packed up car with add’l camp items from Tom’s garage.   Drove to Two Harbors / Betty’s Pies parking lot.  Betty’s Pies didn’t open until 9:00 AM – line started forming at 8:30, so – just had muffins instead.  Packed bags and got ready.  Launched from parking lot across from Betty’s Pies – Stewart River

Weather was FOGGY / after 1 hour of paddling, light rain started.  Paddled ~ 9 Hours – light or steady rain nearly the whole day.  Always foggy with exception of a few 20 minute periods where the fog lifted temporarily.

Kayaked approx. 12 miles without stopping – then stopped in Gooseberry;  lots of tourist/hikers about on other side of river.

Continued on / stopped again just past Nadine Blacklock lakeshore (Mile 60)

Wanted to get to Campsites near Tettegouche – but, was getting dark – so, stopped at Black Beach Park (Just past Beaver Bay)  (Mile 68.8)

Poached camping – marked no camping; but – arrived at dark; most people leaving.  Talked to a guy, Drew from Marquette – who has kayaked all around Superior.  Setup small tent; slept a little – got up at 7:00 AM.

SUNDAY

Beautiful day.. Wind – but didn’t look too bad.  But – needed to skirt up;  and – was sketchy near Palisade head – started getting nervous;  Wind/waves pushing kayak around from stern.  But finally got in a rhythm.  Made it to Baptism River;  Had to paddle HARD thru narrow river channel to get up into flat river water; just made it.  Was very nice in river / went upstream ¼ mile;  rapids were flowing.   Lots of tourists around.

Scott met me at Tettegouche to pick me up;  THANKS SCOTT!!! – did have to haul gear & kayak up 150 Yards from beach up to Parking Lot.

Great Weekend!

 

 

DAY1

START:  Stewart River Mile 39.1
FINISH: Black Beach Park (Just past Beaver Bay)  68.8

Total Miles (GPS / only partial distance) = 29.7 Miles

 

DAY2

START: Black Beach Park (Just past Beaver Bay)  68.8
END: Tettegouche / Baptism River  72.5

Total Miles (GPS / only partial distance) = 3.7 Miles

Black Beach Park – Launch – View above campsite. (Tent/Kayak)

 

Black Beach Park – Launch – View above campsite.  Palisade Head (looking to NE – direction of paddle on Sunday)

Black Beach Park – Launch – View above campsite.  II

Black Beach Park – Launch – View above campsite.  Towards Northshore Mining (Beaver Bay)

July 22 Kayak Expedition – Apostle Islands, WI

 

John Lynch - Solo Trip     

Drove up from Seeley early 7-22 directly to Little Sand Bay

Got to Little Sand Bay later than desired – arrived at ~ 10:00 AM.  Took 2 full hours to pack up, fix jammed rudder peddle, check weather, etc.

When in process of launching – Park ranger warned about Small Craft Advisory..  I told him, it’s OK, I’ve got lots of experience, paddled Canadian shoreline of Lake Superior, etc.   But – I was worried!

Strong NE Winds – definitely 20 Knots;  And – I was starting out around peninsula to NE!   Hadn’t had kayak in water in 2 years!!!   I had to fight to get to Point Detour – Little Sand Bay was very sketchy with 3 to 4 ft waves – dead into the wind.

Stopped in Raspberry Bay – there was a dock with small commercial operation – no one around;  definite worry about stopping somewhere, and not be able to launch / large surf/waves pretty much everywhere.  But – was able to find a good spot near dock – and easy to launch

Once I got to Raspberry Point, started heading SE , then South.  Wind was trailing, water much calmer – it was smooth sailing all the way to Bayfield.  Stopped in Red Cliff Bay – near shipwreck to eat and drink – then took off to Bayfield.  Got some sun, and fast paddling – clocking close to 5 mph near Red Cliff.

ROUTE:

-        Little Sand Bay / Beach/Campground

-        Point Detour

-        Across Raspberry Bay

-        Raspberry Point

-        Across Frog Bay

-        Red Cliff Bay

-        Across Red Cliff Bay

-        Past Red Cliff

-        Bayfield

 

DAY1

Total Miles (GPS / 3 sections) = 17.5 Miles