***********Read important note at end of this blurb before trying for this cache.***********
Famous Boats - James Caird. Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance was another of my favourite adventure stories growing up. The story of Shackleton and his crew surviving shipwreck, Antarctic winters, breaking ice flows and the culminating journey on the James Caird lifeboat to South Georgia Island (and across that too) is incredible! I am awestruck at the bravery, will power, skill and luck they had to make it home without losing a single life.
Hope these caches act as an invitation to come paddle here. Fall colours are lovely here but any day you can be on the water with wind and sun is a good day! This is a beautiful stretch of water that I have never seen a power boat on as there is very little access (if at all) for them. 15 paddle strokes takes you into nature and beautiful wild life habitats. As I was placing these caches I saw at least six Blue Herons, osprey, turtles, water fowl of so many types, frogs, fish and so much more. Love pictures in the logs if you can.
If you are going downstream from Cram Road launch you should verge slightly to the right of the point of the island.( left channel) Easy pull in and land spot. You will need to leave boat for a few steps. Welcome to the island that is home to the James Caird. The container itself is a Centifruge Tube with a rite in rain paper log book (also in plastic baggie), zip tied (hopefully) pretty securely. You will need to bring your own writing device and tweezers ( and possibly a step or tall friend 😁)
This is part of a water series I'm putting out and I'm using famous boats as my theme as I paddle my canoe on these beautiful rivers and lakes. It won't be as impressive a series as the Dar-ing series of dadndaughter fame. Check those ones out if you love paddling around here. But maybe we can call it a tribute to that fun series that I'm still trying to finish. They are awesome! Hoping that these ones will add to some more fun paddles in the area. Starting with a couple here to go with the Cram Road Canoe Launch (GCAY3MJ) which is probably the best starting point for this one.
Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists information on "Lanark County canoe and kayak journeys" is a good starting point for resources and information if you are unfamiliar with this area. That information leads off with 'follow up to date paddling safety practices, conditions are subject to change, and many routes should be avoided during spring floods'. All of which is good advice. While keeping that advice in mind I've paddled this section of the river a half dozen times each year (in summer and fall) with family and friends and never been worried, but I always respect the water. Water levels and speed of currents can change a lot in different seasons so please be safe.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE - paddling to this cache is very safe but do not continue further downriver unless you know what you are doing. There are rapids downstream at the other end of this island and in spring they can be very fast and technical. I have solo paddled the rapids in summer time but only experienced paddlers should consider trying and should survey first. With kids or flat water paddlers I would make this my turn around spot after finding this cache and return to the cram road launch. Hope you enjoy! Happy Paddling!