Mica Bay - Alona Bay Lake Superior

Okay enough of the kiddie stuff.  It's time for the big water ... Lake Superior. 

After finally purchasing a paddle float, bilge pump and a 2mm Farmer John wetsuit I headed back to Trout Lake Saturday afternoon to practise some wet exits and self rescues.  Sunday morning I headed to Mica Bay for a day paddle on Lake Superior.  I had been checking the marine forecast and winds were going to be light.

I launched about 4 km south of Mica Bay and didn't quite make it all the way to Alona Bay.  The route was 27 km and although I stopped several times for a snack and to rest I was exhausted after being on the water for 6.5 hours.  It had been several years since I was up this way. We used to scuba dive in this area and I forgot how beautiful the coast line is here.

About 5 km past Mamainse Harbour look for a narrow road towards the water right at the point where Highway 17 comes really close to the shore.  It is short walk down to the beach.

One of the things I enjoyed the most on this paddle was that looking down was just as interesting as looking up.  The water was crystal clear and the underwater boulders, ledges, veins of granite quartz and  pink sandstone made the paddle that much more enjoyable.

Don't get me wrong there was plenty to look at above the surface:

Theano point  to the north of Alona Bay.  Apparently the location of the first Uranium discovery in Canada.   I can't wait until my next paddle in which I will launch at Alona Bay and round this point:

Between Mica Bay and Alona bay there were many channels and outcroppings of rocks to paddle through:

Notice the bright contrast of the orange sunburnt lichens on the dark rock:

Found this really cool sliver of a beach sandwiched between rock:

A perfect spot for a dip and lunch:

I'm not 100 % sure but I swear this same loon followed me for almost the entire return trip: