Nelson Island/Musket Island

Back to Nelson Island! And this time I was going to make it into Hidden Basin and Blind Bay. This was a very enjoyable trip I took back in August with my friend Chris. I took a vacation day on a Friday and we headed off to the Sunshine Coast for a few nights.

Last time I was out here we launched from a resort, but that wasn't a good option this time, so we headed for the public dock at Madeira Park. Got the last parking spot too!


We had wound up missing the first ferry, then stopping for groceries, then taking longer than usual to get set up. All that extra time meant we were very late getting onto the water. I think it was close to 4 pm by the time we launched.


I just love the Pender Harbour area. Reminds me of a 'Popeye' style town.

Eventually, we hit the water and made quick work of the trip out of the harbour and across to Nelson Island.


First destination was the 'g-spot'. We considered camping here but we just hadn't been on the water long enough, so we just had a look around.



Nobody had used this firepit for a while.


Things stayed nice and calm while on shore, but just as soon as we hit the water again the afternoon winds finally kicked in, and it was a rough rough trip over to Roberts Beach. By the time we made it there I was soaked and very happy I had packed my bailer.


And as soon as we arrive the wind dies right back down, d'oh!


This time I set up my tent in the small clearing behind the beach, rather than up on the point. We noticed that the cabin already had a couple of people set up in there.


Next morning we were in no hurry to leave, so decided to have a good look around.



Unfortunately there was a couple who had zodiac'ed in and were staying in the cabin, so we let them have their privacy and didn't go explore. Fortunately though I still have an excuse to come back here!


Somebody had found some old iron tools and left them around the campsite. No way was I going to sleep next to this, just waiting for some psycho to hack me to death in my sleep! Yes I've seen all the Friday the 13th movies so I know how these things work. I took it into my tent to sleep with, just in case.


I was very touched by this. I'll bet this dog had some good times out here.


We hit the water and headed for Hidden Basin. There's a trail that leads from there to Blind Bay and we were considering attempting a portage.




The entrance to Hidden Basin. This is a large bay well into the interior of Nelson Island. It's entrance is blocked by a small island, and the combination of the narrow inlet and the large bay makes for some largish tidal currents. This trip the currents were in our favour to enter.


We scouted the two passages and decided on the main, larger entrance. I tell ya I've never been through any rapids before so this was a bit exhilarating for me. I stuck to the side and avoided the main rapid.

Chris remarked that the eddyline almost knocked him out of his boat, but now that he knew what to expect he regretted not taking the rapid full on. I wound up getting spun right around 180 degrees!


It was pretty cool, just getting shot into the channel like that! We were looking forward to the reverse on our way out.




This is the trail leading to Blind Bay. Seemed like a lot of trouble to portage so we decided to skip it.




The properties around Hidden Basin had a unique kind of style to them.


Heading back we wound up hitting the entrance right at slack tide. We decided to just push on to Musket Island instead of waiting for the tide to turn and riding the rapids out.


Without my GPS I'm not sure I could have found the place! It really blends into the scenery from a distance, and is actually connected to Hardy Island at low tide.


This park is actually now called the far wimpier "Hardy Island Marine Park". A bunch of yachties and such petitioned a few years back to change the name. Well the sign still says Musket Island and if they're not going to pay to change it, Musket Island it is. Besides, "Musket Island" is a way cooler name.





It had been a very long day by the time we arrived. It was broiling hot out and I was tired and sweaty. So as soon as I saw this I knew what I had to do:


A perfect ramp leading down into the water...I threw off all my clothes and marched right in! Wonderfully refreshing. And right at that moment two people from one of the anchored boats came strolling by!

Chris decided to hit the water too and try rolling his yostwerks folding kayak.


The roll didn't quite work out but that gave Chris a chance to try something else, his home made battery powered electric bilge pump! Extremely cool. On previous trips he had been plauged by leaks and always wound up bailing a litre or two of water. But as soon as he installed the pump he had also fixed all the leaks, so it didn't see any real world use yet. Takes about five minutes to completely empty a flooded kayak.



Musket is a pretty idyllic place to spend a night. That evening I saw something absolutely amazing. We had a clear night and were up watching the shooting starts. Then one, instead of fading, kept getting brighter and turned into a flaming fireball shooting over our heads. I thought for a second that it would impact and then 'puff' it burned up, all without a sound. Incredible.


The next morning was another beautiful one and we got packed up and ready to head home.


Blind Bay is a really beautiful place. I need to convince my father to bring his big boat out here sometime.


We made great time with the wind at our backs. It was a hot day and the breeze was like being hit with a full blast air conditioner. Awesome.


Stand up paddleboarding...this looks like great fun.



We dropped in at the g-spot again for some lunch and a break.



And then into the home stretch back to Madeira Park.


And our good fortune held all the way home. We stopped in at the grocery store for some sandwiches and snacks as we were sure we would miss the ferry. We wound up getting there and practically driving right on! One of the last few cars to make it. Sometimes you catch a break.

As usual, awesome trip, can't wait to go back.