A slip of fog in the Port San Juan (Renfrew) led us to a thick fogbank that enveloped and accompanied us all day. Glad for radar but tired as we monitored it along with the charts and the disorienting, hallucinatory fog. Swells grew to 4-6 feet, 6-7 seconds apart, uncomfortable but the wind, thankfully, died to 2 or less knots.
After 7 hours of this as the sun finally started breaking through, we reached Effingham Island , the largest island of the Broken Island Group. Its spacious bay empty, we had our pick of the best spot, close to the trail leading across the island. Ready for some land time, we launched the dinghy in search of said trail.
Heading up an open grassy patch into the woods on an apparent trail with cut logs and planks led 15 minutes along a tiny muddy creek, over slippery logs, to a dead end. Back to square 1. The trail is obvious once you see it. It is a typical Canadian National Marine Park trail, almost indistinguishable save for the amusing marine detritus markers.
Over or under this log? The blue to the right is Patrick, not a trail marker
A creation of metal, fish net, rope and who knows what else but it is pointing in the general direction of the trail
The forest is lovely, devoid of any thorns, or bothersome bugs, only slippery logs and hidden holes to mind. Some huge mother trees give a glimpse of an old growth forest. This is the only island in the Group that has a fresh water lake. It looks accessible from the East side of the island but not from this trail which leads to a midden. Now strewn with tree trunks, it is a lovely beach also for tide pooling.
We had read there was a sea cave on this island so took the dinghy for a spin after exploring the trail. We found it just past the midden! and a few other fun formations.
Around the other side, we discovered 2 different exits to this cave, very fun and so much more to explore. We returned to Arcturos very glad for the long foggy trip.
Holeinthewater 