Shadows of Yesterday

photo & words :: Nicholas Spooner-Rodie kayakers :: Scott Rodie and Nicholas Spooner-Rodie location :: Southwestern shore of Philip Edward Island

A paddle trip through Georgian Bay feels like stepping back in time, when nature ruled and you had to earn your way through the wilderness. Surrounded by an endless sprawl of islands, remote beaches and coves, the possibilities for exploration are infinite. A rare three-day stretch of calm weather gave us the freedom to swim, island hop and embrace the simplicity of being out there. The water was so clear you could see straight to the bottom, crystalline and untouched, a reminder of what wild places should be. This bay has history, too—early fur traders passed through this ancient place, which the Anishinaabe named Gwiinokgwiindek Mnisheh—and you can still feel a sense of isolation and adventure. It’s the kind of trip that strips away all the noise, where you measure time by the sun and your next destination is wherever the horizon takes you. Wild places like this remind you why it’s worth fighting to protect them.