Hey Justin, I highly recommend the north side of the island for paddling, so I think you should try to make that work if you can. A couple of other possibilities to look into:Itinerary: This is still up in the air until I can get everyone in the party (2 or 3 others) together to see what they expect & what kind of $ they are willing to spend. This is the itinerary that I expect & hope to do:
15th:Stay at Rock Harbor or Daisy Farm.
16th: Catch the V2 to Windigo.
17th: Catch the V2 to McCargoe or Belle Isle, depending on where we get dropped off & how the water is looking we will kayak to one of the campgrounds in that area.
18th: same as above
19th: Stay at Merritt Lane
20th: Back to Copper Harbor
Notes/Other: The cost of the 2 trips on V2 might be too much to spend for a couple of the people going. If so we may just ride the V2 to Malone Bay & work our way back on the inland lakes & portages to Chippewa Harbor & then on to RH. This isn't ideal since 2 of us did the stretch from RH to past Caribou Island & back 3 years ago & we'd like to skip duplicating that stretch again.
- The water taxi may be less (or not much more) than the VII to get you to Belle Isle or McCargoe, depending on the numbers. They can only take 2 kayaks each, so it sounds like you'd have to take 2 water taxi's--I believe they have 2 boats. In any case it gives you the most flexibility.
- Do the trip in reverse from R.H. to Belle Isle or McCargoe and have the VII pick you up there. That would have to be a Sat., then catch the Queen on Sunday, if you could make that work. Rounding Blakes Point is the most dangerous water subject to lakes conditions, so it also settles that question at the beginning of the trip instead of the end. Once you get back in the bays you options, including a couple short portages that keep you off the big water. I like this option the best.
- The sightseeing boat also offers a "water bus" service. It goes to McCargoe cove on Wednesdays. I know they can, and think they will carry kayaks, but you'd have to check with them to be sure. They may even drop you off at Belle Isle on the way, but again, they don't advertise it.
http://www.isleroyaleresort.com has the water taxi and water bus (see "Sightseeing") info. Contact them for definitive info...
Love that area, beautiful, all great campgrounds! Happy paddling!