Contact the trip initiator before joining a trip.
Only Paid Members can join trips, send messages, or post or comment here.
Before you join a trip, sign the Participant Agreement.
To learn how we conduct trips, read Paddling with NSPN
Upcoming Trips and Events
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Chebacco Lake practice sessions
Come join us at Chebacco Lake in Hamilton on Thursdays at 5pm until sunset though the summer. Practice strokes, rolls, rescues, falling out of your boat, or just watching kingfishers. Dress for immersion. A wetsuit is warm enough in early season, and keeps down the bruises from climbing back into your boat ten times a night.
We meet at the boat ramp at the south end of the lake, and hang out in the cove to the left of the ramp. You can either get off 128 at Pine st (exit 49) and head north, or find Chebacco road off Rt 22 in Essex. No entrance fees. Sign up below if you're coming.
- 0 comments
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Sunday "Something" Paddle
A "Something" is a flexible paddle designed for any and all club members with no prescribed skill level. Our only goal is to have fun together safely! We will determine the route, distance and activities to fit the environment and the interests/comfort level of folks who come. All you need is basic equipment in safe working condition. That means a sea kayak with full deck lines and bulkheads, spray skirt, dress for immersion. Please bring a helmet if you want to play in rocks or surf.
Launch and registration details will be posted here in the week preceding the event.
- 0 comments
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#12 Lobster Buoy Car-Camping Weekend, Inter-club event #2 with NSPN and SMSKN
PLEASE DO NOT RSVP UNTIL YOU HAVE SENT YOUR PAYMENT FOR THE GROUP SITE ONLY.
Come join us for this second inter-club kayak camping event with NSPN and SMSKN. Home Base will be Lobster Buoy Campsites in S. Thomaston, Maine, gathered at the Group Site. Arrive early Saturday, depart Monday. Paddling options abound: NE to Owls Head, SE to Muscle Ridge, or SW to Port Clyde. These trips are not appropriate for beginners. Do not overestimate your abilities. Minimal skills to participate include wet exit, self and assisted rescue, and previous experience in ocean paddling with conditions of wind up to 15K, waves to 2 feet, and crossings up to 2.0M. I will set a limit FOR THE GROUP SITE ONLY. Your spot will be secured when I receive payment ([$12.00 per person + $8.50 per car]/NITE) X 1.09 (tax; most will pay $22.35/nite) via paypal (PREFERRED; gyork at tdsdotnet) or check (Email [email protected]).
If you prefer a private site, contact campground directly (280 Waterman Beach Rd, South Thomaston, ME 04858 Phone: (207) 594-7546).
You must E-sign the NSPN liability waiver for the current paddling season, found HERE.
When you RSVP, please send me a private E address for group correspondence.
Link to album of our previous outing 10 years ago HERE
PLEASE DO NOT RSVP UNTIL YOU HAVE SENT YOUR PAYMENT FOR GROUP SITE ONLY.
You will receive full refund for your trip only if you cancel before 9 PM. on August 16, OR CHOOSE TO DONATE (ANY AMOUNT) TO ELLIE /LOBSTER BUOY CAMPSITES.
- 0 comments
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11th Annual NSPN Paddle Retreat, Bar Harbor, ME
This 4 day event will be in its 11th year and is designed for NSPN folks to gather, socialize, and paddle in the Mount Desert Island area of downeast Maine.
This year’s retreat will be from Thursday afternoon Sept. 11th to Sunday afternoon Sept.14th, with group paddles each day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Most people travel & arrive on Thursday afternoon or evening, and depart on Sunday afternoon. But some arrive sooner and leave later, and there will be an option for a Thursday paddle or other activity. Some participants also take days off from paddling for bicycling or hiking on the trails of Acadia National Park.
Our base of operations will be at Rose Eden Cottages, a cottage resort with some 12 cabins between the Narrows and the town of Bar Harbor Bar Harbor, near Hadley Point. We can gather at Rose Eden for car caravans to launch sites, and in the evening to socialize and plan next day’s trips.
For those who plan to stay elsewhere, there is a wide variety of accommodations in the area, including nearby campgrounds which have been popular.
Accommodations are on your own. Make your own arrangements (including reservations, cancellations deposits , etc) for your entire stay during this event. You are encouraged to make reservations (at Rose Eden or elsewhere) as far in advance as possible.
Each day’s paddle trips planned the previous day, usually by some sort of meeting at Rose Eden or nearby.
Some favorite destinations are: the Porcupine Islands off of Bar Harbor in Frenchman’s Bay, the Cranberry Islands on the south side of MDI, Bartlett Island and Sound, and the dramatic eastern shore of the island between Bar Harbor and Seal Harbor
This is a rain or shine event, unlikely to be canceled since there’s usually some place to paddle around MDI in all but harshest conditions, and there are many other activities in the area as an alternative. It’s a good event to bring family members who
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP ( check " I’m going") here in the Calendar Posting
A Group PM with all participants will start a few months before the event , for information sharing, planning and communication.
If you have any questions: contact Peter Brady (PeterB on the message board) by PM on the message board, or reply here.
4. Friday Sutton!!.pdfSunday 5!JPG.pdf
- 7 comments
Upcoming Trips and Events
-
Chebacco Lake practice sessions
Come join us at Chebacco Lake in Hamilton on Thursdays at 5pm until sunset though the summer. Practice strokes, rolls, rescues, falling out of your boat, or just watching kingfishers. Dress for immersion. A wetsuit is warm enough in early season, and keeps down the bruises from climbing back into your boat ten times a night.
We meet at the boat ramp at the south end of the lake, and hang out in the cove to the left of the ramp. You can either get off 128 at Pine st (exit 49) and head north, or find Chebacco road off Rt 22 in Essex. No entrance fees. Sign up below if you're coming.
- 0 comments
-
Sunday "Something" Paddle
A "Something" is a flexible paddle designed for any and all club members with no prescribed skill level. Our only goal is to have fun together safely! We will determine the route, distance and activities to fit the environment and the interests/comfort level of folks who come. All you need is basic equipment in safe working condition. That means a sea kayak with full deck lines and bulkheads, spray skirt, dress for immersion. Please bring a helmet if you want to play in rocks or surf.
Launch and registration details will be posted here in the week preceding the event.
- 0 comments
-
#12 Lobster Buoy Car-Camping Weekend, Inter-club event #2 with NSPN and SMSKN
PLEASE DO NOT RSVP UNTIL YOU HAVE SENT YOUR PAYMENT FOR THE GROUP SITE ONLY.
Come join us for this second inter-club kayak camping event with NSPN and SMSKN. Home Base will be Lobster Buoy Campsites in S. Thomaston, Maine, gathered at the Group Site. Arrive early Saturday, depart Monday. Paddling options abound: NE to Owls Head, SE to Muscle Ridge, or SW to Port Clyde. These trips are not appropriate for beginners. Do not overestimate your abilities. Minimal skills to participate include wet exit, self and assisted rescue, and previous experience in ocean paddling with conditions of wind up to 15K, waves to 2 feet, and crossings up to 2.0M. I will set a limit FOR THE GROUP SITE ONLY. Your spot will be secured when I receive payment ([$12.00 per person + $8.50 per car]/NITE) X 1.09 (tax; most will pay $22.35/nite) via paypal (PREFERRED; gyork at tdsdotnet) or check (Email [email protected]).
If you prefer a private site, contact campground directly (280 Waterman Beach Rd, South Thomaston, ME 04858 Phone: (207) 594-7546).
You must E-sign the NSPN liability waiver for the current paddling season, found HERE.
When you RSVP, please send me a private E address for group correspondence.
Link to album of our previous outing 10 years ago HERE
PLEASE DO NOT RSVP UNTIL YOU HAVE SENT YOUR PAYMENT FOR GROUP SITE ONLY.
You will receive full refund for your trip only if you cancel before 9 PM. on August 16, OR CHOOSE TO DONATE (ANY AMOUNT) TO ELLIE /LOBSTER BUOY CAMPSITES.
- 0 comments
-
11th Annual NSPN Paddle Retreat, Bar Harbor, ME
This 4 day event will be in its 11th year and is designed for NSPN folks to gather, socialize, and paddle in the Mount Desert Island area of downeast Maine.
This year’s retreat will be from Thursday afternoon Sept. 11th to Sunday afternoon Sept.14th, with group paddles each day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Most people travel & arrive on Thursday afternoon or evening, and depart on Sunday afternoon. But some arrive sooner and leave later, and there will be an option for a Thursday paddle or other activity. Some participants also take days off from paddling for bicycling or hiking on the trails of Acadia National Park.
Our base of operations will be at Rose Eden Cottages, a cottage resort with some 12 cabins between the Narrows and the town of Bar Harbor Bar Harbor, near Hadley Point. We can gather at Rose Eden for car caravans to launch sites, and in the evening to socialize and plan next day’s trips.
For those who plan to stay elsewhere, there is a wide variety of accommodations in the area, including nearby campgrounds which have been popular.
Accommodations are on your own. Make your own arrangements (including reservations, cancellations deposits , etc) for your entire stay during this event. You are encouraged to make reservations (at Rose Eden or elsewhere) as far in advance as possible.
Each day’s paddle trips planned the previous day, usually by some sort of meeting at Rose Eden or nearby.
Some favorite destinations are: the Porcupine Islands off of Bar Harbor in Frenchman’s Bay, the Cranberry Islands on the south side of MDI, Bartlett Island and Sound, and the dramatic eastern shore of the island between Bar Harbor and Seal Harbor
This is a rain or shine event, unlikely to be canceled since there’s usually some place to paddle around MDI in all but harshest conditions, and there are many other activities in the area as an alternative. It’s a good event to bring family members who
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP ( check " I’m going") here in the Calendar Posting
A Group PM with all participants will start a few months before the event , for information sharing, planning and communication.
If you have any questions: contact Peter Brady (PeterB on the message board) by PM on the message board, or reply here.
4. Friday Sutton!!.pdfSunday 5!JPG.pdf
- 7 comments
Calendar
11AM
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Sun, Apr 10, 2011 11:00 AM
Pre-Trip and Chart Reading WorkshopDate: Sunday, April 10
Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: Gould Barn, 1 Howlett St, Topsfield, MA
Potluck lunch.
Bring your own charts, reference books, chart software and favorite online resources. Bring a laptop if you have wireless internet access as you will be able to surf during the workshop.
RSVP here please so we can get a headcount for handouts.
Pre-Trip Planning Workshop
What kind of preparation and planning should a NSPN paddler do before a CAM trip? The club expects each member of a CAM trip to be personally familiar with the trip area as well as conditions expected for the trip. But how do you do that? This workshop focuses on getting this basic information before heading out as well as doing more serious research for extended trips. We will cover some of the following topics:
• Planning overview. Environmental factors and basic principles of what causes conditions on the water.
• Nautical charts. Where to get them, chart symbols, how to read charts, how to infer likely conditions. We will provide online sources of NOAA charts.
• Tides and Currents. Where to find tide and current predictions for the area of the paddle and how to interpret the information to predict conditions.
• Weather. Where to find marine forecasts and how to combine them with other information to predict conditions.
• Other resources. Coastal pilots, light lists, Notice to Mariners, cruising guides, etc.
• Local information. Launch sites, public sites, public access, etc.
• Online resources. Google Earth including NOAA and topographic overlays, online mapping services, MITA Online Guide, etc.
• Route planning. Based on all predicted conditions, plan routes given trip goals and experience of participants. Includes planning for contingencies (changed conditions, bail out points, etc.)
This workshop is hands on. While we will provide a lot of information, the spirit is sharing what people know. While suited for all levels of experience, it is especially aimed at paddlers who want to participate in CAM trips, but are relatively new to charts and marine forecasts, how to find them and interpret them. This is not a navigation class (we won’t be teaching compass reading, course headings, piloting, etc.), but rather planning for the paddling environment. This workshop is designed to prepare club members to take part in the CAM workshops later in the spring which will focus on the trip itself.
To see older events, click on Monthly view ( above)