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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Kettle Cove (Magnolia Beach) to Bakers Island
Floating Trails link
Approx. 10 NM round-trip to Bakers Island from Magnolia Beach, Gloucester.
Paddle to Bakers Island with the intention of spending an hour or more there after landing. Appox.1.5 hrs each way over mostly open water including crossing the often busy Salem Sound Channel entrance (aka Stinkpot Alley) just off Bakers.
The island is worth more than a cursory lunch stop. There's ten acres to explore and Adirondack chairs on the east bluff.
Parking at Magnolia Beach is Gloucester residents-only but after offloading at the asphalt ramp there's plenty of parking a five-minute walk at the fire station or the variety store.
We'll pass Kettle Island and will likely see local kids jumping off the railings at Magnolia Pier. Kettle is home to hundreds of snowy egrets who fly to the inland marshes to feed and its stony beach is littered with well-worn beachglass.
Keep in mind there are no bailouts coming or going to Bakers other than the Misery Islands off Manchester or the handful of Manchester beaches, both private and public, west of Coolidge Point.
The cobble landing at Bakers is a little steep. If there's surge or waves we'll need to use the pitcher-catcher system to get everyone to land: strongest paddler (catcher) lands first to assist those who need help landing. Upon departing, second-strongest paddler (catcher) launches first to assist paddlers the strongest paddler (pitcher) helps launch from Bakers before finally launching on his or her own. With teamwork we can get this done.
I'd post the Manchester put-in to reduce distances but the Manchester put-in can result in a parking ticket.
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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.
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Saturday "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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Calendar
6PM
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Sat, Mar 13, 2021 06:00 PM 08:30 PM
Online Trip Planning WorkshopThis event began 03/13/2021 and repeats every week on Saturday until 03/27/2021
THIS EVENT IS:
A set of 3 sessions over Zoom, aimed at improving paddlers’ ability to research, plan and execute paddling trips in typical local areas used by the club, up to NSPN Level 3. No prior experience is needed. Joe Berkovitz and Bob Levine will co-teach this class.
The class is built around an online workbook of exercises created by the instructors and others. Lecture and presentation will be kept to a minimum. Wherever possible, material will be introduced in the context of solving real-world problems. Some exercises will be done online with the instructors, some in student breakout sessions or “pods”, and some offline.
As a culminating exercise, small groups students will plan one or more “fantasy” paddles given a set of expected weather conditions, and present their plans to the class for critique.
Registration is not limited. If there are over 12 students, we will ask more experienced paddlers to limit their interaction with us (i.e. audit the course), so that we can give less experienced folks the individual attention they need.
REGISTRATION:
You can register using this form:
https://forms.gle/rCfFMrKGeXHfHE4W8
WHEN IT’S HAPPENING:
On three Saturdays in 2021: March 13, 20 and 27 from 1-3:30 pm.
March 13: Navigation
March 20: The Coastal Environment
March 27: Planning a Trip
In the week preceding the first session, a package of information including a Zoom meeting link will be sent to registrants via private email.
WHAT IT COVERS:
3/13 - Part 1: Navigation
Essentials of map and compass use:
Scale and distance
The coordinate grid
Magnetic variation
True and magnetic bearings on the map and in the world
Reading and interpreting nautical charts
Depth
Buoyage and Channels
Coastal topography
Suitability for landing and launching
Parsing the visual environment
Sources for nautical charts
3/20 - Part 2: The Coastal Environment
Understanding and predicting weather and sea conditions
Understanding and predicting tides: water level, volume, currents
Interactions between weather, tides and geography:
Weather and geography
Tides and geography
Weather and tides
Online information resources
3/27 - Part 3: Planning
Balancing the environment, the group’s desires and the group’s capabilities
Determining an ability level for the trip
Estimating duration and effort
Anticipating and adjusting for tides, weather and visibility
Handrails, crossings
Shipping and boating
Identifying and using ranges
Places to rest, eat, refresh
Anticipating decision points and escape options on the water
Documenting the planned route
Appendix: Logistics
Parking and access
Organizing an NSPN club trip
WHAT IT ISN’T:
This workshop is not a full-blown Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning course, nor does it substitute for trip leader training. Some materials are specific to areas frequently paddled by the club. All NSPN members are encouraged to develop their skills through professional instruction from accredited sources.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
A color printer or other way to print the maps
A handheld plastic compass (preferably with string attached)
Pencils
Paper or other note-taking device
EXTRA BENEFITS:
You'll get acquainted with other NSPN members at approximately your own level, who can become paddling partners!
To see older events, click on Monthly view ( above)