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
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Sat, Feb 17, 2024 06:00 PM 08:00 PM
Pool sessions at the Haverhill High School for the 2024 winter season are now available for purchase in the Store. These sessions are offered as a benefit to paid members of NSPN, and therefore are only available to active members. If you are experiencing any issues with your membership, please email [email protected] and we will work as quickly as possible to resolve it. As in years past, we are required to have insurance in order to use the pool facilities, so we are using the ACA club insurance program again. You need to sign the online ACA Liability Waiver for 2024 here.
Each pool session spot will cost $30, but if you are not an ACA member, you will need to pay the additional $10 ACA Event Fee per session. You can become an ACA member by signing up here and selecting North Shore Paddlers Network from the Paddle America Clubs drop-down list. The annual membership fee is $40, which will be "paid back" in only four pool sessions or summer skills sessions, since there is no Event Fee for ACA members.
These sessions are a great way to keep existing skills active over the cold winter months or work on new skills for the upcoming paddling season. Although NSPN does not offer official instruction, many members are willing to offer whatever assistance they can while they are at the pool. However, if you would like to pay for professional instruction, you can seek out an instructor directly, either from NSPN members (some of who are actually certified!) or from other professional instructors. If the instructor will have a boat in the pool, they will need a pool session spot purchased. If they are only going to instruct from the poolside, then they do not need a spot. Regardless, all attendees (whether in the pool or instructing poolside) MUST have signed an online ACA Waiver and paid the $10 Event Fee if they are not an ACA member.
Pool sessions can only be purchased through the Store using PayPal or credit card for payment. If you have trouble, email [email protected] or Private Message me and I will help you out.
Please follow these instructions for pool session purchases:
Click on this link to go to the list of pool session dates (or access them through the Store link in the blue top banner on the message board) Choose the pool session date that you want to attend and click Add To Cart If you are not an ACA member, you must Add To Cart the $10 Event Fee. If you would like to add another pool session, click on Continue Shopping, otherwise skip to Step #8 Select Pool Sessions from the Product Categories list on the left Repeat steps #2-#4 for each pool session you want to add (you must add the $10 event fee to each session if not an ACA member) When you are ready to pay for your selections, click Checkout and then Confirm My Order. We cannot issue any refunds unless the pool facility closes due to inclement weather or other reasons. If you are unable to attend a pool session after purchase and would like to let someone else purchase the session from you, you must make those arrangements on your own. We will try to post a reminder for each session to which you can look for someone to purchase your slot, or start a new posting if you choose. They must have signed the online ACA waiver, and pay the $10 Event Fee if required.
To see older events, click on Monthly view ( above)