gyork

Skip report, go straight to slideshow. Doesn’t matter how many times you’ve been there before, the anticipation of paddling in the premier East Coast destination cannot be denied. M had a spur-of-the-moment week off, and Mother Nature willingly obliged to provide a decent window of a Tuesday-Friday sojourn. We could’ve chosen Naskeag over WBS, but opted for the latter, despite the additional Mile. The 4.5 hour drive up was accompanied by scattered showers, though the forecast had promised decent weather. Once on the water, we didn’t experience any precipitation the rest of our stay. During the 5 mile paddle to basecamp, we saw threatening clouds to the south and west, but were able to "outpace" them. After setting up tents, we opted for the ~mile-and-a-half hike around the island, and were surprised, midway, that the island had experienced a slight dusting of snow that would later disappear, with temps in the high 60s. We were intent on having a nightly fire, and the voicemail permit# I had been waiting 2 days for, had finally arrived. M has taken her campfire cooking to a new level, and we enjoyed, over the supreme days, mushroom/onion/cheese/garlic/green bean tacos, mushroom/onion/pizza, fried egg/cheese biscuit “sandwich,” and mixed, milk/dark chocolate pancakes with homemade syrup for dessert, all whipped up in the cast-iron skillet. We had a subdued IT for the warm, sunny days in Stonington; a “dime tour” of the archipelago was split into 2 nickels, Wednesday and Thursday, southerly and northerly, respectively, with prolonged lunchtime stops on Steve and Potato, filled with food, sketching and napping. The short, beautiful loop hike on Green was a first for me. A highlight of our day #2 paddle was a stop at the town dock, where we greeted Maria (MITA), and, almost simultaneously, met the daughter whose father generously donated their island, our basecamp, to MCHT! The senior couple had motored into town to enjoy an ice cream cone nearby, and, of course, we followed suit. Before we knew it, Friday was upon us, and we needed to leave our island paradise for home, retracing our initial route, happy not to encounter fog that had been forecast for that morning.

Yes, though you must have signed the NSPN waiver, and settle with the campground for any fees for launching and/or parking.

Here's a great opportunity to organize/initiate a (puplic or private) trip for p[arty of 6, 3 nites, unparalleled paddling, and only $50/person. This likely won't be available for long! Link to more info: https://www.mcht.org/visit-a-preserve/cabins/saddleback/

PLEASE DO NOT RSVP ON NSPN CALENDAR UNTIL YOU HAVE SENT YOUR PAYMENT. Come join us for this inaugural 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 Friday, leave Sunday (or stay longer if you like). Paddling options abound: NE to Owls Head, SE to Muscle Ridge, or SW to Port Clyde. These trips are not appropriate for beginners. 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 ([$11 per person + $7 per car]/NITE) X 1.09 (tax; most will pay $39.24) via paypal (PREFERRED; gyork at tdsdotnet) or check (private message me). If you prefer a private site, contact campground directly (280 Waterman Beach Rd, South Thomaston, ME 04858 Phone: (207) 594-7546). PLEASE DO NOT RSVP ON NSPN CALENDAR UNTIL YOU HAVE SENT YOUR PAYMENT. You will receive full refund for your trip only if you cancel before 9 PM. on August 1, OR CHOOSE TO DONATE (ANY AMOUNT) TO ELLIE /LOBSTER BUOY CAMPSITES.

Thanks for the mini tour, Jim. Wood island is changing from a lunch break stop to a true destination paddle! Thanks for the link.

Archived in boat repair/outfitting sub-category of GMB: 3/16" X 25', https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07983FL43/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1&redirectFromSmile=1

A shout out to the many in the core group of Organizers/Initiators! Thank you for contributing to the success of our Club, and recognize my original post (now edited) does not diminish your efforts/success of posting trips. My intent is to entice more of our Members, including the seasoned ones, to post more paddling opportunities. It's understood that many of the posted trips are, by necessity (weather), short notice, but any effort to double post to "events" and "calendar" might reach an audience that doesn't receive notifications of "events." I'll take Joe's #1 to the next BOD meeting. g

If you are one of the members of our club that is reluctant to post (organize) a day paddle or overnight trip, I would be happy to mentor you (and others?) in the ABCs of trip planning, via personal video conference(s). We can talk about many of the aspects of trip planning, including, but not limited to, navigation, weather/tides/currents, safety, group communication, liability waivers, parking, etc. If you would like support and guidance for organizing trip(s) let's chat. Please send me a private message, and we can go from there. Let's all strive to start filling in the summer NSPN calendar with some day and overnite paddles. gary

Anybody had any experience with their selection of drysuits? I obviously would not expect any competition with Kokatat.

Yes, if someone assumes the Organizer/Initiator role.

On my multi-day trips I secure my 6L dromedary to the floor of the cockpit with bungee cord and D-ring tie downs (with marine epoxy). Follow this link to see photos of this and other many ways I have pimped my ride: https://photos.app.goo.gl/5pL7Sh77r75tJUFW6

I hope it's not a phoebe, liz. I spend a good part of every spring shooing away this species that loves to nest in the smallest of overhangs, creating a mud-rich nest in the process! Any successful fledglings will come back year after year, and possibly become a nuisance, as they have for me. I love birds, but my least favorite is the phoebe, with blue jays a close second. Funny how they air-lifted that big limb in as the main carrying beam, or is that your walking stick?

1. Not light, but warm. waterproof, and suitable for hiking around islands: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JLRZYT2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1&psc=1 2. Usually personal or share with 1 other clothesline, but don't expect too much drying overnight, as nites/mornings are damp. 3. Not a big fan of cooking, so won't comment, except to consider asking if you could share (barter?) a stove(s) with other(s) in the group, to find out what you like?

Polish up your kayaking navigation with a land-based orienteering event this weekend: https://www.meetup.com/Up-North-Orienteers/events/293027506?utm_medium=email&utm_source=braze_canvas&utm_campaign=mmrk_alleng_event_announcement_prod_v7_en&utm_term=promo&utm_content=lp_meetup This is a great chance for you to practice map and compass skills at the UNH campus. Like our charts, orienteering maps are very detailed, with north magnetic lines oriented parallel to the sides of the map. Although, generally, a competitive event, no need to race through the course. Study the detailed features noted in the key, and recognize these features as you course along your chosen path, employing trails, roads, and possibly shortcuts/bushwhack to arrive @ each control. Check out the UNO website to get a feel for basics of orienteering: https://upnoor.org Sample Orienteering map below. OrienteeringMap.pdf

Wow! What a banquet, Dan and participants! Thanks for all your efforts. Looking forward to a similar spread somewhere on an island in ME in the near future!

Maine is not necessarily known for severe thunderstorms when compared to places like the Great Plains, but severe storms do occur and are most frequent during the summer months when many are out recreating on the water. In this presentation, Meteorologist Derek Schroeter with the National Weather Service will cover the ingredients that are necessary for thunderstorms to develop, what makes a thunderstorm severe vs. just a run of the mill thunderstorm, and discuss the hazards of severe thunderstorms such as microbursts, squall lines, large hail, and tornadoes. This presentation will also cover resources recreators can use to make sound decisions when venturing out on the water for the day and how to know when a particular day may lead to a severe weather outbreak. To register click HERE

Will add links to resources on vid. after tutorial.

For those of you who are brand new to kayak camping, here's a link to my video that might help you organize your gear for a kayak camping trip. I hope to follow this up with more short videos, covering different aspects of the kayak camping experience. Feel free to subscribe to receive notifications of future videos. Links to some of the gear recently viewed: Rechargeable Headlamp: https://tinyurl.com/Rechargeable-Headlamp ID Badge Holder: https://tinyurl.com/38ppuhwr Muck shoes: https://tinyurl.com/muck-shoes Poop tube: https://tinyurl.com/poop-tube Thermarest sleeping pad: https://tinyurl.com/Sleep-pad Camp chair: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091Y2JKMQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Dromedary bags: https://tinyurl.com/Dromwdary Esbit stove: https://tinyurl.com/Esbit-Stove Silnylon tarp: https://tinyurl.com/silnylon-tarp 4-person carry straps: https://tinyurl.com/carry-straps

Well, yes, Ed. That time has come and gone, as I sprung for a new Kokatat on sale at the KTP paddlers event 3 (or4?) years ago. Hard to drive the Maine mindset out of my head, don't you know, where it ain't right to just throw sumpin away just 'cuz it don't work no more. If you can see a way to fix it, by gorry you just don't dump 'er! Now, mind you, you might not git to it straight away, and no harm just lookin' at it in the yahd, as a reminder that you're fixin' to fix it, just might not be too soon, 'cuz you got all them other things sitting in the yahd too that need fixing. Never know when you might havest a spare paht from machine X to fix gadget Y! As for the old Palm drysuit, maybe I will throw away just some of it, taking the upper and fashioning a dry top out of it with Susie's help.

Thanks, boys, for the useful advice. Yes, I have used aquaseal in the past with some success. Perhaps, after identifying any small leaks, I will try thinning the warmed aquaseal (currently in my freezer!) with toluene, if I can secure some, and apply it more like wallpaper paste (consistency).

My old palm drysuit has developed leaks/weeps. After performing the seal and inflate technique that wizard Brian suggests above, and identifying point(s) of entry, any utility of applying this product INSIDE the suit to effect a cure, complete or partial?

THIS EVENT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO A WAITLIST, SEND ME A PM (private message). Level 3 trip that especially welcomes new kayak campers, and a reunion for those of us who don't see each other often enough. Here's a great opportunity for you paddlers who would like to try kayak-camping without the pesky bugs (beware of ticks!). This will be the 15th (almost) annual trip to Jewell, which has multiple campsite options and latrines. We typically have 10 or more (2016=record of 19!) paddlers, but an upper limit has not been established. The Common Adventure Model (CAM) will be adopted The SUGGESTED itinerary is as follows: THURSDAY or FRIDAY: Arrive at _____ (multiple launch site options, with each pod working out details privately or on NSPN Message Board under "trips") on Thursday or Friday, May 18 or 19, in plenty of time for a ______am launch (HT is @ 1103 and 1152, respectively). If you are new to kayak camping, you may need extra time packing your boat, so plan on arriving no later than [BIB-2H]. SATURDAY: Agenda TBD-bring your ideas for a day paddle or island activities. Prior trips have included Whaleboat/Little Whaleboat, Potts Harbor (food), Greens, Eagle, Great Diamond, geocaching, Jewell's WW1 and WW2 military installations, and general camaraderie/gourmet foods around the camp fire. SUNDAY: Back to cars via ????. If you have any questions about this trip or camping in general, Private Message (PM) me. When you can commit to join this group of friendly paddlers, please RSVP on the calendar HERE. You may be asked to add some personal info to the group's trip spreadsheet, closer to the start of the event.

Can this event be recorded, please?